PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Luis Carlos Linhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bartek Pietrzak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Carlos Linhares
vs
Pietrzak

171 cm
26
144 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

171 cm
27
144 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Perkele!

Meet the Future
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luis Carlos Linhares!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Bartek Pietrzak!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pietrzak shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Pietrzak was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pietrzak tries to advance to mount but Linhares denies him.
Linhares is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Pietrzak's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Linhares is trying to get back to full guard.
Pietrzak looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Pietrzak is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Linhares tries to get to full guard but Pietrzak has control of the leg.
Linhares is not content to let Pietrzak control the position.
Linhares's coaches at RNC Sport Club have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Pietrzak prevents Linhares from improving his position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pietrzak wants to take a breather but Linhares is having none of it.
Linhares tries to roll over but Pietrzak keeps him under control.
Linhares is trying to control but can't.
Linhares is trying to get back to full guard.
Pietrzak trying to mount his opponent but Linhares defends it.

Linhares actively working from the bottom here.
Pietrzak content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linhares tries to roll over but Pietrzak keeps him under control.
Pietrzak is trying to control. Linhares wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pietrzak trying to pass the guard but Linhares defending well.
Linhares trying to control but Pietrzak postures up.
Pietrzak is pressing down on Linhares's thigh, looking to free his foot. Linhares is holding on for now.
Linhares regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pietrzak throwing strikes but missing.
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.
Linhares wants to sweep but no luck.

Linhares is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pietrzak defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pietrzak postures up and lands a big shot to Linhares's brow.
Pietrzak with a nice head shot there.
Linhares keeping full guard, as Pietrzak tries to pass.
Pietrzak wants to control from the top but Linhares keeps moving.
Linhares working a defensive guard but Pietrzak manages to pass into side control anyway.
Linhares wants to control but Pietrzak postures up.
Pietrzak taking a break here but Linhares is having none of it and regains half guard.
Pietrzak looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Linhares actively working from the bottom here.
Linhares has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pietrzak is working away from the top position though.
Linhares tries to get to full guard but Pietrzak has control of the leg.
Linhares won't allow Pietrzak to pass to mount.
Pietrzak is thwarting Linhares's attempts to control the position.
Linhares is staying active underneath Pietrzak, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pietrzak moves nicely into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pietrzak trying to control the position but Linhares is working away.
Linhares is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bartek Pietrzak dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Linhares throws an overhand right that lands on Pietrzak's shoulder, as Pietrzak tries to avoid the shot.
Linhares with a hook.
Pietrzak shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Linhares pinned against the ropes. Linhares gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pietrzak misses with a series of wild punches.
Linhares throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Linhares's jab looks to have found its range, popping Pietrzak under the eye.
Pietrzak looks for a takedown but Linhares sprawls well.
A cross from Linhares lands.
Nice defenses there by Linhares.
Linhares gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pietrzak tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pietrzak connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Linhares's hands.
Linhares throws a hook but Pietrzak blocks it.
Linhares takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pietrzak closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Linhares did well to prevent Pietrzak getting side control.
Linhares tries to roll over but Pietrzak keeps him under control.

Linhares looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pietrzak tries to pass to full mount but Linhares defends it.
Linhares manages to get to full guard.
Pietrzak wants to control from the top but Linhares keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak postures up in Linhares's guard and throws a big left but Linhares blocks it.

Linhares looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pietrzak passes into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Linhares manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pietrzak seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pietrzak trying to control but Linhares is working from the bottom.
Linhares 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.
Linhares is controlling Pietrzak's posture.

Linhares has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pietrzak can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bartek Pietrzak has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pietrzak passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Pietrzak working away.
Pietrzak wants to lay and pray for a moment but Linhares keeps working.
Pietrzak scoring with punches from side control.
Linhares tries to bench press Pietrzak off him but Pietrzak keeps the position.
Pietrzak is putting a hurting on Linhares here, landing some big shots from side control.
Pietrzak is looking to take a break and control but Linhares is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pietrzak has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Pietrzak is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Linhares has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Pietrzak tries to control but Linhares wriggling away.
Linhares is working to get back to half guard.
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.
Pietrzak lands a heavy elbow.
Linhares sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Pietrzak works his way into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bartek Pietrzak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pietrzak has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Linhares finds it's way round the side to connect with Pietrzak's head.
Pietrzak moves away from the strike by Linhares.
Pietrzak looks to land a left hand but Linhares moved out of range nicely.
Pietrzak walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Linhares circles away from the clinch attempt.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Pietrzak checks a leg kick.
Linhares fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pietrzak.
Pietrzak misses with a hook.
Linhares attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Linhares misses with a body shot.
Linhares misses the jab.
Linhares throws a leg kick which misses Pietrzak's front leg but catches the back leg as Pietrzak tries to avoid it.
Linhares connects with a nice looking jab.
Linhares lands with an overhand left.
Pietrzak thuds his right hand into Linhares's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
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!
Linhares paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pietrzak looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pietrzak is defended easily by Linhares.
Linhares looks to land a body kick but Pietrzak moved away.

Pietrzak rushes Linhares and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Linhares misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pietrzak throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Linhares lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Pietrzak lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Linhares tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Pietrzak is trying to trip Linhares. He has hold of a leg but Linhares is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Pietrzak persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Pietrzak stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Linhares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Linhares is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Linhares is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Linhares throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Linhares looking to control.
Pietrzak trying to control the position from guard on top but Linhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pietrzak scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pietrzak wants to control from the top but Linhares keeps moving.
Pietrzak works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Pietrzak is trying to control the action in half guard but Linhares is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Linhares trying to hold on to Pietrzak's head to control him but Pietrzak postures up.
Linhares is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Linhares does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Linhares is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pietrzak wants to lay and pray for a moment but Linhares keeps working.
Linhares wants to control but Pietrzak is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Linhares slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Pietrzak throws a big right hand that misses.
Pietrzak wants to control from the top but Linhares keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Pietrzak tries to free his leg and advance position but Linhares is retaining full guard.
Linhares preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Linhares lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Pietrzak!
Pietrzak is trying desperately to improve position.
Linhares punching from mount but Pietrzak doing a good job of avoiding damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Linhares tries to take his opponent's back but Pietrzak turns with him and manages to move into guard on the top. Nice work.
Pietrzak looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Luis Carlos Linhares did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pietrzak lands with a straight right. Linhares didn't see that one coming.
Pietrzak tries to clinch but Linhares is having none of it.
Pietrzak tries to close the distance and clinch but Linhares swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A jab lands there for Linhares.
Pietrzak works the jab nicely.
Pietrzak defending well as Linhares loads up on a big left hand.
Pietrzak takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Linhares misses with a low kick as Pietrzak jumps back.
Linhares connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Linhares, as that shot connected.
Good exchange - Pietrzak coming out on top.
Pietrzak slips a straight right by Linhares.
Good work by Pietrzak as he checks the leg kick.
Linhares looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Pietrzak on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Pietrzak works over Linhares's head and body with a nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Pietrzak closes the distance and pushes Linhares back into the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pietrzak misses with some punches.
Pietrzak working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Pietrzak misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pietrzak lands an uppercut.
Pietrzak throws a punch but it's blocked by Linhares.
Linhares throws a head punch that misses.
Linhares lands an uppercut.
Pietrzak blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pietrzak pushes Linhares back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pietrzak trying to stall but Linhares improves his position.
Pietrzak swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pietrzak lands a hook that snaps the head of Linhares backwards.
Pietrzak throws a punch but it's blocked by Linhares.
Pietrzak lands a hook that snaps the head of Linhares backwards.
Pietrzak throws a head punch that misses.
Pietrzak throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Linhares.
Linhares fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pietrzak lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pietrzak lands a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pietrzak lands a hook to the side of the head.
Linhares blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Pietrzak blocks the elbow strike.

Pietrzak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pietrzak throws a hook to the side of Linhares's head but Linhares sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Linhares ducks under a wild hook from Pietrzak.

Pietrzak shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Linhares is trying to defend but Pietrzak finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Linhares blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pietrzak.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Linhares defending well though.
Linhares has hold of Pietrzak's hands but Pietrzak slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pietrzak scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Pietrzak performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Linhares works his way to full guard. Good work.
Linhares bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pietrzak's guard.
Pietrzak utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pietrzak tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pietrzak keeping moving, preventing Linhares from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linhares with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pietrzak bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Linhares's guard.

Linhares is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pietrzak throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pietrzak wants to control from the top but Linhares keeps moving.
Linhares is trying to hold Pietrzak in close to prevent damage but Pietrzak has managed to pass into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pietrzak trying to mount his opponent but Linhares defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bartek Pietrzak dominated that fourth 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Linhares throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Linhares throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Pietrzak.
Pietrzak misses with a looping left.

Pietrzak drives through with a takedown into Linhares's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Pietrzak lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Pietrzak passes into half guard.
Linhares moves into full guard.
Pietrzak tries to free his leg and advance position but Linhares is retaining full guard.
Linhares is trying to keep Pietrzak in close.
Linhares being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pietrzak tries to free his leg and advance position but Linhares is retaining full guard.

Linhares has his foot on Pietrzak's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pietrzak works his way back into a safe position though.

Linhares has his foot on Pietrzak's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pietrzak works his way back into a safe position though.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Pietrzak makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Linhares escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pietrzak gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pietrzak cracks Linhares with a solid left hand.
Pietrzak sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Linhares's guard.
Linhares is trying to get back to full guard.
Pietrzak wants to free his trapped foot but Linhares is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Luis Carlos Linhares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linhares gets back to full guard.
Pietrzak throws an elbow that misses. Linhares uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pietrzak's guard. Nice move by Linhares!

Pietrzak has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Linhares is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Pietrzak.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pietrzak is looking to reverse the position.
Linhares throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Linhares is chipping away with strikes.
Pietrzak has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Linhares looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linhares in side control lands a decent elbow.
Pietrzak struggling a bit here.
Linhares wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pietrzak keeps working.
Pietrzak manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Bartek Pietrzak is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pietrzak has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Linhares is working away from the top position though.
Pietrzak is looking for a sweep. Linhares is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pietrzak is positioning himself well to prevent Linhares advancing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Linhares seems to be looking for submissions.
Pietrzak wants to improve his position but Linhares is controlling well.
Pietrzak blocking the ground and pound attempt from Linhares.
Pietrzak keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Linhares is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pietrzak is just riding it out for now. Linhares eventually gives up the hold.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pietrzak tries to get to full guard but Linhares has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bartek Pietrzak.
I think Pietrzak has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 46:50
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 46:50
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bartek Pietrzak! Bartek Pietrzak retains his bantamweight title!
An out of breath Bartek Pietrzak thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.