PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arveids Skabene (ranked 6171 p4p, 433 weight class) and Bear Claw (ranked 6650 p4p, 449 weight class). Arveids Skabene could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Bear Claw's chin.

Skabene
vs
Claw

202 cm
23
260 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

203 cm
26
267 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Arveids Skabene!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bear Claw!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Claw throws a nice looking combination but Skabene bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Claw pushes Skabene up against the cage in a clinch.

Skabene escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Claw gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Skabene jumps guard but Claw turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Claw tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Claw looking to stall.
Claw tries a body shot but Skabene blocks it.
Claw using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Claw tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Skabene avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skabene avoiding damage as Claw throws knees to the body.
Skabene managing to block the knees to the body from Claw.
Skabene managing to block the knees to the body from Claw.
Skabene has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Claw is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claw lands a knee to the body.
Skabene is breathing heavily.
Claw trying to land knees to the body.
Claw is struggling to control the position.
Claw trying to land knees to the body.
A short right from Claw on the inside.
Claw slowing the pace effectively.
Claw manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Claw lands a right hand.
The referee is keeping an eye on Claw - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Claw just leaning against Skabene, taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skabene is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Claw gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arveids Skabene. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Claw leaning his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Bear Claw.
Claw misses with a body kick.
Skabene shoots in looking for a takedown. Claw tries to sprawl out of it but Skabene keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Claw manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Claw pushes Skabene up against the cage in a clinch.
Skabene blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Claw content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skabene blocks a body shot from Claw.
Skabene tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Claw smiles and moves away.
Claw takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Claw connects with a leg kick. Skabene looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Skabene shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Claw sprawls well. Claw wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Skabene gets slowly back to his feet.
Claw raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Claw has Skabene up against the cage in a clinch.
Claw using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Claw.
Skabene blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Claw with a knee to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Claw takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Claw scores a nice knee to the body.
Claw throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Skabene blocks it with crossed arms.
Skabene takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Arveids Skabene has been cut.
Claw goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Claw lands a damaging elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Claw lands with a short shot to the head.
Claw tries a body shot but Skabene blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bear Claw dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Arveids Skabene's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Claw throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Skabene walks into a jab.

Claw moves into the clinch.
Claw stalling in the clinch.
Claw using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Claw landing knees to the body.
Claw tries to work over Skabene's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Skabene blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Claw slows down the pace here.
Claw lands a knee to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Claw is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Claw tries a body shot but Skabene blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claw creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Skabene's defenses.
Claw is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Skabene is defending well for now.
Claw throws an elbow but it misses.
Come on Claw - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Claw stalling in the clinch.
Claw taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Skabene tries for a takedown. No joy.
Claw slows down the pace here.
Claw has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Claw is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Skabene is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claw with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Arveids Skabene's cut is getting worse.
Claw tries to land knees in the clinch but Skabene avoids the damage to the body.
Skabene blocks the elbow strike.
Claw misses with a knee strike.
Skabene jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Claw walks away with a smile on his face. Skabene gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Claw misses with a head kick.
Skabene dives in for a single leg takedown but Claw sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Claw only half commits to the counter leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arveids Skabene. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skabene dodges the punch combination from Claw.
Skabene takes a kick to the side of the head.
Claw throws a combination. Skabene tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Arveids Skabene's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skabene stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Claw.

Claw closes the distance and clinches.
Claw has Skabene pressed against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Claw.
Skabene has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Claw avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Claw lands a knee to the body.
Claw using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Claw pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Skabene blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Claw creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Skabene's defenses.

Jeez, Arveids Skabene's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Claw pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claw slows down the pace here.
Claw throws an elbow that misses.
Claw controlling the action here for a moment.
Claw misses with the head strike.
Skabene on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Claw misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Skabene.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bear Claw showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Arveids Skabene's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Skabene with a lazy takedown attempt
and Claw counters with a two punch combo.
Skabene steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Claw. That one must have hurt.
Arveids Skabene seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Claw is looking to slow Skabene down with leg kicks.
Arveids Skabene is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Skabene takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Arveids Skabene's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Bear Claw!