PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Janek Zielinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Wirtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zielinski
vs
Wirtanen

179 cm
20
154 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Janek Zielinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Henry Wirtanen!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zielinski misses with a few strikes there.
Wirtanen throws a left and a right that both miss

and Zielinski moves into the clinch.
Zielinski tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wirtanen smiles and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Wirtanen. No joy for Zielinski on that attempt.

Wirtanen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Wirtanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zielinski is keeping the position for now.
Wirtanen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Wirtanen prevents Zielinski from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zielinski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zielinski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Zielinski is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wirtanen defends well.
Wirtanen preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zielinski has his takedown stuffed

and Wirtanen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Janek Zielinski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zielinski can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wirtanen controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wirtanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zielinski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zielinski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wirtanen is one step ahead there.
Zielinski working a defensive guard here.

Zielinski has his foot on Wirtanen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Wirtanen works his way back into a safe position though.
Zielinski is breathing heavily.
Wirtanen wants to pass the guard but Zielinski is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zielinski trying to keep a closed guard but Wirtanen is proving a slippery customer.
Zielinski can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wirtanen controls the pace.

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

Wirtanen feints and as Zielinski raises his hands in defense, Wirtanen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wirtanen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zielinski is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zielinski keeping full guard, as Wirtanen tries to pass.
Wirtanen won't allow Zielinski to sweep him here.
Wirtanen prevents Zielinski from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wirtanen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zielinski to the mat! Zielinski manages to get full guard.
Wirtanen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wirtanen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wirtanen preventing the sweep.
Zielinski is trying to keep Wirtanen in close.
Wirtanen stays in close to Zielinski's body and controls the position.
Wirtanen prevents Zielinski from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wirtanen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Zielinski is trying to control the position but Wirtanen postures up.
Wirtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Zielinski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wirtanen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Wirtanen walks into a straight right hand from Zielinski.
Zielinski throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

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.
Zielinski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zielinski lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Wirtanen at a distance.
Horrible takedown by Wirtanen or perhaps it was just good defense by Zielinski which made him look bad.
Janek Zielinski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zielinski misses with a takedown

and Wirtanen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wirtanen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Wirtanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zielinski keeps working.
Zielinski is trying to stand up here but Wirtanen is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wirtanen is taking a breather. Zielinski says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Wirtanen passes to side control.
Zielinski is trying to get back to half guard.
Zielinski struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Wirtanen controls the position.
Wirtanen prevents Zielinski from escaping the position.
Zielinski being controlled for a moment.
Zielinski tries to buck Wirtanen off but Wirtanen is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Wirtanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Zielinski misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zielinski displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wirtanen.
Wirtanen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nice body punch from Zielinski.

Zielinski drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zielinski won't allow Wirtanen to sweep him here.
Zielinski trying to control the position from guard on top but Wirtanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Wirtanen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wirtanen wants to sweep here but Zielinski controlling him for the moment.
Zielinski content to stall in guard here.
Henry Wirtanen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zielinski thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zielinski trying to control the position from guard on top but Wirtanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zielinski shoots and misses

and Wirtanen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zielinski won't be happy with that.
Wirtanen controlling the position.
Wirtanen is looking to take a break and control but Zielinski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zielinski isn't going anywhere.
You can see the frustration on Zielinski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wirtanen taking a breather here.
Zielinski managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Wirtanen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zielinski is not content to let Wirtanen control the position.
Henry Wirtanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zielinski struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Wirtanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wirtanen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Wirtanen!