PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Punchy Cartwright (ranked 1598 p4p, 656 weight class) and Shug Skinner (ranked 213 p4p, 85 weight class). Cartwright comes to the cage accompanied by A Pound of Flesh. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cartwright
vs
Skinner

185 cm
29
168
6 - 4 - 0

175 cm
29
153
10 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

KOMBAT KLOTHING
PWNAGE Elite - $25 Tees

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Punchy Cartwright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Shug Skinner!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Winston Howard and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cartwright throws a body shot but no joy.
We've been told by Cartwright's head coaches at Irish Collar & Elbow Academy (ICE) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Cartwright works the jab nicely.
Punchy Cartwright seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skinner moves out of range as Cartwright strikes.
The fighters circling - Cartwright throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cartwright swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A jab from Cartwright misses.
Cartwright sets himself, and Skinner steps forward looking for the clinch! Cartwright avoids it this time.
Skinner swings widly with a right hand
enabling Cartwright to counter with a crisp jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cartwright.
Skinner throws a series of punches but Cartwright moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartwright ducks under a wild hook from Skinner.
Cartwright with a lazy takedown attempt

and Skinner counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Skinner comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Skinner just misses with a elbow thrown towards Cartwright's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skinner breaks the clinch.
Cartwright avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Skinner is looking to clinch but Cartwright is avoiding it.
Skinner moves out of range of the leg kick from Cartwright.
Skinner tries to counter with a clinch but Cartwright shakes him off and moves away.
Skinner shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Skinner swings away with a body shot that misses
and Cartwright cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cartwright shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Skinner but Skinner pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Punchy Cartwright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skinner slips under a jab from Cartwright.
Cartwright moves out of range as Skinner strikes.
Cartwright misses with a straight right.
Skinner takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Skinner throws a shot to the body.
Cartwright throws a leg kick but Skinner moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skinner throws a right and a left that both miss.
A slow jab from Cartwright misses its intended target.
Cartwright misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skinner walks into a stiff left hand from Cartwright.
Cartwright keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A clash of legs there as Skinner blocks the low kick.
Cartwright uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Skinner.
Skinner tries to clinch up but Cartwright circles away and keeps his distance.
Cartwright has his takedown stuffed

and Skinner holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Skinner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cartwright looks to land a combination but Skinner avoids it well.
Skinner avoids the body shot from Cartwright.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright misses with a low kick.
Skinner wants to counter the offense by Cartwright and move into the clinch position.
Cartwright misses with a wild body shot.
Some wild striking there from Cartwright.
Cartwright bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Skinner's head.
Skinner takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cartwright just misses with a punch to the body.
Cartwright connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cartwright uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Skinner.
Skinner throws a lazy uppercut
and Cartwright counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shug Skinner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A bone on bone clash there as Skinner blocks the leg kick.
Skinner throws a good cross that connects.
Skinner staying out of range there.
Skinner steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Cartwright.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cartwright.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cartwright stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Skinner avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cartwright misses with a takedown attempt - Skinner sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Skinner misses with a jab to the body
and Cartwright counters with a three punch combo that has Skinner backing up. Skinner nods at Cartwright to acknowledge the strikes.
Cartwright throws a low kick, looking for Skinner's leg but Skinner calmly moves out of range.
Cartwright throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cartwright misses with a straight right.
Skinner tries to counter with a clinch but Cartwright shakes him off and moves away.
Skinner tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Cartwright counters with a lovely shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Punchy Cartwright dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Cartwright doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Skinner moves into the clinch.
Skinner lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Skinner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cartwright ducks under a wild hook from Skinner.
Skinner on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Skinner is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Cartwright looks to land a combination. Skinner sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Skinner tries to clinch but Cartwright moves out of range.
Skinner misses with an uppercut. Cartwright saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skinner jabs Cartwright right on the nose. Cartwright blinks but takes it well.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cartwright.
Skinner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cartwright.
Skinner wants to counter with a clinch but Cartwright pushes him away.
A telegraphed right hand from Skinner misses the target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice takedown defense from Skinner. No joy for Cartwright on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Punchy Cartwright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cartwright throws a low kick, looking for Skinner's leg but Skinner calmly moves out of range.
Skinner steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Cartwright.
Jab, jab by Cartwright - just one landing.
Cartwright misses with a body punch

and Skinner counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Skinner.
Skinner stalling.
Skinner comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Punchy Cartwright has been cut.
Skinner lands a damaging elbow.
Skinner comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Skinner throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Skinner leaning against his opponent.
Cartwright tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skinner breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Cartwright jumps guard and drags Skinner to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Skinner showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cartwright trying to control the position here.
My spies in London MMA Club inform me that Skinner has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Skinner sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Skinner pushing down on Cartwright's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Skinner tries to pass to full mount but Cartwright defends it.
Cartwright is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Skinner's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Skinner's back!
Skinner can't escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cartwright is looking for the choke from the back position but Skinner is controlling his hands well.
Cartwright is not going to allow Skinner to sit and survive in this position.
Cartwright trying to control.
Skinner tries to roll but Cartwright sticks to his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shug Skinner will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Punchy Cartwright's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Cartwright throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Some wild striking there from Cartwright.
Skinner tries to counter with a clinch but Cartwright shakes him off and moves away.
Skinner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cartwright.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cartwright.
Cartwright throws a low kick but it's checked well by Skinner.
Cartwright pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cartwright swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Skinner tries to counter with a clinch but Cartwright shakes him off and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skinner blocks a low kick nicely.
Skinner throws a lazy right hand but Cartwright sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cartwright throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Skinner holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Skinner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cartwright throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright looks to score with a jab to the body but Skinner is just out of range.
Skinner misses with a body shot.
Cartwright throws a shot to the body.
Skinner tries to clinch but Cartwright is having none of it.
Cartwright throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Skinner misses with the combination.
Cartwright tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Skinner swivels and escapes.
Cartwright with a jab.
A jab from Skinner misses.
Cartwright shoots for a takedown but Skinner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Punchy Cartwright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skinner displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cartwright.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright needs to keep his hands up - Skinner had a free shot at his head there.
Cartwright lands a nice hook to Skinner's body. Skinner takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cartwright paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cartwright is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Skinner clinches up with Cartwright and pushes him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cartwright blocks an elbow strike from Skinner.
Skinner throws an elbow but it misses.
Cartwright is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Skinner is defending well.
Skinner lands an elbow inside that Cartwright shrugs off.
Skinner will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cartwright up against the cage.
Skinner lands a damaging elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Skinner just misses with a elbow thrown towards Cartwright's brow.
Cartwright is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Skinner to keep the fight standing.
Cartwright avoids the elbow strike from Skinner, against the cage.

Skinner breaks the clinch.
Cartwright fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Skinner manages to avoid it.
Cartwright throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Skinner drives through and clinches with Cartwright against the cage.
Skinner looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cartwright drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Skinner gets the underhooks and prevents it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Skinner just misses with a elbow thrown towards Cartwright's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright blocks an elbow strike from Skinner.
Skinner has Cartwright pushed against the cage.
Cartwright dodges an elbow strike from Skinner.
Shug Skinner seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cartwright is looking for a takedown.
Cartwright dodges an elbow strike from Skinner.
Cartwright blocks the elbow strike.
Cartwright blocks an elbow strike from Skinner.
Skinner misses with an elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shug Skinner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Skinner has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shug Skinner!
Shug Skinner seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.