PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jean Baptiste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janusz Niekonieczny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baptiste comes to the cage accompanied by Rodrigo y Gabriela - Orion Cover. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Baptiste
vs
Niekonieczny

172 cm
23
149 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

164 cm
22
158 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jean Baptiste!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Janusz Niekonieczny!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baptiste changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Niekonieczny tries to avoid it but Baptiste manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Niekonieczny to the ground. Niekonieczny escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Baptiste shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Niekonieczny pinned against the cage. Niekonieczny gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Baptiste misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jean Baptiste. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niekonieczny displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Baptiste.

Niekonieczny scores a takedown into full mount!
Niekonieczny with shots to the head and body - Baptiste looks very uncomfortable down there.
Niekonieczny working Baptiste over with strikes here.

Niekonieczny goes for an armbar but Baptiste turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Baptiste.
Niekonieczny pulls Baptiste in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niekonieczny trying to control the position.
Niekonieczny strikes from his own guard.
Niekonieczny is trying to keep Baptiste in close.
Baptiste preventing the sweep.

Baptiste postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Niekonieczny is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Baptiste, into his guard.

Niekonieczny drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Baptiste manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Niekonieczny has Baptiste in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Niekonieczny not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Baptiste drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Niekonieczny dives on top into guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Niekonieczny trying to control but Baptiste is working from the bottom.
Niekonieczny throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baptiste looking for subs off his back but Niekonieczny has passed one foot through into half guard.
Niekonieczny looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Baptiste with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Niekonieczny trying to control from Baptiste's half guard. Baptiste has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Niekonieczny loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Niekonieczny trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niekonieczny trying to control but Baptiste is working from the bottom.

Baptiste is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Baptiste is breathing heavily.
Niekonieczny postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Niekonieczny avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Niekonieczny trying to control but Baptiste is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Niekonieczny shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janusz Niekonieczny dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Baptiste tries for a takedown but Niekonieczny circles away easily

and Niekonieczny counters with a single leg into guard. Baptiste didn't expect that.
Niekonieczny passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Niekonieczny lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Baptiste taking punishment in the form of punches.
Niekonieczny content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Niekonieczny scoring with punches and elbows.
Niekonieczny lands a nice forearm strike.
Janusz Niekonieczny has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niekonieczny lands a decent elbow from side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Niekonieczny is trying to ground and pound but Baptiste uses the momentary lack of control by Niekonieczny to regain half guard.
Niekonieczny wants to free his trapped foot but Baptiste is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Niekonieczny has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Baptiste keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Niekonieczny not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Niekonieczny is trying to control the action in half guard but Baptiste is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Baptiste taking some punishment here, with Niekonieczny in his half guard.

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.
Niekonieczny landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Niekonieczny seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Niekonieczny is looking to pass Baptiste's guard but actually Baptiste recovers to full guard.
Niekonieczny looking to pass the guard.

Baptiste has an active guard here but Niekonieczny has managed to pass into half guard.
Niekonieczny sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Baptiste defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Niekonieczny is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Baptiste defends it well.
Baptiste wants to improve his position but Niekonieczny is controlling well.
Niekonieczny is controlling the pace.
Baptiste tries to roll over but Niekonieczny keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Niekonieczny is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Niekonieczny is trying to control the action in half guard but Baptiste is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Niekonieczny is looking for a kimura but Baptiste is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Niekonieczny to get the leverage.

Baptiste is defending against the submission attempts here by Niekonieczny.
Niekonieczny throwing shots but Baptiste is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janusz Niekonieczny showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Baptiste doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Niekonieczny counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nice strikes from Niekonieczny there.

Baptiste is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Niekonieczny pulls his head out easily.
Ground and pound from Niekonieczny.
Niekonieczny winds up and cracks Baptiste with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Niekonieczny is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Baptiste looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niekonieczny is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Baptiste!
Niekonieczny controlling his opponent.
Niekonieczny is landing with some decent strikes but Baptiste is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Baptiste is looking to get to half guard.
Niekonieczny wants to control but instead Baptiste manages to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste has hold of Niekonieczny's hands but Niekonieczny slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Baptiste blocking the ground and pound attempt from Niekonieczny.
Niekonieczny is trying to control. Baptiste wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Niekonieczny scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Niekonieczny drops an elbow to the side of Baptiste's head.
Niekonieczny working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Niekonieczny lands strikes from half guard.
Niekonieczny trying to control the action but Baptiste is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niekonieczny is looking to pass Baptiste's guard but actually Baptiste recovers to full guard.
Baptiste is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Niekonieczny passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Niekonieczny working the head with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Niekonieczny is chipping away with strikes.
Baptiste takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Niekonieczny tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Niekonieczny scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Baptiste to see if he's OK.
Niekonieczny works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Niekonieczny creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Niekonieczny in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The referee asks Niekonieczny politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Niekonieczny prefers to stall for the moment though.
Jean Baptiste has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Niekonieczny is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Baptiste has escaped the position, nice work there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Janusz Niekonieczny comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Niekonieczny 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Janusz Niekonieczny!