PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antonis Skayias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Bergasmarchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Antonis Skayias has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Skayias
vs
Bergasmarchi

182 cm
21
177 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

181 cm
23
179 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonis Skayias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gabriel Bergasmarchi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skayias shoots for a takedown but Bergasmarchi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bergasmarchi slaps away a takedown attempt from Skayias, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Skayias takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Bergasmarchi leaves Skayias with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bergasmarchi has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonis Skayias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bergasmarchi misses with a straight right.
Bergasmarchi dives in for a single leg takedown but Skayias sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Skayias can't get the takedown.
Skayias has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Skayias breaks the clinch.

Skayias gets the takedown into side control.
Skayias trying to control the action but Bergasmarchi is working from the bottom.
Skayias creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bergasmarchi sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bergasmarchi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Skayias tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's two 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.
Skayias tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Skayias wants to control for a moment but Bergasmarchi uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Bergasmarchi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Skayias performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Antonis Skayias just wasn't active enough.
Bergasmarchi throws a series of punches but Skayias moves out of range.

Bergasmarchi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Skayias looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skayias is not content to let Bergasmarchi control the position.
Bergasmarchi content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skayias is trying to get back to his feet.
Bergasmarchi trying to control the action but Skayias is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skayias regains half guard, as Bergasmarchi was trying to land strikes.
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 Antonis Skayias will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Skayias throws a looping overhand right but Bergasmarchi ducks down to avoid it.
No joy there for Bergasmarchi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Skayias throws a hook but Bergasmarchi blocks it.
Skayias dodges the punch combination from Bergasmarchi.
Jab by Bergasmarchi.
Skayias slips a jab and a cross from Bergasmarchi.
Skayias goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Gabriel Bergasmarchi has been cut.
Bergasmarchi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Skayias decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bergasmarchi wants to get back to full guard.
Skayias wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bergasmarchi keeps working.
Well, if Skayias is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Antonis Skayias wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Bergasmarchi throws a right and a left that Skayias avoids nicely.
Skayias scores with a decent looking hook.
Skayias dives in for a single leg takedown but Bergasmarchi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Skayias is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bergasmarchi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Skayias is defending well.
Bergasmarchi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Skayias is defending well.
Bergasmarchi wants a takedown.
Antonis Skayias has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Bergasmarchi.
Skayias has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bergasmarchi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bergasmarchi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Skayias is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Skayias breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bergasmarchi looks for a takedown but Skayias sprawls well.
Skayias fails with the takedown.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Skayias.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A decent looking cross lands there for Skayias.
Bergasmarchi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Skayias.

Bergasmarchi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Skayias wants to get back to his feet.
Bergasmarchi trying to control the action but Skayias is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skayias manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bergasmarchi's best efforts.
Bergasmarchi is trying to control the action in half guard but Skayias is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Skayias is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Skayias has a hand on Bergasmarchi's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Bergasmarchi takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Skayias is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skayias is working hard here to advance position.
Bergasmarchi landing shots from mount.
Antonis Skayias overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bergasmarchi throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Bergasmarchi wants to control the pace but Skayias is squirming around nicely.
Skayias tries to hold on but Bergasmarchi postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skayias sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonis Skayias dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Bergasmarchi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Skayias connects with a jab.
Bergasmarchi throws a lazy right hand but Skayias sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bergasmarchi slaps away a takedown attempt from Skayias, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jab, jab by Skayias - just one landing.
Bergasmarchi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Skayias.
Skayias sizes up Bergasmarchi with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bergasmarchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Skayias manages to avoid it.
Antonis Skayias is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Skayias throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bergasmarchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Skayias lands with a right hand.
Skayias slaps away a takedown attempt from Bergasmarchi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Skayias looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Bergasmarchi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Skayias sprawls well initially but Bergasmarchi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bergasmarchi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bergasmarchi uses his free foot to push down on Skayias's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Skayias.
Skayias is desperately trying to improve his position but Bergasmarchi has a good base and remains in mount.
Bergasmarchi throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Skayias can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bergasmarchi content just to control the position here.
Bergasmarchi trying to control but Skayias is having none of it.
Bergasmarchi content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bergasmarchi avoids the attempt from Skayias to control.
Antonis Skayias is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bergasmarchi controlling from mount.
Skayias tries to hold on but Bergasmarchi pushes him away.
Gabriel Bergasmarchi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A jab lands there for Skayias.
Bergasmarchi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Skayias.
Bergasmarchi slips a jab and a cross from Skayias.

Bergasmarchi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Skayias napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Skayias taking punishment in the form of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bergasmarchi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Skayias is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Bergasmarchi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Skayias 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonis Skayias!
After winning the bout, Antonis Skayias thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.