PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roman Szczeniak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Fransisco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fransisco comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mr.President - Coco Jambo kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Szczeniak
vs
Fransisco

181 cm
29
192 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roman Szczeniak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Fransisco !
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fransisco shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Szczeniak counters with a single leg into guard. Fransisco didn't expect that.

Fransisco is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Szczeniak defends well.
Szczeniak throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fransisco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Szczeniak throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fransisco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fransisco being controlled here, momentarily.
Szczeniak throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fransisco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Szczeniak is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Szczeniak lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczeniak connects with a couple of short punches.
Fransisco looks winded!
Szczeniak working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Szczeniak with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Szczeniak is working Fransisco over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fransisco preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Szczeniak tries to free his leg and advance position but Fransisco is retaining full guard.

Fransisco working for a triangle but Szczeniak defends it easily.

Fransisco has his foot on Szczeniak's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Szczeniak works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Szczeniak controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczeniak trying to control but Fransisco is working from the bottom.
Szczeniak stands up over Fransisco , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Szczeniak makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Szczeniak distracts Fransisco with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Szczeniak slips nicely into half guard.
Szczeniak looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nice strikes from Szczeniak there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fransisco on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Szczeniak wants to free his trapped foot but Fransisco is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nice strikes from Szczeniak there.
Szczeniak winds up and cracks Fransisco with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Szczeniak lands a nice short elbow.
Fransisco taking some punishment here, with Szczeniak in his half guard.
Szczeniak is trying to control the action in half guard but Fransisco is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Szczeniak looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Szczeniak wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fransisco keeps working.
Szczeniak looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fransisco with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!

Szczeniak seems to be looking for submissions.

Szczeniak is working for a submission of some sort.

Szczeniak is working for an americana but Fransisco has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Szczeniak was thinking about the submission.
Szczeniak scoring with punches to the head and body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Szczeniak working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Szczeniak dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fransisco doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Szczeniak counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Fransisco shoots and misses
and Szczeniak counters with a stiff right hand.
Szczeniak throws a series of punches but Fransisco moves out of range.
Fransisco checks the leg kick.

Szczeniak closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Fransisco did well to prevent Szczeniak getting side control.

Szczeniak seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Fransisco has recovered full guard.
Roman Szczeniak overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Szczeniak postures up and lands a big shot to Fransisco 's brow.
Fransisco is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczeniak lands a couple of digs.
Szczeniak looking to pass the guard.
Szczeniak has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Szczeniak trying to control the position from guard on top but Fransisco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Szczeniak throws an elbow that misses. Fransisco uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Szczeniak's guard. Nice move by Fransisco !
Szczeniak is pulling down on Fransisco 's head to control his posture.
Fransisco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Szczeniak has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Fransisco has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Fransisco keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Szczeniak's efforts to push away.
Fransisco changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Szczeniak fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Roman Szczeniak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Fransisco .
Szczeniak stuffs the takedown attempt from Fransisco . Fransisco gets slowly back to his feet.
A right-left combo lands from Szczeniak.
Roman Szczeniak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Szczeniak feints and as Fransisco raises his hands in defense, Szczeniak changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Szczeniak trying to control the position from guard on top but Fransisco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Szczeniak content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Fransisco keeping moving, preventing Szczeniak from controlling successfully.

Fransisco throws his legs up looking for a submission but Szczeniak uses it to pass to side control.
Fransisco is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Szczeniak looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Szczeniak lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Fransisco is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Check out the look on Szczeniak's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Fransisco is still in real trouble! Can Szczeniak finish him?
We've been informed that Fransisco has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Szczeniak grinds an elbow into Fransisco 's temple.
Fransisco is trying to control Szczeniak's posture but Szczeniak avoids it.
Fransisco takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Szczeniak creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Szczeniak cracks Fransisco with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Szczeniak immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Fransisco is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Szczeniak!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Roman Szczeniak!
The defeated Paulo Fransisco had this to say: 'YOLO'.