PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andre Cherkovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Skjelbred (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cherkovski
vs
Skjelbred

170 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andre Cherkovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Skjelbred!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skjelbred tries to clinch but Cherkovski is having none of it.
Cherkovski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Skjelbred shoots in and drives through. Cherkovski sprawls well.
Cherkovski tries to clinch

and Skjelbred counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Skjelbred is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cherkovski is refusing to be controlled, as Skjelbred sits in half guard.
Skjelbred working Cherkovski over with strikes.
Skjelbred blocks the strikes from Cherkovski.
Cherkovski wants to improve his position but Skjelbred is controlling well.
Cherkovski landing a few short strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skjelbred is taking a breather. Cherkovski says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cherkovski is trying to get back to full guard.

Skjelbred looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherkovski trying to control here.
Skjelbred works his way into full mount!
Cherkovski tries to reverse the position but Skjelbred maintains control.

Skjelbred is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Cherkovski has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Cherkovski is trying desperately to improve position.
Cherkovski takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cherkovski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cherkovski is breathing heavily.
Skjelbred working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Cherkovski is wriggling around trying to escape.
Skjelbred with shots to the head and body - Cherkovski looks very uncomfortable down there.
Skjelbred putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Cherkovski tries to lock up and control but Skjelbred gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Skjelbred landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cherkovski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Skjelbred with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Cherkovski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Skjelbred wants to control the pace but Cherkovski is squirming around nicely.
Cherkovski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cherkovski is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherkovski sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cherkovski tries to kick Skjelbred off but Skjelbred keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cherkovski tries to get to full guard but Skjelbred has control of the leg.
Cherkovski is trying to maintain the position but Skjelbred is very close to passing his half guard.
Cherkovski won't allow Skjelbred to pass to mount.

Cherkovski looking for submissions off his back.
Cherkovski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Skjelbred wants to pass to mount but Cherkovski is defending the position.
Ground and pound from Skjelbred.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cherkovski chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cherkovski jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Skjelbred tries to clinch but Cherkovski moves out of range.
Cherkovski tries for a takedown but Skjelbred sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cherkovski throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Skjelbred counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Skjelbred works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Cherkovski preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Cherkovski trying to control here.

Cherkovski is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Skjelbred pulls his head out easily.
Cherkovski is trying to maintain the position but Skjelbred is very close to passing his half guard.

Cherkovski is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Skjelbred pulls his head out easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cherkovski moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Skjelbred dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Skjelbred defending well as Cherkovski loads up on a big left hand.
Cherkovski throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Skjelbred counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cherkovski is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Skjelbred is keeping busy.
Cherkovski lands a nice elbow.
Cherkovski wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cherkovski takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Cherkovski tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Skjelbred's elbow.
Skjelbred lands a knee to the body.
Skjelbred fails to pull guard.
Cherkovski goes for a takedown attempt but Skjelbred pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Skjelbred has a takedown stuffed.
Cherkovski throws a left and a right that both miss

and Skjelbred counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Skjelbred lands a couple of digs.

Skjelbred drops back looking for a leg! Cherkovski is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cherkovski manages to kick Skjelbred off! Skjelbred jumps back into Cherkovski's guard.
Skjelbred stopping the sweep attempt from Cherkovski.
Skjelbred is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherkovski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cherkovski trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Skjelbred trying to control the position from guard on top but Cherkovski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cherkovski 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.
Skjelbred cracks Cherkovski with a solid left hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cherkovski scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cherkovski misses with the combination.
Cherkovski throws a combination. Skjelbred tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like John Skjelbred has been cut.

Cherkovski instigates a clinch.
Skjelbred landing knees to the body.
Skjelbred keeps control of Cherkovski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Skjelbred looking to throw knees to the head but Cherkovski is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skjelbred drags the fight down to the ground.
Cherkovski throws a strike but Skjelbred rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Skjelbred passes Cherkovski's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Skjelbred uses his free foot to push down on Cherkovski's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cherkovski.

Skjelbred quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Skjelbred but it's paid off an Cherkovski is forced to tap! Nice work by Skjelbred.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). John Skjelbred!