PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michal Cieslak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergian Erden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Cieslak
vs
Erden

191 cm
21
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Michal Cieslak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergian Erden!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Steven Brown and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cieslak gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Erden is looking to work some ground and pound but Cieslak has wrist control.

Erden decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Cieslak closes the distance and clinches.
Cieslak being controlled against the cage.
Cieslak throws a punch but it's blocked by Erden.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erden misses with an elbow over the top.
A short right from Cieslak on the inside.
Cieslak lands a nice uppercut.
Erden blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Erden has Cieslak pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cieslak manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Erden wants the takedown. Cieslak is fighting it off but Erden persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Cieslak's guard against the cage.
Erden looks winded!
Erden throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cieslak works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Erden prevents Cieslak from getting back to his feet.
Erden loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cieslak wants to stand up but Erden is controlling him.
Erden content to stall in guard here.
Cieslak knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Erden on the ground.

Erden stands up and waves to Cieslak to follow him.
Erden's coach down at Cozad Amsterdam was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Erden's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cieslak tries to clinch there but Erden circles away.
Erden lands a really nice looking cross but Cieslak seems unphased.
Cieslak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Erden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cieslak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Erden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cieslak tries to clinch up

and Erden counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Erden throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cieslak works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Erden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erden sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Erden stands and steps away. Cieslak gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Erden dives in and scores a takedown into Cieslak's guard.
Erden content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Erden advances position into side control!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Erden stands up and beckons Cieslak to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cieslak checks a leg kick.
Michal Cieslak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cieslak gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergian Erden dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Erden clinches.
Cieslak scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cieslak lands a shoulder strike.
Erden fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cieslak misses with some punches.
Erden fails to pull guard.
Erden jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cieslak walks away with a smile on his face. Erden gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Michal Cieslak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergian Erden.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cieslak looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cieslak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Erden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cieslak looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Erden forces Cieslak back against the cage and clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Erden successfully pulls guard.
We've been hearing that Cieslak has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Erden pulls Cieslak in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cieslak wanted to stand there but Erden had control of the position.
Cieslak has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Erden looking for a sweep. Not yet Erden, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Erden is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Erden looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Erden has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erden 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Michal Cieslak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Erden gets a takedown into half guard.
Erden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cieslak keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cieslak won't allow Erden to pass to mount.
Erden stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Erden decides to stand and escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergian Erden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cieslak tries to clinch up

so Erden counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Erden advances position into side control!

Erden is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cieslak knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cieslak is pushing Erden's head away, looking to escape. Erden manages to hold on to the position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erden works to advance to full mount. Cieslak defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Erden tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Erden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Erden lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cieslak hang on?
Erden is landing with some decent strikes but Cieslak is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erden controlling from mount.

Erden is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Cieslak can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Erden controlling the pace for now.
Erden raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Erden working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Cieslak looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Erden! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Sergian Erden!