PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marek Brychczy (ranked 6498 p4p, 4264 weight class) and Ari Katajamaki (ranked 281 p4p, 219 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Brychczy
vs
Katajamaki

166 cm
19
135
1 - 1 - 0

162 cm
19
135
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marek Brychczy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Katajamaki!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brychczy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Katajamaki is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Katajamaki takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Katajamaki closes the distance looking to clinch
and Brychczy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Katajamaki shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Brychczy is trying to defend but Katajamaki finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Brychczy gets back to full guard.
Brychczy on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Brychczy tries to get out of the position.
Brychczy managing to control the position.
Brychczy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Katajamaki's guard.

Brychczy not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Brychczy trying to move into half guard but instead Katajamaki has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Katajamaki's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Brychczy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Brychczy has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Brychczy's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Katajamaki postures up.
Katajamaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Katajamaki being controlled here momentarily.
Brychczy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Brychczy is really struggling to control Katajamaki but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Brychczy controlling the position.
Katajamaki is pushing down on Brychczy's leg trying to pass to half guard. Brychczy is fighting to maintain full guard but Katajamaki has managed to sneak the leg through.
Brychczy is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Katajamaki not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Katajamaki is trying to control. Brychczy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Brychczy trying to hold on to Katajamaki's head to control him but Katajamaki postures up.
Katajamaki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Brychczy keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Katajamaki is thwarting Brychczy's attempts to control the position.
Brychczy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Katajamaki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Brychczy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Brychczy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Katajamaki manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brychczy controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Brychczy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Brychczy preventing the sweep.
Katajamaki trying to keep a closed guard but Brychczy is proving a slippery customer.
Brychczy controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Brychczy has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Brychczy digs a good hook to Katajamaki's body.
Brychczy lands a two punch combo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Katajamaki is defended easily by Brychczy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Katajamaki.
Katajamaki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Katajamaki shoots and misses
and Brychczy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marek Brychczy dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Katajamaki is looking to clinch but Brychczy is avoiding it.

Katajamaki shoots in and bounces Brychczy off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Brychczy is adopting a defensive guard.
Brychczy looking to control.
Brychczy seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Brychczy keeping moving, preventing Katajamaki from controlling successfully.
Katajamaki won't allow Brychczy to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katajamaki scoring with some ground and pound.
Brychczy is pulling down on Katajamaki's head. It's preventing any offense from Katajamaki, at least for the moment.
Katajamaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Brychczy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brychczy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Katajamaki is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brychczy is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Katajamaki is looking to work some ground and pound but Brychczy has wrist control.
Katajamaki stopping the sweep attempt from Brychczy.
Katajamaki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Brychczy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Katajamaki manages to get himself to full guard.

Brychczy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Katajamaki can do to turn this around?
Katajamaki being controlled here, momentarily.
Katajamaki has control of Brychczy's left arm, preventing Brychczy from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brychczy showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Further stalling from Brychczy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Brychczy throws out a loose jab but Katajamaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Katajamaki misses with a takedown attempt
and Brychczy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Katajamaki moves forwards but Brychczy connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Brychczy throws the left hand but Katajamaki avoids the punch easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Katajamaki.
Katajamaki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Brychczy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Katajamaki somewhat.
Katajamaki has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Marek Brychczy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ari Katajamaki.
Katajamaki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Brychczy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki slips a straight right by Brychczy.

Katajamaki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Katajamaki working over Brychczy with some ground and pound. Brychczy looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Katajamaki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Brychczy trying to hold on to Katajamaki's head to control him but Katajamaki postures up.
Brychczy keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Brychczy controlling the position for now.
Brychczy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Katajamaki.
Brychczy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Katajamaki.
Brychczy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Brychczy trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Katajamaki trying to control the action but Brychczy is working from the bottom.
Brychczy trying to control from the bottom.
Brychczy is controlling Katajamaki's position as best he can from this difficult position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marek Brychczy will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Katajamaki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Brychczy.
Katajamaki takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Katajamaki shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Katajamaki lands strikes from half guard.
Brychczy tries to get to full guard but Katajamaki has control of the leg.
Brychczy is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Katajamaki's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Katajamaki's back!
Brychczy has good solid back control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katajamaki turns into Brychczy and is now in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brychczy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Brychczy is adopting a defensive guard.
Brychczy working a defensive guard here.
Brychczy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Katajamaki is one step ahead there.
Katajamaki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Katajamaki landing with the ground and pound.
Katajamaki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Brychczy's head.
Brychczy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Katajamaki.
Brychczy is controlling Katajamaki's posture.
Brychczy wants to sweep here but Katajamaki controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki cracks Brychczy with a solid left hand.
Brychczy is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Brychczy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Katajamaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Brychczy has control of Katajamaki's left arm, preventing Katajamaki from doing any damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Katajamaki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Katajamaki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Brychczy keeping moving, preventing Katajamaki from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Marek Brychczy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Katajamaki tries for a takedown but Brychczy circles away easily
and Brychczy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Katajamaki dives in and grabs Brychczy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Brychczy pushes down on Katajamaki's head and hops out.
A telegraphed right hand from Brychczy misses the target.

Brychczy pushes Katajamaki up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Brychczy avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Marek Brychczy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ari Katajamaki.
Katajamaki drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Brychczy gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Katajamaki is working for takedown but Brychczy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Brychczy blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ari Katajamaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brychczy cracks Katajamaki with a nice body shot.
Katajamaki misses with the head strike.
Katajamaki misses with a body punch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Katajamaki tries to throw a body punch but Brychczy avoids it by throwing Katajamaki back against the cage.
Katajamaki has Brychczy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Brychczy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Katajamaki struggles to land a body shot inside as Brychczy controls his hands.

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 Marek Brychczy.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Brychczy, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marek Brychczy!