PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mieszko Szczygiel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Mieszko Szczygiel has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Szczygiel
vs
Gracie

175 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mieszko Szczygiel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Szczygiel moves into the clinch successfully.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Szczygiel gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Szczygiel misses with a knee strike.
Szczygiel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Szczygiel tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Szczygiel tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Szczygiel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Szczygiel manages to get underhooks.
Szczygiel misses with a knee to the head.
Szczygiel creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Szczygiel comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Szczygiel holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Szczygiel tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Szczygiel lands a knee to the head.
Szczygiel lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Gracie blocks an elbow strike from Szczygiel.
Szczygiel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Szczygiel just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mieszko Szczygiel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Gracie.
Szczygiel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Gracie's defenses.
Szczygiel avoids the elbow strike from Gracie, against the cage.
Szczygiel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Szczygiel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Szczygiel lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczygiel misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Szczygiel gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Szczygiel just stands there and leans against the cage.
Szczygiel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Szczygiel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
Szczygiel misses with a knee strike.
Szczygiel tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Szczygiel is breathing heavily.
Szczygiel misses with a knee strike.
Szczygiel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
Gracie is trying to force a seperation but Szczygiel has the dominant position.
Szczygiel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Szczygiel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Szczygiel tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Gracie drops down looking for an ankle pick but Szczygiel pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gracie misses with a looping right.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.

Gracie decides to stand up, so the ref orders Szczygiel to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel keeps the fight on the outside.
Szczygiel scores with a spinning back kick!
Mieszko Szczygiel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie tries to clinch but Szczygiel is having none of it.

Szczygiel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Szczygiel landing knees to the head.
Gracie jumps guard but Szczygiel stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Szczygiel looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Szczygiel holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but Szczygiel blocks it.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Szczygiel gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel misses with an elbow strike.
Szczygiel tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Szczygiel pushes off an throws an elbow but Gracie leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Szczygiel.
Szczygiel has Gracie pressed against the cage, preventing Gracie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Szczygiel just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gracie dodges an elbow strike from Szczygiel.
Szczygiel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Szczygiel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but Szczygiel blocks it.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Szczygiel lands a nice elbow.
Szczygiel looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Szczygiel won't allow it.
Szczygiel pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Gracie wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Szczygiel's elbow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Szczygiel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Szczygiel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Szczygiel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
Szczygiel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Szczygiel tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Szczygiel tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Gracie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Szczygiel gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Szczygiel won't allow it.
Szczygiel tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Szczygiel with a knee to the head.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Szczygiel looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Szczygiel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mieszko Szczygiel dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Szczygiel misses with a kick to the body.
Szczygiel is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.

Szczygiel moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Gracie tries to work over Szczygiel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Szczygiel.
Szczygiel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Szczygiel lands a nice elbow.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Szczygiel won't allow it.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Szczygiel looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Szczygiel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gracie dodges an elbow strike from Szczygiel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szczygiel tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Szczygiel misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Szczygiel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Mieszko Szczygiel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Gracie.
Szczygiel tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Gracie jumps guard but Szczygiel stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Szczygiel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie drops down looking for an ankle pick but Szczygiel pulls his leg out and moves away.

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Szczygiel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Szczygiel is looking to improve his position.
Szczygiel is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Gracie is taking a breather. Szczygiel 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.
Szczygiel pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.

Royce Gracie has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Szczygiel throws a leg kick that misses.
Szczygiel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Szczygiel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Szczygiel.
Nice body kick there by Szczygiel.
Szczygiel connects with an inside leg kick.
Szczygiel wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Szczygiel throws a low kick but Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Szczygiel circles away and keeps his distance.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Szczygiel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Szczygiel being controlled here, momentarily.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Szczygiel is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Szczygiel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Szczygiel attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Gracie keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Gracie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Szczygiel sprawls well initially but Gracie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Szczygiel is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him
Gracie is pressing down on Szczygiel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Szczygiel is holding on for now.
Szczygiel is looking to escape.
Szczygiel won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.
Gracie prevents Szczygiel from standing back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie works his way into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie stands up and beckons Szczygiel to his feet.
Szczygiel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Szczygiel plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Szczygiel.
Mieszko Szczygiel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Szczygiel tries to clinch but Gracie moves away

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Szczygiel is trying to escape back to his feet but Gracie uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Szczygiel being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Gracie decides to stand up, so the ref orders Szczygiel to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Szczygiel.

Szczygiel gets a clinch.
Szczygiel misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Szczygiel lands an elbow inside.
Szczygiel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gracie is looking to control Szczygiel's arms but Szczygiel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gracie has his back to the cage.
Szczygiel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Szczygiel.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie is working for takedown but Szczygiel is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gracie blocks an elbow strike.
Szczygiel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie misses with an elbow over the top.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Szczygiel won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Mieszko Szczygiel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Gracie.
Szczygiel lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Szczygiel.
Gracie is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Szczygiel lands a nice elbow.
Szczygiel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gracie takes an elbow to the temple.
Nice elbow from Szczygiel.
Szczygiel tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Szczygiel landing knees to the head.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie working hard to break the clinch.
Szczygiel misses with a knee strike.
Szczygiel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Szczygiel with an attempt at a knee that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royce Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gracie 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royce Gracie!