PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Skjelbred (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denny Prokopos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Skjelbred comes to the cage accompanied by Bad To The Bone. Prokopos has chosen Deep River Blues - Doc Watson as his entrance music. 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?

Skjelbred
vs
Prokopos

175 cm
34
124 lbs
23 - 16 - 0

180 cm
34
144 lbs
25 - 11 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
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 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Skjelbred!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Denny Prokopos!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skjelbred misses with a kick to the body.
Skjelbred is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Prokopos.
Skjelbred tries to clinch up
and Prokopos counters with a straight right hand.

Prokopos changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Skjelbred looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Prokopos wants to control for a moment but Skjelbred uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Skjelbred wants to improve his position but Prokopos is controlling well.
Prokopos passes to side control.

Prokopos tries for a kimura but Skjelbred is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skjelbred tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Prokopos wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Skjelbred gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Skjelbred really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Skjelbred manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Prokopos passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Skjelbred!
Skjelbred really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred is trying to reverse the position but instead Prokopos has taken his back - oops!

Prokopos is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Skjelbred has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Skjelbred showing good submission defense here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Skjelbred has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
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!

Prokopos looking for the RNC.

Prokopos looking for the choke from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos tries to get the hooks in deep but Skjelbred pushed the leg off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skjelbred wants to escape the position.
Skjelbred trying to control but not successfully.
Prokopos keeps control of the position as Skjelbred tries to break free.

Prokopos tightening his grip on Skjelbred, looking for the choke.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Prokopos's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred breaks Prokopos's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Skjelbred trying to control but Prokopos is working from the bottom.

Prokopos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Skjelbred is aware though and is defending well.

Prokopos looking for a guillotine here but Skjelbred defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Prokopos keeping moving, preventing Skjelbred from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Skjelbred shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Skjelbred showed some decent athleticism there.
Skjelbred has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Skjelbred goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Prokopos turns into him and now he's in Skjelbred's guard.
Prokopos trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Skjelbred manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skjelbred advances to half guard.

Skjelbred trying to work for an americana but Prokopos has managed to regain full guard.
Prokopos manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Skjelbred is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denny Prokopos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Skjelbred tries to improve his position but instead Prokopos has taken his back!

Skjelbred showing good submission defense here.
Skjelbred breaks Prokopos's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Prokopos working for a triangle but Skjelbred defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Prokopos can't keep his opponent in guard - Skjelbred advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred wants to pass to mount but Prokopos is defending the position.

Skjelbred is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Prokopos is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Skjelbred pulls his head out easily.

Prokopos looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Prokopos looking for submissions off his back.

Skjelbred is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Prokopos is just riding it out for now. Skjelbred eventually gives up the hold.
Skjelbred working Prokopos over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Skjelbred dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Skjelbred moves in looking to clinch but Prokopos pushes him off.
Skjelbred dives in and grabs Prokopos's left leg, looking for a takedown. Prokopos pushes down on Skjelbred's head and hops out.
Skjelbred lands with a kick to the temple. Prokopos shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Prokopos avoids the head kick by Skjelbred.
Prokopos stuffs the takedown.
John Skjelbred seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Prokopos misses the jab.
Skjelbred throws a series of punches but Prokopos moves out of range.
Prokopos misses with the combination.
Skjelbred shoots in for a takedown but Prokopos shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Skjelbred. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skjelbred swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Prokopos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Skjelbred defends it nicely.
Prokopos scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Skjelbred doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skjelbred showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Prokopos.
Prokopos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Skjelbred is looking to clinch.
Skjelbred uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Prokopos.

Skjelbred gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Prokopos to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Skjelbred is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Prokopos preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skjelbred is looking for a triangle but Prokopos pushes his legs off easily.
Skjelbred is striking off his back. Prokopos thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Skjelbred moves into full guard.

Prokopos drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Skjelbred dives on top into guard.
Skjelbred trying to control the position from guard on top but Prokopos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Prokopos working for submissions but it's allowed Skjelbred to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred wants to lay and pray for a moment but Prokopos keeps working.
Prokopos moves into full guard.
Skjelbred throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Prokopos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Skjelbred postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Skjelbred got a little sloppy there for a moment and Prokopos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Skjelbred has managed to get both his arms back between Prokopos's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Prokopos controls Skjelbred momentarily but Skjelbred frees himself.
Skjelbred in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Prokopos has his foot on Skjelbred's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Skjelbred works his way back into a safe position though.
Skjelbred trying to control the position from guard on top but Prokopos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skjelbred wants to pass the guard but Prokopos is keeping the position.

Prokopos isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Skjelbred stacks Prokopos on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Skjelbred!

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 John Skjelbred.
I think Skjelbred 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Skjelbred!
John Skjelbred thanked the fans post fight for their support.