PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denny Prokopos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Skjelbred (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Prokopos comes to the cage accompanied by Deep River Blues - Doc Watson. Skjelbred comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bad To The Bone kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Prokopos
vs
Skjelbred

180 cm
30
144 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

175 cm
30
124 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Denny Prokopos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Skjelbred!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Prokopos will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Prokopos shoots in and bounces Skjelbred off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Skjelbred looking for a guillotine here but Prokopos defends easily.

Skjelbred working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Prokopos doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Prokopos manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Prokopos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Skjelbred swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Skjelbred looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skjelbred is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Prokopos is aware though and is defending well.
Skjelbred keeping moving, preventing Prokopos from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Prokopos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Skjelbred swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Skjelbred wants to improve his position but instead Prokopos has moved into half guard.
Prokopos is thwarting Skjelbred's attempts to control the position.

Prokopos seems to be working for a kimura but Skjelbred defends the submission attempt.

Prokopos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Skjelbred defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos uses his free foot to push down on Skjelbred's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Skjelbred.
Prokopos trying to control but Skjelbred is having none of it.
Skjelbred is desperately trying to improve his position but Prokopos has a good base and remains in mount.
Skjelbred is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos wants to control the pace but Skjelbred is squirming around nicely.
Skjelbred is working to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Prokopos is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Skjelbred to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Skjelbred shrugs it off.
Skjelbred tries to hold on but Prokopos postures up.
Prokopos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Skjelbred is looking to escape.
Skjelbred really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred wants to hold on but Prokopos pushes him away.
Skjelbred can't escape the position.
Prokopos really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Prokopos avoids the attempt from Skjelbred to control.
Prokopos looking to control but Skjelbred is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Prokopos gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skjelbred tries to clinch
and Prokopos counters with a left and a right that stings Skjelbred.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A punch combination from Prokopos misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sloppy strikes from Prokopos. Those never looked like landing.
Skjelbred is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Prokopos swats away the attempt to clinch by Skjelbred.
Prokopos sizes up Skjelbred with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Prokopos throws a sloppy head kick and Skjelbred moves out of range easily.
Prokopos throws a combination that misses

and Skjelbred counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Prokopos's guard now.

Prokopos throws his legs up looking for a submission but Skjelbred uses it to pass to side control.

Skjelbred is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Prokopos knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Prokopos is looking to regain half guard here but Skjelbred keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prokopos sneaks back into half guard.

Skjelbred is working for a kimura but Prokopos is defending it quite comfortably.
Prokopos is refusing to be controlled, as Skjelbred sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos is trying to maintain the position but Skjelbred is very close to passing his half guard.
Skjelbred not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Skjelbred thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Skjelbred wants to work for an arm triangle but Prokopos is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Prokopos is looking for a sweep. Skjelbred is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Skjelbred is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Prokopos defends it well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Prokopos manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred passes into half guard.

Prokopos looking for submissions off his back.

Prokopos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Prokopos gets full guard.
John Skjelbred has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Skjelbred is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Prokopos is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Prokopos has escaped and now he's on top!
Skjelbred is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Skjelbred trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Skjelbred looking for a guillotine here but Prokopos defends easily.
Prokopos advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Skjelbred will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Skjelbred tries to clinch but Prokopos moves out of range.
Skjelbred tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Prokopos scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Skjelbred displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Prokopos throws out the jab.
Prokopos fails to land with a series of punches.
Skjelbred moves out of range of the strikes.
Skjelbred doesn't manage to clinch there - Prokopos circles away.
Skjelbred shoots for a double leg takedown but Prokopos sprawls well. He's pushed Skjelbred's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Prokopos misses with a body shot.
Skjelbred wants to clinch but Prokopos slips to the side
and Prokopos counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Prokopos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Skjelbred as he jumps to the side.
Prokopos keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skjelbred lands a nice shot to the body.
Skjelbred is looking to clinch but Prokopos is avoiding it.
John Skjelbred seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skjelbred is looking to clinch.
Prokopos misses with a low kick.
Prokopos shoots in for a takedown but Skjelbred shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Prokopos.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denny Prokopos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Skjelbred closes the distance but Prokopos moves to the side

and Prokopos counters with a nice double leg into side control. Skjelbred won't be happy with that.
Skjelbred tries to improve position but can't.

Prokopos is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Skjelbred is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Skjelbred is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred wants to control but Prokopos postures up.
Skjelbred gets back to half guard.
Prokopos with the ground and pound but Skjelbred uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Skjelbred escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Prokopos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Skjelbred bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Prokopos's guard.

Prokopos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Skjelbred gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Skjelbred trying to move into half guard but instead Prokopos has managed to sweep!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Prokopos drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Skjelbred manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Prokopos has Skjelbred in his guard.

Prokopos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Prokopos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred forces his way into half guard.

Skjelbred is working for a kimura but Prokopos is defending it quite comfortably.
Skjelbred is looking to pass Prokopos's guard but actually Prokopos recovers to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skjelbred passes Prokopos's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

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 Denny Prokopos.
I think Prokopos has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denny Prokopos!
Denny Prokopos made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'I always thought the removal of toes with a bolt cutter was rather humane '.