PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wladyslaw Raginis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Niedziela (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.

Raginis
vs
Niedziela

182 cm
19
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
21
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Zentrope Fighting Universe

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 St Petersburg, Wladyslaw Raginis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jack Niedziela!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raginis with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Niedziela to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Wladyslaw Raginis has been cut.
Raginis keeps the fight on the outside.

Raginis has managed to clinch.
Raginis goes for a takedown in the clinch but Niedziela prevents it.
Raginis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Niedziela backwards.
Niedziela tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Raginis's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Niedziela throws an elbow but it misses.
Raginis pressing his opponent against the cage.
Raginis gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Niedziela just misses with a elbow thrown towards Raginis's brow.
Raginis managing to block the knees to the body from Niedziela.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niedziela throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Nice elbow from Niedziela.
Raginis lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Raginis blocks the elbow strike.

Raginis turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Raginis manages to end up in side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Niedziela tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Raginis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Niedziela can do anything to dispel that myth.
Raginis cracks Niedziela with a big right hand but Niedziela just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Niedziela can't do much from the bottom here.

Raginis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Niedziela, who protects the arm well.
Raginis tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niedziela takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raginis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Niedziela keeps working.

Raginis working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Raginis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Niedziela keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niedziela is looking for a sweep.
Raginis in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Raginis thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Niedziela is trying to improve his position.
Raginis throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raginis wants to control but Niedziela is keeping him busy.
Raginis grinds an elbow into Niedziela's temple.

Raginis goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Niedziela rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Raginis's guard! Nice work there by Niedziela!
Niedziela passes Raginis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Raginis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Niedziela missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wladyslaw Raginis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wladyslaw Raginis's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Raginis misses with a takedown attempt
and Niedziela counters with a three punch combo that has Raginis backing up. Raginis nods at Niedziela to acknowledge the strikes.
Raginis bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Raginis keeps the fight on the outside.
No luck for Raginis with that takedown attempt.

Raginis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Niedziela prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wladyslaw Raginis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niedziela.
Niedziela displaying some good clinch control by pressing Raginis up against the cage.
Niedziela is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Niedziela misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Raginis.
Niedziela gets through Raginis's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raginis avoids the elbow strike from Niedziela, against the cage.
Raginis blocks the elbow strike.
Raginis lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Niedziela backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Raginis as Niedziela tries to tie him up.
Raginis blocks the elbow strike.
Niedziela trying to land knees to the body.
Raginis drops down looking for an ankle pick but Niedziela pulls his leg out and moves away.
Niedziela tries to clinch but Raginis is having none of it.

Raginis gets a takedown into half guard.

Raginis is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raginis looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raginis looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Raginis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Niedziela doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Raginis.
Raginis trying to control from Niedziela's half guard. Niedziela has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niedziela manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Raginis manages to get himself to full guard.
Raginis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Niedziela throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Niedziela looking to pass the guard.
Raginis controls Niedziela momentarily but Niedziela frees himself.
Raginis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Niedziela on the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Raginis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Niedziela manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niedziela looking for a sweep. Not yet Niedziela, not yet.
Raginis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Niedziela wants to sweep but no luck.
Wladyslaw Raginis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Raginis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Niedziela swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Niedziela has momentary wrist control but Raginis slips an elbow through the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raginis trying to control but Niedziela is working from the bottom.
Raginis cracks Niedziela with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wladyslaw Raginis dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wladyslaw Raginis's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Raginis shoots in but Niedziela avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Raginis shoots in and drives through. Niedziela sprawls well.

Raginis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Raginis tries to advance to mount but can't.
Niedziela is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Raginis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Niedziela manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Niedziela manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niedziela prevents Raginis from getting the reversal.
Raginis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Niedziela throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Raginis because Niedziela loaded up on that one.

Niedziela working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Raginis tries to reverse the position but Niedziela maintains control.
Niedziela avoids the attempt from Raginis to control.
Niedziela looking to ground and pound but Raginis is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raginis is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Raginis squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Niedziela tries to control but Raginis wriggling away.
Raginis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Raginis is trying to escape the mount.
Raginis tries to lock up and control but Niedziela gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Niedziela unloads with some shots from mount but Raginis bucks and avoids them well.
Raginis blocking the ground and pound.
Raginis tries to hold on but Niedziela postures up.
Niedziela sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Niedziela misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raginis really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Niedziela wants to control the pace but Raginis is squirming around nicely.

Niedziela goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Raginis is on top in guard.
Raginis wants to control from the top but Niedziela keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raginis postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Raginis works over Niedziela with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raginis wants to control from the top but Niedziela keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Raginis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Raginis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Raginis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raginis is working Niedziela over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Jack Niedziela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niedziela keeping moving, preventing Raginis from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wladyslaw Raginis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Raginis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wladyslaw Raginis!