PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sergiy Sklyar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ketsuno Anajo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sklyar comes to the cage accompanied by Scarface - No Tears. Anajo has chosen Ghostbusters as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sklyar
vs
Anajo

160 cm
25
140 lbs
14 - 2 - 0

174 cm
25
137 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!
Reaper Combatwear

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sergiy Sklyar!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ketsuno Anajo!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anajo tries to land a front kick but Sklyar steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Anajo has closed the distance and engaged Sklyar in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Anajo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Anajo throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Anajo blocks a body shot from Sklyar.
Sklyar pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sklyar lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Anajo.
Anajo trying to control the position but instead, Sklyar has worked for underhooks and has pushed Anajo into the cage.
Anajo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sklyar misses with a punch to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Anajo.

Sklyar turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Sklyar manages to end up in side control.
Sklyar creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Anajo sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
An elbow from Sklyar crashes against the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anajo wants to control but Sklyar postures up.
Anajo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sklyar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sklyar is pressing down on Anajo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sklyar wants to sweep here but Anajo controlling him for the moment.
Anajo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Anajo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Anajo wants to pass the guard but Sklyar is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sklyar wants to control but Anajo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Anajo is keen to just control but Sklyar is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar trying to control here.
Anajo with the ground and pound but Sklyar uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Anajo wants to control from the top but Sklyar keeps moving.
Sklyar is looking to stand up but Anajo isn't so interested in that idea.

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

Sklyar working for a triangle but Anajo defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sklyar has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Anajo has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar is looking for a sweep.
Anajo in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Anajo working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar is trying to buck Anajo off.
Anajo wants to control but Sklyar is keeping him busy.
Sklyar is trying to buck Anajo off.
Sklyar sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anajo prevents Sklyar from improving his position.
Anajo trying to pass the guard but Sklyar defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sergiy Sklyar will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sklyar catches Anajo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Sklyar dives in and scores a takedown into Anajo's guard.
Sklyar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sklyar stopping the sweep attempt from Anajo.
Sklyar wants to control from the top but Anajo keeps moving.
Sklyar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sklyar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Anajo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sklyar stops Anajo from standing up.
Sklyar might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sklyar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Anajo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sklyar landing with the ground and pound.
Anajo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sklyar's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sklyar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sklyar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Anajo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sklyar keeping full guard, as Anajo tries to pass.
Anajo stopping the sweep attempt from Sklyar.

Anajo stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Sklyar misses.
Anajo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sklyar.
Ketsuno Anajo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anajo jabs at Sklyar's body.
Anajo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anajo staying out of range there.
Anajo lands a leg kick that knocks Sklyar off balance momentarily.
Anajo scores with a leg kick.
Sklyar throws a chopping leg kick but Anajo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Anajo throws the left hand but Sklyar avoids the punch easily.
Sklyar shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Anajo but Anajo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anajo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sklyar.
Sklyar looks to score with a jab to the body but Anajo is just out of range.
Sklyar throws the left hand but Anajo avoids the punch easily.
Ketsuno Anajo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anajo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sklyar dives in and grabs Anajo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Anajo pushes down on Sklyar's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Anajo tenderised Sklyar's leg. Sklyar is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sklyar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sklyar bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Anajo misses the shot to the body.
A swing and a miss from Sklyar.
Sklyar throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sklyar misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sklyar throws a wild body kick that Anajo sees coming a mile off.
Anajo throws the left hand but Sklyar avoids the punch easily.
Anajo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sklyar checks a leg kick.
Anajo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergiy Sklyar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Anajo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sklyar connects with a body shot.
Anajo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sklyar checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anajo avoids the body shot from Sklyar.
Anajo throws a leg kick but Sklyar sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A good leg kick by Anajo.
Anajo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sklyar tries a head kick but it misses.
Ketsuno Anajo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anajo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sklyar was well out of range. Poor timing from Anajo.
Anajo throws a leg kick but Sklyar sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sklyar throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Anajo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Anajo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sklyar.
Sklyar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anajo throws a nice outside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Anajo. Sklyar does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sklyar misses with a double jab.
Anajo slips a jab from Sklyar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ketsuno Anajo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sklyar shoots in looking for a takedown. Anajo tries to sprawl out of it but Sklyar keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Anajo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Anajo just misses with a punch to the body.
Anajo slips under a jab from Sklyar.
Anajo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sklyar.
Anajo slaps away a takedown attempt from Sklyar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sklyar tries to score with a low kick but Anajo moves his leg out of the way.
Anajo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sklyar rather than just go for the knockout.
A combination from Sklyar does no damage.
Sklyar misses with an uppercut. Anajo saw that one coming.
Anajo thows a body shot but no joy.
Anajo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Anajo avoids a kick to the body.
Anajo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Anajo lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anajo cracks the inside of Sklyar's front leg.
Sklyar on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Anajo connects with a looping right hand.
Sklyar is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Anajo lands with an uppercut that bounces Sklyar off the cage and back into range.
Sklyar connects with an inside leg kick.
Anajo throws a sloppy head kick and Sklyar moves out of range easily.
Anajo throws a shot to the body.
Anajo swings for the body but Sklyar moves out of range.
Anajo tries to clinch but Sklyar is having none of it.
Sklyar throws a leg kick but Anajo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Anajo lands with a straight right. Sklyar didn't see that one coming.
Anajo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sklyar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anajo tries to land a front kick but Sklyar steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sklyar with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anajo gets caught napping as Sklyar dives in and scores a takedown. Anajo manages to retain guard.
Sklyar wants to control from the top but Anajo keeps moving.
Anajo has his hands on Sklyar's head, controlling the position.
Sklyar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Anajo wants to sweep here but Sklyar controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sklyar throws a big elbow that misses.
Anajo looking to control but Sklyar passes into half guard.
Sklyar throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sklyar slips a nice elbow through Anajo's hands, connecting with Anajo's forehead.
Anajo is looking to control Sklyar's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Anajo avoid being mounted?
Sergiy Sklyar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sklyar throws a strike but Anajo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Anajo pulls Sklyar in close to his closed guard and prevents Sklyar from doing any damage or advancing position.
Anajo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sklyar!
Anajo prevents Sklyar from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anajo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sklyar is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Anajo with shots to the head and body - Sklyar looks very uncomfortable down there.
Anajo looking to control but Sklyar is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
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!
Sklyar is looking to improve his position but Anajo isn't that keen on the idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sklyar is working hard here to advance position.
Sklyar tries to hold on but Anajo postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ketsuno Anajo really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Anajo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Anajo wants it to stay on the feet.
Anajo with a nice cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Anajo. Sklyar does a little dance to reset his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Anajo. Sklyar does a little dance to reset his feet.
Anajo swings for the body but Sklyar moves out of range.
Anajo misses with a body shot.
Anajo tries to score with a low kick but Sklyar moves his leg out of the way.
Anajo connects with a leg kick. Sklyar looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sklyar fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Anajo on the side of the head.
Anajo cracks a nice hook into Sklyar's ribs.
Donk. Anajo catches Sklyar right on the button with a cross.
Anajo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sklyar stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Anajo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Anajo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anajo is looking to slow Sklyar down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anajo works Sklyar's body with a nice hook.
Anajo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sklyar can pounce on him.
Anajo misses with a low kick.

Sklyar looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Anajo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sklyar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sklyar's back!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Anajo gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
You can see the frustration on Sklyar's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Anajo is trying to control but Sklyar is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Anajo controlling his opponent.
Anajo trying to control but Sklyar is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anajo landing strikes, looking to finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sklyar tries to hold on but Anajo pushes him away.
Anajo throws some wild stikes that Sklyar manages to avoid easily.
Sklyar bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Anajo is trying to control the position but Sklyar postures up.
Sklyar is working Anajo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sklyar with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sklyar trying to control but Anajo is working from the bottom.
Sklyar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Anajo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sklyar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Anajo keeping moving, preventing Sklyar from controlling successfully.
Sklyar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anajo is trying to keep Sklyar in close.
Sklyar throws a strike but Anajo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sklyar has his feet on Anajo's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Sklyar swings for the body but Anajo moves out of range.
Anajo lands a nice looking body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anajo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sklyar misses with an uppercut. Anajo saw that one coming.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An inside leg kick from Anajo misses.
Sklyar throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ketsuno Anajo dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Sklyar misses with a straight right.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sklyar.
Anajo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Anajo misses with a wild combination.
Anajo works the jab nicely.
Anajo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sklyar moves away.
Anajo throws a jab when Sklyar was well out of range.
Sklyar swings for the body but Anajo moves out of range.
Anajo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sklyar scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sklyar scoring well with a low kick there.
Anajo tries to work over Sklyar's front leg with a kick but Sklyar checks it.
Anajo swings widly with a right hand
and Sklyar counters with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anajo looks to score with a jab to the body but Sklyar is just out of range.
Anajo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Anajo throws a shot to the body.
Anajo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sklyar.
Sklyar lands a nice hook to Anajo's body. Anajo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sklyar tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Sklyar closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Anajo to the mat! Anajo manages to get full guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Anajo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sklyar's guard.

Sklyar is looking for a triangle here but Anajo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Sklyar is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Anajo off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anajo trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Sklyar is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Anajo. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sklyar scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Anajo is looking for a way out.
Sklyar has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Anajo breaks Sklyar's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Sklyar is trying to keep Anajo in close.
Sklyar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Anajo is one step ahead there.
Sklyar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anajo looking to pass the guard.
Sklyar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Anajo is one step ahead there.

Anajo lying in Sklyar's guard like a wet fish here, stalling away. Sklyar decides he's had enough of all that nonsense - he escapes his hips and locks up an armbar! Wow, that was slick! Anajo taps! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sergiy Sklyar!
Sergiy Sklyar retains his bantamweight title!
Sergiy Sklyar made sure to mention his sponsor, XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under! in his post fight interview.