PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jake Lamotta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janusz Niekonieczny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lamotta comes to the cage accompanied by yes. Niekonieczny has chosen Metallica - Ride The Lightning as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lamotta
vs
Niekonieczny

175 cm
26
147 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

164 cm
25
151 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

GTI - 1337 Franchised
GTI - 1337 Franchised

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 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Jake Lamotta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Janusz Niekonieczny!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niekonieczny takes a swing at Lamotta's ribcage but misses.
Niekonieczny feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lamotta's calf.
Lamotta tries to clinch up.
Lamotta takes one to the chin there.
Lamotta throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Niekonieczny stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lamotta defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Niekonieczny.
Niekonieczny scores with a leg kick.
Lamotta changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Niekonieczny tries to avoid it but Lamotta manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Niekonieczny to the ground. Niekonieczny escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fighters circling - Lamotta throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jake Lamotta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Niekonieczny lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lamotta's sensitive parts.
Lamotta throws a big shot that misses.
Niekonieczny throws a leg kick but Lamotta checks it.
A punch combination from Lamotta misses.
Lamotta is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lamotta stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lamotta wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamotta lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Lamotta misses with a hook. Niekonieczny ducked under it nicely.
Niekonieczny takes one on the button.
Lamotta throws an off balance right hand

and Niekonieczny counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lamotta won't be happy with that.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Niekonieczny lands a nice forearm strike.

Niekonieczny is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lamotta has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lamotta is looking for a sweep.
Lamotta struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Niekonieczny looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Lamotta is avoiding damage well.
Niekonieczny takes a little break here. Lamotta wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Lamotta defending against the ground and pound.
Niekonieczny sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lamotta is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Niekonieczny scores with a couple of short elbows.

Niekonieczny is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lamotta knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lamotta can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niekonieczny is working Lamotta over with some ground and pound from side control.
Niekonieczny connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Lamotta some visible discomfort.
Lamotta takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Niekonieczny in side control, throwing shots but Lamotta defends.

Niekonieczny working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lamotta managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Niekonieczny.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lamotta prevents Niekonieczny from improving position.
Niekonieczny is looking to take a break and control but Lamotta is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Niekonieczny lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lamotta down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lamotta takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lamotta tries to control but Niekonieczny manages to take his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lamotta trying to control the position but Niekonieczny manages to sink in the hooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lamotta misses the jab.
Lamotta lands a really nice looking cross but Niekonieczny seems unphased.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Niekonieczny.
Lamotta lands with a cross.
Lamotta misses with a hook.
Lamotta shoots in looking for a takedown. Niekonieczny tries to sprawl out of it but Lamotta keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Niekonieczny manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lamotta misses with a left hand

and Niekonieczny counters by moving into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Lamotta fails to land.
Niekonieczny misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lamotta.
Niekonieczny jumps guard but Lamotta stands there with Niekonieczny around his waist. Niekonieczny gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Lamotta fails to land.
Lamotta softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Lamotta drags the fight down to the ground.
Niekonieczny trying to control but Lamotta is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamotta not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Niekonieczny with a flurry of punches that miss.

Niekonieczny avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Niekonieczny must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Niekonieczny throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lamotta works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lamotta has momentary wrist control but Niekonieczny slips an elbow through the middle.
Niekonieczny keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lamotta's head.
Niekonieczny trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Niekonieczny avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lamotta tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Niekonieczny wants to control from the top but Lamotta keeps moving.
Niekonieczny trying to move into half guard but instead Lamotta has managed to sweep!
Niekonieczny working a defensive guard here.
Niekonieczny keeping full guard, as Lamotta tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niekonieczny preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lamotta will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

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

Niekonieczny looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lamotta is looking to work some ground and pound but Niekonieczny has wrist control.
Lamotta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lamotta stopping the sweep attempt from Niekonieczny.
Niekonieczny is trying to control the position but Lamotta postures up.
Niekonieczny trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niekonieczny working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lamotta.
Niekonieczny is trying to control the position but Lamotta postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lamotta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lamotta throws and elbow that misses. Niekonieczny uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lamotta's guard. Nice move by Niekonieczny!
Lamotta is trying to keep Niekonieczny in close.
Lamotta working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Niekonieczny.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Niekonieczny trying to control the position from guard on top but Lamotta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lamotta preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Janusz Niekonieczny will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Niekonieczny throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lamotta sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lamotta scores with a jab to the head.
Lamotta looks to score with a jab to the body but Niekonieczny is just out of range.
Niekonieczny fails with a takedown attempt.
Lamotta tests Niekonieczny's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Niekonieczny looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Niekonieczny feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lamotta's calf.
Lamotta fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Niekonieczny on the side of the head.
Niekonieczny takes a swing at Lamotta's ribcage but misses.
Lamotta throws a right hand that misses
and Niekonieczny counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niekonieczny throws a half hearted mid kick.
Niekonieczny takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lamotta connects with a single shot there.
Lamotta throws a sloppy head kick and Niekonieczny moves out of range easily.
Niekonieczny swats away the attempt to clinch by Lamotta.
Lamotta is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Niekonieczny slips under a jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Niekonieczny.
Lamotta fails in his attempt to clinch.
A lazy left from Lamotta finds it's target.
Niekonieczny wants to clinch.
Lamotta shoots for a takedown but Niekonieczny saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Lamotta, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lamotta misses with a takedown attempt - Niekonieczny sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lamotta misses with a takedown attempt - Niekonieczny sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Lamotta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lamotta misses with a wild combination.
Lamotta swings for the body but Niekonieczny moves out of range.
Lamotta tries to clinch up but Niekonieczny circles away and keeps his distance.
Niekonieczny tries to clinch up but Lamotta circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamotta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lamotta misses with a wild combination.
Lamotta falls off balance throwing a combination
and Niekonieczny counters with a stiff right hand.
Lamotta misses with an uppercut
and Niekonieczny cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jab by Niekonieczny.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lamotta.
Lamotta throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jake Lamotta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice sprawl there from Lamotta as Niekonieczny shoots in.
Lamotta checks a low kick from Niekonieczny.
No luck for Niekonieczny with that takedown attempt.
Nice defenses there by Niekonieczny.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Lamotta as he checks the leg kick.
Niekonieczny shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lamotta defends it nicely.
Niekonieczny tried to score with a low kick but Lamotta checks it.
Niekonieczny on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Niekonieczny moves away from the strike by Lamotta.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Niekonieczny misses the shot to the body.
Lamotta misses with a straight left.
Niekonieczny swings for the body but Lamotta moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Lamotta showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Niekonieczny 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!