PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Skog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Puzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Puzo has chosen Speak Softly Love as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Skog
vs
Puzo

178 cm
28
178 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

185 cm
29
187 lbs
16 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

KAISER Nutrition - Q160

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dan Skog!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mario Puzo!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Puzo takes the fight into the clinch.

Puzo breaks the clinch.

Skog clinches up against the cage.
Skog's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Skog blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Puzo blocks a body shot from Skog.
Puzo lands a nice shot to the body.

Skog breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Skog throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Puzo stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Puzo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Skog cracks Puzo with a good jab.

Puzo clinches up with Skog and pushes him back against the cage.
Skog tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Puzo has a couple of punches blocked by Skog.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Skog's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Skog attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Skog jabs at Puzo's body.
Puzo connects with the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puzo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As Puzo backs away, Skog returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Puzo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Skog.
Puzo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Skog.
Skog slips under a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Puzo. Skog does a little dance to reset his feet.
Skog shoots in for a takedown but Puzo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Skog feints and then cracks Puzo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Puzo down.
Puzo throws a shot from downtown. Skog moves away and avoids it.
Puzo sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Puzo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Skog misses with a low kick.
Puzo tests Skog's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Skog.
Skog misses with an uppercut.
A countering left hand to the body from Puzo misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skog throws a nice inside leg kick.
Skog keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Puzo.
Skog throws a push kick but Puzo slaps the foot to one side.

Puzo tries to keep at a distance but Skog has taken the fight into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Skog escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Puzo misses with an uppercut.
Puzo misses with a straight right.
Skog blocks a head kick by Puzo.
Skog lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Puzo misses with a straight left.

Skog shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Puzo is trying to stand back up but Skog is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skog missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've been hearing that Skog has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Skog takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Skog looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Puzo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Puzo is positioning himself well to prevent Skog advancing to mount.
Puzo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Skog throwing shots but Puzo is blocking nicely.
Skog seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Puzo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Skog slows the pace down in half guard.
Skog wants to take a breather but Puzo is having none of it.
Skog trying to control from Puzo's half guard. Puzo has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Skog throws a big elbow that misses.
Skog preventing the sweep.
Skog content to stall in guard here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Puzo keeping moving, preventing Skog from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
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 Dan Skog will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Puzo slips a straight right by Skog.
Puzo misses with a body shot.
Puzo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Skog.
Skog scores with a decent looking hook.
Skog lands with a nice body punch.
Skog tries to land a front kick but Puzo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Puzo tries a quick counter leg kick but Skog is wise to it.
Puzo moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Skog fails with the takedown
and Puzo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Skog throws a leg kick that misses.
Puzo only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Skog is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Puzo.
Puzo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Skog.
Skog tries a low kick but Puzo avoids it.

Skog gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Skog misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skog manages to break the clinch.
Puzo lands a jab to the nose.
Skog swings for the body but Puzo moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Puzo misses the target.
Skog throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Skog will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Puzo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Skog throws a combination that misses
and Puzo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Puzo misses the body punch
enabling Skog to counter with a crisp jab.
Skog loads up on a big right hand but Puzo slips the punch.
Puzo throws the left hand but Skog avoids the punch easily.
Puzo wants to land a leg kick but Skog is out of range.
Puzo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Skog.
Skog throws an off balance right hand
and Puzo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Skog throws a body punch but Puzo moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skog cracks Puzo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Dan Skog is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Puzo misses with a left hand
and Skog counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Skog thows a left - swing and a miss!
Puzo only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Mario Puzo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Puzo takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Puzo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Puzo looks to clinch
and Skog counters with a straight right hand.
Skog ducks under a wild hook from Puzo.
Puzo staying out of range there.
Skog moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromPuzo.

Skog clinches.
Skog blocks a body shot from Puzo.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Skog.
Puzo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Puzo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Puzo has a couple of punches blocked by Skog.
Skog tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skog is working Puzo over against the cage.
Puzo can't find room to land a body shot as Skog controls the action.
Skog lands a left hand.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Puzo.
Skog lands with a short shot to the head.

Puzo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Skog throws a lazy right hand but Puzo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Puzo is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Skog works the jab nicely.
Puzo lands a nice looking body shot.
Skog shoots for a double leg takedown but Puzo sprawls well. He's pushed Skog's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Skog shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Skog is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Puzo can do to turn this around?
Puzo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Skog.
Puzo connects with a body shot.
Puzo scores with a nice strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Skog keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Puzo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Puzo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Puzo moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Skog misses with an uppercut
letting Puzo counter with a right hand.
Skog uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Puzo.
Puzo throws a body shot but no joy.
A little feinted left hand from Skog on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Puzo swinging wildly here.
A head kick misses from Puzo.
Puzo takes one to the side of the head.
Skog throws a quick inside leg kick.
Skog throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Puzo on the side of the head.
Nice takedown defense from Puzo. No joy for Skog on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dan Skog will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Skog misses with a hook.
Puzo misses with a straight right.
Skog displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Puzo throws out the jab.
Puzo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Skog was well out of range. Poor timing from Puzo.

Skog gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Puzo.

Puzo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Skog ducks under a wild hook from Puzo.
Skog blocks the body kick.
Puzo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Skog.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puzo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A low kick from Skog misses
and Skog takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Puzo throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Skog's head.

Skog gets a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Skog.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puzo takes a shot to the head.
Skog working aggressively here.
Skog lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Puzo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Puzo blocks a body shot from Skog.
Puzo lands with a short shot to the head.

Skog escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Skog pushes Puzo up against the cage in a clinch.
Puzo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Puzo misses with a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Puzo.

Skog breaks from the clinch.
Skog throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Skog looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A swing and a miss from Puzo.
Puzo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puzo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Skog. Skog circles away out of range and recomposes 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!
Puzo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Skog moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Puzo's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Skog connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Puzo scrambles back to his feet.
Skog throws a body punch but Puzo moves out of range.

Skog moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Skog.
Skog fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Skog tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Puzo.

Puzo breaks from the clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Puzo blocks the leg kick.
Mario Puzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Skog misses with a hook. Puzo ducked under it nicely.
Puzo 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skog tries to move into range but Puzo moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Puzo throws an off balance right hand
and Skog counters with an outside leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Skog. Beautiful body shot.
Puzo throws a body shot but no joy.
Skog throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Puzo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Puzo lands with a nice body punch.
Skog lands an overhand right.
Skog lands a nice leg kick that just misses Puzo's sensitive parts.
Puzo misses with a hook to the body
and Skog counters with a straight right hand.
Nice shot lands for Skog.
Puzo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Skog stuns Puzo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Puzo wants to clinch up but Skog keeps it at a distance.
Skog misses with a lunging right hand
and Puzo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Puzo sends Skog crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Puzo is motioning to the referee to let Skog up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Dan Skog is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Skog is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skog throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Oh Skog is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Skog rushes Puzo and presses him up against the cage.
A short right from Puzo.
Puzo lands a big right hand that drops Skog! The killer instinct kicks in and Puzo finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Puzo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mario Puzo!
In his post fight interview, Mario Puzo started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.