PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rezla Szlechz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bad Omen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Szlechz
vs
Omen

225 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
23
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rezla Szlechz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bad Omen!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Donatello Bradman and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Omen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Szlechz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Szlechz pulls Omen in to control the position.
Szlechz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Omen trying to control but Szlechz is working from the bottom.
Omen throws a strike but Szlechz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Szlechz stands and throws Omen's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omen struggling a bit here.

Szlechz stands up.
Omen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Szlechz misses with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Szlechz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Szlechz tries to circle away but Omen has him pinned against the cage.

Szlechz gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Omen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Omen keeping moving, preventing Szlechz from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Szlechz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rezla Szlechz has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Szlechz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Omen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Omen.
Omen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Szlechz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Omen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Szlechz is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Szlechz has escaped and now he's on top!
Szlechz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szlechz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Omen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Szlechz postures up in Omen's guard and throws a big left but Omen blocks it.
Szlechz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Omen has his hands on Szlechz's head, controlling the position.
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 Rezla Szlechz will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Szlechz shoots for a double leg takedown but Omen sprawls well. He's pushed Szlechz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Szlechz gets a clinch.
Omen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Szlechz jumps guard.
Omen tries to free his leg and advance position but Szlechz is retaining full guard.
Omen trying to control the position from guard on top but Szlechz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szlechz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Szlechz looking to pass the guard.

Szlechz stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szlechz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Omen counters with a single leg into guard. Szlechz didn't expect that.
Omen looking to pass the guard.
Omen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Omen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Omen looking to sit in guard and control but Szlechz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Szlechz trying to control but Omen is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Omen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Szlechz trying to control the position from guard on top but Omen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Omen pulls Szlechz in close to his closed guard and prevents Szlechz from doing any damage or advancing position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rezla Szlechz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Omen misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szlechz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Szlechz tries for a takedown but Omen circles away easily
and Omen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rezla Szlechz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Szlechz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Omen.
Szlechz throws a head kick that misses.
Szlechz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rezla Szlechz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Szlechz moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Szlechz jumps guard and drags Omen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Szlechz is on top in guard.
Omen trying to control the position here.
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 Rezla Szlechz will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Omen shoots in for a takedown but Szlechz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Szlechz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Omen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Szlechz shoots and misses

and Omen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Omen tries to free his leg and advance position but Szlechz is retaining full guard.
Omen slips nicely into half guard.
Szlechz is staying active underneath Omen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Omen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Szlechz is controlling Omen's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Omen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Omen is looking for a kimura but Szlechz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Omen to get the leverage.

Omen is working for a kimura but Szlechz is defending it quite comfortably.

Szlechz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Omen is looking to stall here but Szlechz recovers full guard.
Omen trying to control but Szlechz is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szlechz wants to get back to his feet but Omen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Szlechz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Szlechz tries to get out of the position.
Omen wants to pass the guard but Szlechz is keeping the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Szlechz holds on and takes a little breather.

Omen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Szlechz is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Szlechz has escaped and now he's on top!
Szlechz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Bad Omen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Omen shoots in for a takedown but Szlechz shows good takedown defense.
Rezla Szlechz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Szlechz circles away from the clinch attempt

and Szlechz counters by clinching up.
Omen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Szlechz is defending well.
Rezla Szlechz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bad Omen.
Omen wants to take the fight to the mat but Szlechz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Omen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Omen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Szlechz wants to get back to striking at distance but Omen won't allow it.
Omen has had enough of the clinch but Szlechz keeps him there for the moment.
Omen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Szlechz after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Szlechz has picked Omen up - he's going for a ride! Szlechz dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Omen is not content to let Szlechz control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bad Omen.
I think Szlechz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rezla Szlechz!