PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Larry Luutch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arek Szleszynski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luutch comes to the cage accompanied by job2 do - doo doo doo. Szleszynski has chosen Disturbed - Voices as his entrance music. Arek Szleszynski told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Luutch
vs
Szleszynski

185 cm
21
150 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

181 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Larry Luutch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arek Szleszynski!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szleszynski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Szleszynski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Luutch circles away.
Luutch tries to clinch but Szleszynski moves out of range.
Luutch fails to land with a series of punches.
Luutch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Luutch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Luutch goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Szleszynski avoids the head kick by Luutch.
Szleszynski walks forward, straight into a front kick from Luutch.

Luutch shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Szleszynski's guard.
Luutch sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Szleszynski's guard.
Szleszynski wants to control the action here but instead Luutch manages to pass to full mount!

Luutch is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Szleszynski can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Szleszynski tries to lock up and control but Luutch gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Szleszynski is looking to improve his position but Luutch isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szleszynski is controlling an arm, preventing Luutch from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Szleszynski is desperately trying to improve his position but Luutch has a good base and remains in mount.
Szleszynski prevents Luutch from taking his back.

Luutch get's back to his feet.
Luutch is breathing heavily.
Luutch shoots and misses
and Szleszynski makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Luutch wants to clinch

and Szleszynski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Szleszynski trying to control the position from guard on top but Luutch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szleszynski slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Luutch keeping moving, preventing Szleszynski from controlling successfully.
Luutch doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Luutch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Szleszynski works over Luutch with some ground and pound from guard.

Luutch had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Szleszynski is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Luutch Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Szleszynski's back instead.
Szleszynski manages to reverse the position and now he's in Luutch's guard. Nice work there by Szleszynski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luutch preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Luutch lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Szleszynski!
Szleszynski tries to lock up and control but Luutch gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Luutch trying to control but Szleszynski is having none of it.

Luutch gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Luutch throws a head kick that misses

and Szleszynski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luutch wants to get back to his feet but Szleszynski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Szleszynski seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Szleszynski looking to pass the guard.

Luutch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Szleszynski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Luutch has his foot on Szleszynski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Szleszynski works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Luutch dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Luutch tries to land a front kick but Szleszynski steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Luutch has his takedown stuffed

and Szleszynski counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Szleszynski wants a takedown.
Luutch is looking to break free of the clinch but Szleszynski has double underhooks.
Luutch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Szleszynski drops down looking for an ankle pick but Luutch pulls his leg out and moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Szleszynski.
Larry Luutch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arek Szleszynski.
Luutch doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Szleszynski counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Luutch!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Szleszynski has hold of Luutch's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Luutch manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Szleszynski throwing strikes here but Luutch is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luutch keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Szleszynski is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Luutch has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Luutch!
Szleszynski tries to strike from the bottom.

Luutch decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Szleszynski, up you get!
Luutch lands a nice looking kick to the body. Szleszynski takes a step back to recover.
A head kick from Luutch lands but Szleszynski takes it in his stride.
Nice body kick from Luutch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luutch throws a head kick that misses.
Szleszynski with a nice cross.

Szleszynski shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Szleszynski showed some decent athleticism there.
Luutch is looking to improve his position.
Luutch gets back to full guard.
Luutch is trying to keep Szleszynski in close.
Szleszynski tries to free his leg and advance position but Luutch is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luutch wants to get back to his feet but Szleszynski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Luutch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Luutch looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Szleszynski puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Luutch is trying to stand up here but Szleszynski is controlling him well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Szleszynski connects with a nice short shot to Luutch's temple.
Luutch really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Szleszynski seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Luutch does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Luutch throws a head kick that misses.
Luutch misses with a head kick.

Szleszynski looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Luutch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Szleszynski is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Luutch working for a triangle but Szleszynski defends it easily.
Szleszynski works over Luutch with some ground and pound from guard.

Luutch working for a triangle but Szleszynski defends it easily.
Szleszynski pushing down on Luutch's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Arek Szleszynski will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Szleszynski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Arek Szleszynski has got the better of the ground game so far.

Luutch had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Szleszynski is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Luutch Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Szleszynski's back instead.
Szleszynski tries to break free.
Szleszynski looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Luutch is landing with strikes from the back.

Luutch is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Szleszynski defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Luutch scores with punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luutch is trying to stick to Szleszynski's back but Szleszynski is turning into Luutch. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Luutch's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Szleszynski.
Szleszynski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Luutch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Szleszynski doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Szleszynski manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Szleszynski looking to pass the guard.

Luutch has his foot on Szleszynski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Szleszynski works his way back into a safe position though.

Szleszynski drops back looking for a leg! Luutch is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Luutch manages to kick Szleszynski off! Szleszynski jumps back into Luutch's guard.
Luutch is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Szleszynski is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Luutch looking to control.
Luutch is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Luutch looking to control but Szleszynski passes into half guard.

Luutch kicks Szleszynski off and gets back to his feet.
Luutch gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Szleszynski counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Szleszynski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Szleszynski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Luutch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luutch manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Luutch stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Szleszynski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Luutch as he jumps to the side.
Luutch tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Luutch throws a head kick that misses
and Szleszynski counters with a good, hard body kick but Luutch shrugs it off.
Luutch keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Luutch tries to clinch but Szleszynski moves away

and Szleszynski counters with a shoot takedown. Luutch fights it but they end up in guard.
Luutch lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Szleszynski!

Luutch is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Luutch.

Szleszynski gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Luutch escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Luutch with a poor takedown

and Szleszynski counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
Szleszynski prevents Luutch from improving his position.
Szleszynski is trying to control the action in half guard but Luutch is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Luutch kicks Szleszynski off and gets back to his feet.
Luutch shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Szleszynski counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arek Szleszynski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Szleszynski has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arek Szleszynski!