PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Wojtek Czyzewski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe De Lara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Czyzewski
vs
De Lara

182 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Wojtek Czyzewski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe De Lara!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Czyzewski takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

De Lara darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
De Lara thows a huge punch but Czyzewski dodges it nicely.
Czyzewski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
De Lara seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
De Lara's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Czyzewski wants to get back to full guard.
De Lara wants to take a breather but Czyzewski is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Czyzewski gets back to full guard.
Czyzewski is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
De Lara has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Czyzewski is working away from the top position though.
Czyzewski trying to control from half guard but De Lara is working away.
De Lara is pressing down on Czyzewski's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Czyzewski throws a big right hand that misses.
Czyzewski is looking to stand up but De Lara won't let him.
Czyzewski scoring with some ground and pound.
De Lara tries to land a sweep but no joy.

De Lara working for a triangle but Czyzewski defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Lara is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Czyzewski tries to roll over but De Lara keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Czyzewski is breathing heavily.
De Lara lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Czyzewski is pressing down on De Lara's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Czyzewski working a defensive guard here.
De Lara wants to control from the top but Czyzewski keeps moving.

Czyzewski is looking for a triangle but De Lara pushes his legs off easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Czyzewski is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Lara managing to control the position.
De Lara manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
De Lara manages to capitalize on a mistake by Czyzewski to take his back!
De Lara scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Czyzewski is looking for a way out.

De Lara is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
De Lara is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Czyzewski. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
De Lara punishes Czyzewski with strikes from the back mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Lara just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
De Lara lands shots from the back.

De Lara is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Czyzewski has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
De Lara is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Czyzewski tries to roll but De Lara sticks to his back.
Czyzewski turns into De Lara and is now in his guard.

De Lara uses the cage to get back to his feet.

De Lara gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Czyzewski sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Czyzewski trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but De Lara manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Czyzewski tries for a takedown but De Lara circles away easily

and De Lara counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Czyzewski's guard now.
Czyzewski keeping moving, preventing De Lara from controlling successfully.
Czyzewski looking for a sweep. Not yet Czyzewski, not yet.
De Lara postures up.
De Lara wants to pass the guard but Czyzewski is keeping the position.
Czyzewski is controlling De Lara's posture.
De Lara wants to stand but Czyzewski is controlling his posture from full guard.
De Lara trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Czyzewski gets caught flat footed, as De Lara shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Czyzewski working a defensive guard here.
De Lara would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
De Lara is breathing heavily.
Czyzewski lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for De Lara!
A nice elbow there by Czyzewski.
Czyzewski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as De Lara is looking to escape.
Czyzewski lands with some vicious ground and pound - can De Lara hang on?
Czyzewski lands a big shot there that rocks De Lara but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
A nice elbow there by Czyzewski.
Czyzewski avoids the attempt from De Lara to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Czyzewski landing punches.

De Lara bucks up and throws Czyzewski to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
De Lara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Czyzewski as De Lara shoots in.

Czyzewski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Czyzewski is landing with some decent strikes but De Lara is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Czyzewski fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
De Lara keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Czyzewski looking to control but De Lara is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Czyzewski throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for De Lara because Czyzewski loaded up on that one.
Czyzewski wants to control the pace but De Lara is squirming around nicely.
De Lara is looking to improve his position but Czyzewski isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Lara holds on, trying desperately to control.
Czyzewski trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Czyzewski scoring with strikes but De Lara is staying in there.
De Lara tries to hold on but Czyzewski pushes him away.
Czyzewski controlling the position easily from mount.
Czyzewski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as De Lara is looking to escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Wojtek Czyzewski.
Czyzewski misses with a takedown
and De Lara counters with a series of strikes. Czyzewski will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Czyzewski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and De Lara holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wojtek Czyzewski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Czyzewski looking to slow down the pace here.

De Lara breaks from the clinch.
Czyzewski with a poor takedown

and De Lara decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Czyzewski's guard.
De Lara advances position into side control!De Lara scores with punches from side control.
De Lara lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Czyzewski down.
You can see the frustration on Czyzewski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Czyzewski tries to improve position but can't.
De Lara tries to stand but Czyzewski is controlling his head.
Czyzewski tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe De Lara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Czyzewski with a lazy takedown attempt

and De Lara counters with a nice double leg into guard.
De Lara postures up.

De Lara decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
De Lara doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Czyzewski counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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!
Czyzewski postures up and lands a big shot to De Lara's brow.
Czyzewski pushing down on De Lara's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Czyzewski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
De Lara is trying to control but can't.
De Lara wants to improve his position but Czyzewski is controlling well.
De Lara moves into full guard.
De Lara working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
De Lara manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Czyzewski manages to get himself to full guard.
Joe De Lara has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Lara stands up over Czyzewski, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

De Lara stands and steps away. Czyzewski gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

De Lara shoots in and bounces Czyzewski off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

De Lara gets to his feet - Czyzewski follows without any prompting.

Czyzewski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
De Lara in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Czyzewski connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Czyzewski lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Czyzewski trying to control but De Lara is having none of it.
Czyzewski looking to finish De Lara with some ground and pound. This is bad for De Lara!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Czyzewski controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Czyzewski tries to control but De Lara wriggling away.

De Lara defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Czyzewski.
De Lara is wriggling around trying to escape.
De Lara tries to hold on but Czyzewski postures up.
De Lara is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
De Lara wants to control but Czyzewski is having none of it.
Czyzewski throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Lara tries to hold on but Czyzewski pushes him away.
De Lara is trying to stand.
Czyzewski is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. De Lara can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Czyzewski looking to finish De Lara with some ground and pound. This is bad for De Lara!
Czyzewski wants to control the pace but De Lara is squirming around nicely.
De Lara looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Czyzewski lands a heavy elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Czyzewski goes for an armbar but he's not got it… De Lara turns into him and now he's in Czyzewski's guard.
De Lara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Czyzewski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
De Lara won't allow Czyzewski to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Czyzewski is trying to keep De Lara in close.

Czyzewski throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Czyzewski looking to control.
Czyzewski looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but De Lara puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Czyzewski manages to get to full guard.
Czyzewski throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Czyzewski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
De Lara postures up.
Wojtek Czyzewski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Czyzewski looking for submissions from the bottom but instead De Lara passes into half guard.

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 Wojtek Czyzewski.
Well De Lara has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe De Lara!