PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Omer Demirci (ranked 2301 p4p, 2423 weight class) and Gerrad Skolz (ranked 299 p4p, 310 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Demirci
vs
Skolz

175 cm
28
185
14 - 8 - 1

177 cm
24
178
6 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Stoner's Killer Apparel

Stoner's Killer Apparel
Uncle Rufus Clothing .Co

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Omer Demirci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gerrad Skolz!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paulsen Ambrosius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Demirci takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Good standup being displayed there by Skolz as he connects with a hook.

It looks like Omer Demirci has been cut.
Demirci stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Skolz.
Demirci looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Skolz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Demirci avoids a kick to the body.
Demirci was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Demirci misses with a takedown
and Skolz counters with a two punch combo.
Demirci with a nice cross.
That kick from Skolz tenderised Demirci's leg. Demirci is trying to keep his angry face on.
Skolz scores with a punch to the head.
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!
Demirci's corner calls for a 1-2. Demirci obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Demirci avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demirci stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Skolz.
Skolz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Skolz throws a one two combo.
Demirci shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Skolz defends it nicely.
Skolz throws a series of punches but Demirci moves out of range.
Skolz moves into range and connects with a jab.
Demirci is trying hard to land a takedown here. Skolz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Omer Demirci. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skolz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Demirci counter with a right hand.
Skolz scores with a spinning back kick!
Skolz lands with a cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Demirci avoids a kick to the body.
Demirci has a takedown stuffed.
Gerrad Skolz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Demirci takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Skolz throws a lazy uppercut
and Demirci counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Skolz goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Good leg kick by Skolz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skolz misses with a double jab.
Skolz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Skolz misses with a few strikes there.
Skolz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Demirci drops down looking for a counter takedown but Skolz sprawls and moves away.
Demirci takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Demirci showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Skolz.
Demirci feinted with a counter takedown.
A jab lands there for Skolz.

Omer Demirci's cut is getting worse.

Demirci decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Demirci tries to pass the half guard into mount. Skolz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Demirci in particular looking to stall.
Demirci is trying to control the action in half guard but Skolz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Skolz felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skolz tries to roll over but Demirci keeps him under control.
Demirci takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Skolz keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Skolz wants to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gerrad Skolz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Omer Demirci's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Skolz misses with a double jab.
Jab, jab by Demirci - just one landing.
Some wild striking there from Skolz.
Skolz throws a series of punches but Demirci moves out of range.
Gerrad Skolz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good standup being displayed there by Skolz as he connects with a hook.
Demirci avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Demirci shoots in for a takedown but Skolz shows good takedown defense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skolz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Demirci slips under a jab.
Demirci connects with a good right hand that stumbles Skolz. Skolz circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gerrad Skolz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Demirci scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skolz misses with a hook.
Skolz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Demirci shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Skolz defends it nicely.
Skolz slips a straight right by Demirci.
Skolz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Demirci clinches with his opponent.
Skolz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Demirci blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Skolz prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Omer Demirci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skolz lands a nice uppercut.
Skolz misses with a body punch.
Skolz displaying some good clinch control by pressing Demirci up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skolz lands a left hand.
Demirci looking to stall.
Skolz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Skolz scores with a shoulder strike.
Skolz content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Demirci has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Skolz after a bit of a struggle.

Demirci lands a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Skolz pushes Demirci off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Demirci is looking to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Skolz's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Demirci throws a shot from downtown. Skolz moves away and avoids it.
Skolz scores with a body shot.
Demirci looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skolz misses with a two punch combination.
Skolz lands a two punch combo.

Demirci shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Demirci showed some decent athleticism there.

Skolz manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Demirci keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Demirci lands a takedown into guard.

Skolz is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Demirci presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Demirci tries for a takedown but Skolz manages to get underhooks.
Demirci takes a shot to the head.
Skolz lands a shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Demirci lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Gerrad Skolz has got the better of the ground game so far.

Demirci is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skolz is not content to let Demirci control the position.
Skolz is trying to stand back up but Demirci is controlling him
Skolz is positioning himself well to prevent Demirci advancing to mount.
Skolz trying to control but Demirci postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skolz is doing well to control the position and prevent Demirci from advancing to side control.
Demirci perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gerrad Skolz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Omer Demirci's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Skolz tries to bum rush Demirci with a series of wild strikes but Demirci uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Skolz lands a two punch combo.
Skolz throws a leg kick

and Demirci counters with a single leg into guard. Skolz didn't expect that.
Skolz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Omer Demirci has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Skolz wants to stand but Demirci is controlling the position.
Demirci is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Demirci preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skolz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Demirci.
Skolz keeping moving, preventing Demirci from controlling successfully.
Demirci seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
That kick from Skolz tenderised Demirci's leg. Demirci is trying to keep his angry face on.
Demirci looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Skolz is fending him off so far but Demirci persists. Nope, Skolz circles away and we're back to standing.
Skolz throws a low kick, looking for Demirci's leg but Demirci calmly moves out of range.
Skolz scores with a head kick. Demirci tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A lazy body kick from Skolz

and Demirci counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demirci wants to lay and pray for a moment but Skolz keeps working.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Demirci looking to control but instead Skolz has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Demirci seems to be working for a kimura but Skolz defends the submission attempt.
Skolz is trying to get back to full guard.
Skolz is still trying to improve position.
Skolz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demirci passes to full mount!
Demirci takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Demirci thowing shots but they're missing.
Demirci tries to control but Skolz wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skolz is wriggling around trying to escape.
Demirci controlling the pace for now.
Demirci seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Skolz is holding on tight.
Demirci wants to control the pace but Skolz is squirming around nicely.
Skolz wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Demirci.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Demirci has control of Skolz's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Skolz regains control of the situation pretty easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Omer Demirci.
I think Skolz 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerrad Skolz!