PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mariusz Zakrzewski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josef Dietrich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josef Dietrich has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Zakrzewski
vs
Dietrich

178 cm
27
183 lbs
20 - 12 - 3

178 cm
28
175 lbs
20 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mariusz Zakrzewski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josef Dietrich!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zakrzewski jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Dietrich bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zakrzewski swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Zakrzewski scores with a hook to the body. Dietrich takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Zakrzewski blocks a jab.
Zakrzewski on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Zakrzewski closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dietrich quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Dietrich blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zakrzewski.
Dietrich trying to hold on to Zakrzewski's head to control him but Zakrzewski postures up.
Zakrzewski prevents Dietrich from standing back up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dietrich manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dietrich is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zakrzewski postures up in Dietrich's guard and throws a big left but Dietrich blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zakrzewski scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zakrzewski controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dietrich manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zakrzewski manages to get himself to full guard.
Dietrich in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zakrzewski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dietrich.
Zakrzewski looking for a sweep. Not yet Zakrzewski, not yet.
Dietrich postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Dietrich drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zakrzewski manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dietrich has Zakrzewski in his guard.
Dietrich manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zakrzewski manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zakrzewski has Dietrich pulled in close to control his posture.
Dietrich loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dietrich postures up in Zakrzewski's guard and throws a big left but Zakrzewski blocks it.
Dietrich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dietrich throwing strikes but missing.
Dietrich is looking to work some ground and pound but Zakrzewski has wrist control.
Zakrzewski has momentary wrist control but Dietrich slips an elbow through the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zakrzewski wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Zakrzewski looking for a sweep. Not yet Zakrzewski, not yet.
Zakrzewski is trying to keep Dietrich in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich won't allow Zakrzewski to sweep him here.
Dietrich tries to free his leg and advance position but Zakrzewski is retaining full guard.
Dietrich loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zakrzewski is trying to keep Dietrich in close.
Dietrich throws a strike but Zakrzewski rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Dietrich preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Dietrich is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zakrzewski defends well.
Zakrzewski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich looking to control.
Zakrzewski trying to control the position from guard on top but Dietrich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Dietrich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zakrzewski is aware though and is defending well.

Dietrich has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zakrzewski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Dietrich looking for a sweep. Not yet Dietrich, not yet.
Zakrzewski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dietrich bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zakrzewski's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zakrzewski is trying to control the position but Dietrich postures up.
Dietrich stands up over Zakrzewski, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dietrich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josef Dietrich dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Dietrich fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zakrzewski avoids it really well and circles away.
Dietrich tries for a takedown but Zakrzewski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dietrich connects with a nice looking jab.

Zakrzewski closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Zakrzewski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dietrich keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zakrzewski is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zakrzewski lands a nice short elbow.
Dietrich manages to get to full guard.
Zakrzewski working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dietrich's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zakrzewski stopping the sweep attempt from Dietrich.
Dietrich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zakrzewski.

Dietrich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zakrzewski is aware though and is defending well.
Dietrich keeping full guard, as Zakrzewski tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zakrzewski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zakrzewski lands a couple of digs.
Zakrzewski trying to control but Dietrich is working from the bottom.
Zakrzewski tries to free his leg and advance position but Dietrich is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zakrzewski's guard.
Dietrich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zakrzewski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zakrzewski trying to keep a closed guard but Dietrich is proving a slippery customer.
Dietrich content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zakrzewski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dietrich is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Dietrich working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dietrich looking to pass the guard.
Dietrich looking to sit in guard and control but Zakrzewski gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dietrich looking for a guillotine here but Zakrzewski defends easily.
Dietrich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zakrzewski preventing the sweep.
Dietrich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zakrzewski trying to control but Dietrich is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dietrich is looking for a triangle but Zakrzewski pushes his legs off easily.
Zakrzewski wants to control from the top but Dietrich keeps moving.
Dietrich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zakrzewski.
Dietrich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zakrzewski trying to control but Dietrich is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Dietrich escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zakrzewski gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zakrzewski's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mariusz Zakrzewski will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Dietrich is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Zakrzewski.
Josef Dietrich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dietrich scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Dietrich checks the leg kick.

Dietrich closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zakrzewski is trying to control Dietrich's posture but Dietrich avoids it.

Dietrich wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zakrzewski, who protects the arm well.
Zakrzewski tries to bench press Dietrich off him but Dietrich keeps the position.
Dietrich sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Zakrzewski is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Zakrzewski wants to control but Dietrich postures up.
Dietrich looks up at the clock and then as Zakrzewski takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Dietrich smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Dietrich.
Zakrzewski is trying to control Dietrich's posture but Dietrich avoids it.
Zakrzewski tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dietrich wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Dietrich goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Zakrzewski rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Dietrich's guard! Nice work there by Zakrzewski!
Zakrzewski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zakrzewski stopping the sweep attempt from Dietrich.

Dietrich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zakrzewski defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dietrich throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Zakrzewski escapes and throws Dietrich's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Dietrich tries to bench press Zakrzewski off him but Zakrzewski keeps the position.
A lull in the action here as Zakrzewski stalls from top position.
Dietrich is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakrzewski trying to control the position but Dietrich is working away.
Zakrzewski lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Dietrich down.
Zakrzewski with the ground and pound but Dietrich regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Zakrzewski is trying to control. Dietrich wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zakrzewski looks to land a strike but Dietrich avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Dietrich wants to stand and escape but Zakrzewski is having none of it.

Dietrich working for a triangle but Zakrzewski defends it easily.

Dietrich working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zakrzewski doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zakrzewski manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Dietrich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zakrzewski postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zakrzewski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zakrzewski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zakrzewski throwing strikes but missing.
Zakrzewski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zakrzewski lands a couple of elbows.
Zakrzewski trying to control but Dietrich is working from the bottom.
Zakrzewski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zakrzewski throws an elbow that misses. Dietrich uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zakrzewski's guard. Nice move by Dietrich!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Josef Dietrich.
Well Dietrich 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josef Dietrich!
After winning the bout, Josef Dietrich thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.