PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Janek Szczepan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hassan Akim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Szczepan
vs
Akim

178 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Janek Szczepan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hassan Akim!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Szczepan gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Akim gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Szczepan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Akim wants to control from the top but Szczepan keeps moving.
Szczepan has a closed guard, preventing Akim from standing up.
Szczepan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Akim wants to improve his position but Szczepan is controlling well.
Szczepan working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczepan is thwarting Akim's attempts to control the position.
Szczepan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Akim pushes Szczepan off looking to stand but Szczepan dives back in and keeps control.
Szczepan trying to mount his opponent but Akim defends it.
Szczepan slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Szczepan prevents Akim from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Janek Szczepan has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Szczepan shoots in but Akim avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Szczepan has Akim up against the cage in a clinch.
Szczepan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Akim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Szczepan takes the fight into the clinch.
Akim working aggressively here.
Szczepan managing to block the knees to the body from Akim.
Akim jumps guard but Szczepan turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczepan is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Szczepan landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Szczepan pulls guard.
Szczepan is trying to keep Akim in close.
Szczepan pulls Akim in close to prevent any damage.
Akim wants to get up but he can't break Szczepan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Akim being controlled here momentarily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Janek Szczepan just wasn't active enough.
Szczepan misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akim throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Szczepan fails with the takedown

and Akim counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Akim.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Szczepan has an active guard here but Akim has managed to pass into half guard.
Szczepan is breathing heavily.
Akim controlling the action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Szczepan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Akim pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Janek Szczepan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Akim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Akim looks for a takedown but Szczepan sprawls well.
Janek Szczepan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Szczepan has a takedown stuffed.
Nice takedown defense from Szczepan. No joy for Akim on that attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Akim. Those never looked like landing.
Szczepan misses with the combination.
Akim gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Szczepan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Szczepan.
Janek Szczepan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hassan Akim.
Akim keeping moving, preventing Szczepan from controlling successfully.
Akim is breathing heavily.
Szczepan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Szczepan gets to his feet. Akim looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Szczepan clinches.
Szczepan pressing his opponent against the cage.

Akim successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akim looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Akim has control of Szczepan's left arm, preventing Szczepan from doing any damage.
Szczepan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Szczepan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Akim swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Akim keeping moving, preventing Szczepan from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Janek Szczepan.

Szczepan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Akim was covering up waiting for the punch and Szczepan finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akim looking for a guillotine here but Szczepan defends easily.
Szczepan controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Akim working for a triangle but Szczepan defends it easily.
Szczepan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Akim's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akim tries to strike from the bottom.
Akim tries to strike from the bottom.
Szczepan won't allow Akim to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janek Szczepan dominated that second round.
That's time! Szczepan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Szczepan closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Akim quickly recovers to half guard.
Akim tries to get to full guard but Szczepan has control of the leg.

Szczepan gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Akim tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Szczepan counters with a takedown into side control.
Szczepan is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Akim will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Szczepan trying to control the action but Akim is working from the bottom.
Akim manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Akim takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akim is looking to improve his position.
Szczepan is taking a breather. Akim 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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Szczepan seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Akim for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Janek Szczepan.
Nice sprawl there from Szczepan as Akim shoots in.
Akim looks to score with a jab to the body but Szczepan is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akim tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Szczepan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Akim looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Akim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Szczepan throws a sloppy head kick and Akim moves out of range easily.

Szczepan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Szczepan lands in his opponent's guard.
Szczepan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Akim looking to hit a scissor sweep but Szczepan is one step ahead there.
Szczepan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczepan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Akim tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Akim looking to control but Szczepan passes into half guard.
Szczepan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Akim taking some punishment here, with Szczepan in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Szczepan works his way into side control.
Szczepan content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Szczepan lands some shots froms side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Szczepan stands up.
Hassan Akim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Janek Szczepan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Szczepan throws a leg kick which misses Akim's front leg but catches the back leg as Akim tries to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Janek Szczepan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Szczepan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Janek Szczepan!