PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Henryk Szlangbaum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilbert Canela (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.

Szlangbaum
vs
Canela

176 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Henryk Szlangbaum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gilbert Canela!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Canela throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Szlangbaum appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Canela misses the jab.
Canela shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Szlangbaum sprawls well. Szlangbaum wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Canela gets slowly back to his feet.
Szlangbaum appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Canela misses with a combination

and Szlangbaum holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Canela wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Canela working hard to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Szlangbaum gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Canela is trying to stand up here but Szlangbaum is controlling him well.
Szlangbaum sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Canela defending well though.
Szlangbaum missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canela avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Szlangbaum.
Szlangbaum controlling the pace.
Canela is trying to stand up here but Szlangbaum is controlling him well.
Canela blocking the ground and pound attempt from Szlangbaum.
Szlangbaum slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Canela manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Szlangbaum postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Szlangbaum really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Szlangbaum won't allow Canela to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Canela keeping moving, preventing Szlangbaum from controlling successfully.
Canela avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Szlangbaum loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Szlangbaum stays in close to Canela's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Szlangbaum keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Canela.
Canela throws a one two combo.

Szlangbaum looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Canela!
The ground and pound from Szlangbaum seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Canela parries the strikes from Szlangbaum easily there. Szlangbaum is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Canela to escape.
Canela defending against the ground and pound.
Canela managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Szlangbaum.
Szlangbaum working the head and body with strikes.

It looks like Gilbert Canela has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szlangbaum lands a nice forearm strike.
Szlangbaum in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Canela managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Szlangbaum.
The ground and pound from Szlangbaum seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Szlangbaum tries to score with some ground and pound. Canela controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Szlangbaum tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Szlangbaum throws an elbow but Canela slips to the side and avoids it well.
Szlangbaum misses with the ground and pound.
Szlangbaum looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Canela is avoiding damage well.
Szlangbaum passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Canela!
Szlangbaum throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Szlangbaum has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Szlangbaum 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.
Canela tries to lock up and control but Szlangbaum gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szlangbaum throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Szlangbaum looking to control and managing it successfully.
Szlangbaum thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Canela wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Szlangbaum.
Szlangbaum throwing strikes here but Canela is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Szlangbaum 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.
Canela wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Szlangbaum.
Szlangbaum throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Szlangbaum cracks Canela with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henryk Szlangbaum dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gilbert Canela's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Szlangbaum fails to land the takedown.
Canela tries to clinch but Szlangbaum is having none of it.

Szlangbaum shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Canela's guard.
Szlangbaum is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Szlangbaum throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Canela works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szlangbaum throwing strikes but missing.
Szlangbaum throws a big elbow that misses.
Szlangbaum missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szlangbaum throws a strike but Canela rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Szlangbaum managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Szlangbaum keeping moving, preventing Canela from controlling successfully.
Szlangbaum on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Szlangbaum tries to get out of the position.
Szlangbaum has Canela pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Szlangbaum wants to sweep here but Canela controlling him for the moment.
Szlangbaum will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Szlangbaum trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Canela misses with a double jab.
Szlangbaum keeps the fight on the outside.
Henryk Szlangbaum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Szlangbaum dives in and scores a takedown into Canela's guard.
Szlangbaum with a flurry of punches that miss.
Szlangbaum throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Szlangbaum working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canela looking to control but Szlangbaum passes into half guard.
Szlangbaum takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Szlangbaum missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Szlangbaum missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Szlangbaum is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Canela can do to turn this around?
Canela flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Canela strikes from the bottom but Szlangbaum uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Szlangbaum.
Szlangbaum tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Szlangbaum working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canela parries the strikes from Szlangbaum easily there. Szlangbaum is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Canela to escape.
Szlangbaum throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Canela tries to bench press Szlangbaum off him but Szlangbaum keeps the position.
Szlangbaum tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Szlangbaum wants to lay and pray for a moment but Canela keeps working.
Canela dodges the ground and pound from Szlangbaum.
Canela throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Canela avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Szlangbaum.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Szlangbaum is looking to take a break and control but Canela is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Canela dodges the ground and pound from Szlangbaum.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henryk Szlangbaum dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gilbert Canela's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Szlangbaum fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Canela scores with a jab to the jaw.
Canela throws a combination that misses

and Szlangbaum counters with a shoot takedown. Canela fights it but they end up in guard.
Szlangbaum is stalling in the full guard.
Canela really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Szlangbaum. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Canela keeping moving, preventing Szlangbaum from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szlangbaum throwing strikes from guard but Canela blocks nicely.
Szlangbaum looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szlangbaum throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Szlangbaum accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Canela isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Szlangbaum stacks Canela on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Szlangbaum!
Szlangbaum in side control, throwing shots but Canela defends.
Szlangbaum sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Canela is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Szlangbaum working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Szlangbaum throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Canela tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canela avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Szlangbaum.
Szlangbaum wants to control but Canela is keeping him busy.
Canela throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Szlangbaum misses with the ground and pound.
Szlangbaum misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The strikes coming from Szlangbaum are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Canela looking for a sweep but Szlangbaum has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Canela takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Szlangbaum wants to control the pace but Canela is squirming around nicely.
Szlangbaum throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szlangbaum can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Canela is looking to escape.
Szlangbaum misses with a head shot.
Szlangbaum lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Szlangbaum throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Canela because Szlangbaum loaded up on that one.
Szlangbaum throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Canela because Szlangbaum loaded up on that one.
Szlangbaum controlling from the full mount.
Canela is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szlangbaum thowing shots but they're missing.
Szlangbaum thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Szlangbaum looking to ground and pound but Canela is blocking nicely.
Canela is in all sorts of trouble here.
Szlangbaum 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Szlangbaum looking to ground and pound but Canela is blocking nicely.
Szlangbaum tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gilbert Canela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henryk Szlangbaum is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Szlangbaum 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henryk Szlangbaum showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Szlangbaum, 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Henryk Szlangbaum!
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight for Henryk Szlangbaum!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Henryk Szlangbaum!

Henryk Szlangbaum wins by unanimous decision!