PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tomasz Szczakowiecki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Zeller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zeller is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Never Say Die. Tomasz Szczakowiecki could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Cody Zeller's chin.

Szczakowiecki
vs
Zeller

169 cm
29
145 lbs
12 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
153 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Hellraiser Fightgear (10$ clothing SALE)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tomasz Szczakowiecki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cody Zeller!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zeller misses with a hook
and Szczakowiecki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Szczakowiecki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zeller waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Szczakowiecki.
Szczakowiecki throws a shot to the body.
A swing and a miss from Szczakowiecki.
Zeller scores with a sloppy right hand. Szczakowiecki should have avoided that one.
Zeller throws the left hand but Szczakowiecki avoids the punch easily.
Zeller misses with an uppercut
and Szczakowiecki counters with a stiff right hand.
Szczakowiecki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zeller paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Szczakowiecki moves away from the strike by Zeller.
Szczakowiecki works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A combination from Zeller does no damage.
Szczakowiecki misses with a straight right.
A nice combination there by Szczakowiecki.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Szczakowiecki lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeller ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Szczakowiecki moves away.
Szczakowiecki feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zellers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Zeller misses with a looping right.
Zeller misses with a body shot
and Szczakowiecki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zeller throws a jab when Szczakowiecki was well out of range.
Zeller tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Szczakowiecki was well out of range. Poor timing from Zeller.
Szczakowiecki slips under a jab.
Cody Zeller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zeller pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zeller ducks right into an uppercut from Szczakowiecki.
Zeller throws a hook but Szczakowiecki blocks it.
Zeller throws the left hand but Szczakowiecki avoids the punch easily.
Zeller fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Szczakowiecki manages to avoid it.
A big right from Zeller misses.
Szczakowiecki throws a hook but Zeller avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczakowiecki throws a shot from downtown. Zeller moves away and avoids it.
Szczakowiecki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zeller throws out the jab.

Szczakowiecki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zeller.
Szczakowiecki blocks an uppercut.
Zeller is trying to break the clinch but Szczakowiecki has him pressed against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Szczakowiecki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Szczakowiecki lands with a light punch inside.
Zeller has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Szczakowiecki has Zeller pressed against the cage, preventing Zeller from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zeller is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczakowiecki misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zeller tries to break free but Szczakowiecki pushes him back against the cage.
Zeller swings wildly with an uppercut but Szczakowiecki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zeller wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Szczakowiecki has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zeller.
Szczakowiecki misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Szczakowiecki.
Szczakowiecki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczakowiecki lands a hook that snaps the head of Zeller backwards.
Szczakowiecki scores with a shoulder strike.
Szczakowiecki misses with a punch on the inside.
Szczakowiecki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zeller.
Zeller tries to break free but Szczakowiecki pushes him back against the cage.
Szczakowiecki scores with a nice hook to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zeller fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zeller wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zeller blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomasz Szczakowiecki dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Szczakowiecki rushes Zeller and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Szczakowiecki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Szczakowiecki stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Szczakowiecki.
Szczakowiecki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zeller working hard to break the clinch.
Szczakowiecki working aggressively here.
Szczakowiecki keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zeller's efforts to push away.
Zeller is trying to break the clinch but Szczakowiecki has him pressed against the cage.
Szczakowiecki lands a hook that snaps the head of Zeller backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczakowiecki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zeller wants to break the clinch but can't.
Szczakowiecki tries to throw a body punch but Zeller avoids it by throwing Szczakowiecki back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Szczakowiecki.
Szczakowiecki has a couple of punches blocked by Zeller.
A shot in the inside from Szczakowiecki.
Szczakowiecki misses with a hook to the ribs.
Szczakowiecki scores with a shot to the side of Zeller's head.
Zeller has a couple of punches blocked by Szczakowiecki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczakowiecki has a couple of punches blocked by Zeller.
Szczakowiecki throws a head punch that misses.
Zeller wants to break the clinch but can't.
Szczakowiecki lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zeller backwards.
Zeller working aggressively here.
Szczakowiecki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Szczakowiecki misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Szczakowiecki fails to land.
Szczakowiecki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Szczakowiecki keeps control of Zeller as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeller is trying to break the clinch but Szczakowiecki is controlling him.
Szczakowiecki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Zeller tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Szczakowiecki's elbow.
Zeller misses with some punches.
Zeller tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zeller tries to break free but Szczakowiecki pushes him back against the cage.
Zeller has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Szczakowiecki scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Szczakowiecki tries to work over Zeller's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zeller misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeller wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Szczakowiecki misses with a punch to the body.
Szczakowiecki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Zeller pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Szczakowiecki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zeller manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Szczakowiecki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Szczakowiecki takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Szczakowiecki lands a slapping body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Szczakowiecki ducks under a wild hook from Zeller.
Zeller scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Szczakowiecki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zeller to score with a decent uppercut.
Zeller misses with a combination
and Szczakowiecki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomasz Szczakowiecki dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Good exchange - Szczakowiecki coming out on top.
Zeller throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zeller lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Szczakowiecki ducks under a wild hook from Zeller.
Szczakowiecki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Szczakowiecki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Szczakowiecki ducks under a wild hook from Zeller.
Zeller might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Szczakowiecki scores with a nice right hand.
Szczakowiecki misses with a series of wild punches.
Szczakowiecki swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Zeller counters with a stiff right hand.
Zeller misses the shot to the body.
Zeller avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zeller displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Szczakowiecki throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeller misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Donk. Szczakowiecki catches Zeller right on the button with a cross.
Zeller thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zeller throws the left hand but Szczakowiecki avoids the punch easily.
Zeller throws a poor cross that misses
and Szczakowiecki counters with a two punch combo.
Szczakowiecki misses with a wild body shot.
Szczakowiecki lands a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Szczakowiecki.
Zeller connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Szczakowiecki connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zeller momentarily.
Zeller misses with a wild combination.
Szczakowiecki defending well as Zeller loads up on a big left hand.
Szczakowiecki blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczakowiecki lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Szczakowiecki moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Szczakowiecki makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Szczakowiecki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Zeller is rocked!
Szczakowiecki lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zeller is still on wobbly legs! Can Szczakowiecki finish him?
Szczakowiecki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Szczakowiecki misses with some punches.
Szczakowiecki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Szczakowiecki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zeller blocking some punches.
Tomasz Szczakowiecki has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Szczakowiecki keeps control of Zeller as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Szczakowiecki misses with a punch on the inside.
Szczakowiecki misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczakowiecki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zeller blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Szczakowiecki misses with the head strike.
Zeller wants to break free but Szczakowiecki has control.
Zeller seems to have recovered his senses.

Zeller breaks the clinch.
The fighters circling - Szczakowiecki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zeller throws a lazy uppercut
and Szczakowiecki counters with a stiff right hand.
Zeller looks to throw the jab but Szczakowiecki is out of range.
Zeller throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zeller missing with a left hand there. Szczakowiecki was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Szczakowiecki throws a right hand that Zeller ducks under and follows up with a left that Zeller also avoids with ease.
Zeller throws a shot from downtown. Szczakowiecki moves away and avoids it.
A big right from Zeller misses.
Zeller throws a lazy uppercut
and Szczakowiecki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczakowiecki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Szczakowiecki misses with a two punch combination.
Szczakowiecki looks to land a right hand but Zeller moved out of range.
Zeller throws a right hand that misses

and Szczakowiecki moves into the clinch.
Szczakowiecki misses with some punches.
Szczakowiecki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Szczakowiecki lands a body punch in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Szczakowiecki lands an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zeller blocking some punches.
Szczakowiecki lands a right hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Szczakowiecki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomasz Szczakowiecki clearly takes that round.
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.

Zeller loads up on a big right hand but Szczakowiecki slips the punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Szczakowiecki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Szczakowiecki fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zeller, pushing him back against the cage.
Szczakowiecki misses with the head strike.
Zeller misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zeller working aggressively here.
Szczakowiecki throws a head punch that misses.
Szczakowiecki tries to work over Zeller's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right handed body shot lands from Szczakowiecki.
Zeller misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczakowiecki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Szczakowiecki fails to land.
Zeller blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Szczakowiecki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zeller tries to break the clinch but Szczakowiecki is controlling the position.
Szczakowiecki misses with some punches.
Zeller working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Szczakowiecki lands with a light punch inside.
Szczakowiecki lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczakowiecki stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Szczakowiecki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zeller blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Szczakowiecki misses with a punch on the inside.
Zeller misses with some punches.
Szczakowiecki tries to work over Zeller's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Szczakowiecki prevents Zeller from breaking the clinch.
Szczakowiecki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Zeller fails to land.
Szczakowiecki throws a punch but it's blocked by Zeller.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zeller breaks from the clinch.
Szczakowiecki fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Szczakowiecki moves out of range as Zeller strikes.
Zeller thows a body shot but no joy.
Zeller takes a swing at Szczakowiecki's ribcage but misses.
Szczakowiecki throws out a loose jab but Zeller uses good head movement to avoid it.
Szczakowiecki connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zeller. Zeller circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Szczakowiecki misses the jab.
Tomasz Szczakowiecki is winning the standup battle so far.
Zeller misses the jab.
Szczakowiecki is looking to clinch.
Zeller misses with a hook
letting Szczakowiecki counter with a right hand.
Zeller looks to land a left hand but Szczakowiecki moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczakowiecki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zeller.
Szczakowiecki loads up on a big right hand but Zeller slips the punch.
Szczakowiecki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zeller paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zeller moves out of range of the strikes.
Zeller scores with a nice head shot.
Zeller misses with an uppercut
and Zeller takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Oooooh!!! Szczakowiecki has knocked Zeller down with a huge combo! Szczakowiecki steps away and waves a wobbly Zeller back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Szczakowiecki fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Zeller to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Zeller looks to clinch but Szczakowiecki throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Zeller taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Tomasz Szczakowiecki!
Tomasz Szczakowiecki retains his featherweight title!
An out of breath Tomasz Szczakowiecki thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.