PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Artur Szpilka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Bones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Artur Szpilka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Szpilka
vs
Bones

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

184 cm
18
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artur Szpilka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Johnny Bones!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bones is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Szpilka.

Szpilka closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Szpilka misses with a head shot. Bones uses the momentum to regain guard.
Szpilka pushing down on Bones's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Szpilka is working for a submission of some sort.
Szpilka looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szpilka looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bones is trying to maintain the position but Szpilka is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Szpilka is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bones is trying to control but can't.
Bones blocking the ground and pound attempt from Szpilka.

Bones is defending against the submission attempts here by Szpilka.
Szpilka working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Szpilka content to control rather than advance.
Bones holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Szpilka trying to control the pace.
Szpilka has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Szpilka is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bones has managed to free his arm - good work.
Szpilka content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Szpilka seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bones throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Szpilka.
Szpilka fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A swing and a miss from Bones.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Szpilka.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bones throws a big shot that misses.
Szpilka is looking to counter the offense by Bones and move into the clinch.
Bones lands a really nice looking cross but Szpilka seems unphased.
Bones lunges at Szpilka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Szpilka's hand.
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 Artur Szpilka will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Szpilka has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Szpilka there as he acknowledges the shot.
Bones scores with a sloppy right hand. Szpilka should have avoided that one.
Bones with a jab.
Szpilka dives in for a single leg takedown but Bones sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A slow jab from Bones misses its intended target.
Bones scores with a head kick. Szpilka tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Szpilka rushes Bones and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Szpilka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bones's efforts to push away.

Bones manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bones misses with a looping left.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Szpilka.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Szpilka working away.
Artur Szpilka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szpilka is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bones will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Bones sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Szpilka seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Szpilka keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Szpilka's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bones avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Szpilka.
Bones is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Szpilka trying to control the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bones throws the left hand but Szpilka avoids the punch easily.
Bones throws a jab but it's blocked by Szpilka.
Bones throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Szpilka moves away from the strike by Bones.
Bones might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Szpilka blocks a head kick by Bones.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bones bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Szpilka's head backwards.
Bones stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bones cracks Szpilka with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Szpilka is defended easily by Bones.

Szpilka moves into the clinch.
Bones has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Szpilka has Bones pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bones manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artur Szpilka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Szpilka is trying to pull guard but Bones turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Szpilka has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bones after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szpilka is trying to pull guard but Bones turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Szpilka tries for a takedown but Bones manages to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Szpilka's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Szpilka keeps control of Bones as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Szpilka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bones walks away with a smile on his face. Szpilka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Bones lands a glancing blow to the side of Szpilka's head.
Bones changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bones throws a shot to the body.
Johnny Bones seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bones throws a nice head kick!
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!
Bones throws a good cross that connects.
Szpilka on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bones lands a nice shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Bones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Szpilka with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bones to score with a decent uppercut.

Szpilka manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bones on his heels. He'll look to pass Bones's guard now, I'm sure.
Bones is trying to keep Szpilka in close.
Szpilka passes Bones's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Szpilka is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szpilka missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Szpilka trying to mount his opponent but Bones defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szpilka stalling.
Bones tries to get to full guard but Szpilka has control of the leg.
Szpilka frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Szpilka putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Szpilka with a couple of short strikes.
Szpilka content just to control the position here.

Szpilka is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Szpilka!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Artur Szpilka!