PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Patryk Szczerbiec (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harry Slater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harry Slater has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Szczerbiec
vs
Slater

188 cm
34
185 lbs
21 - 21 - 0

174 cm
32
163 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Patryk Szczerbiec!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Harry Slater!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slater dodges the punch combination from Szczerbiec.
Szczerbiec looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Szczerbiec drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Slater fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Slater is defended easily by Szczerbiec.
Sloppy strikes from Szczerbiec. Those never looked like landing.
Slater throws a hook to the side of Szczerbiec's head but Szczerbiec sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Szczerbiec fails in his attempt to clinch.
Slater throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Slater closes the distance and pushes Szczerbiec back into the cage.
Slater lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Slater tries to work over Szczerbiec's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Szczerbiec wants to break free but Slater has control.
Slater takes a knee to the side of the body.
Slater lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczerbiec goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Szczerbiec wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Slater scores with a nice hook to the head.
Slater has a couple of punches blocked by Szczerbiec.
Slater drops down looking for an ankle pick but Szczerbiec pulls his leg out and moves away.
Szczerbiec slips under a jab.
Slater circles away from the clinch attempt.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Slater has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Szczerbiec closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Slater.
Szczerbiec blocks an uppercut.
Szczerbiec tries to land knees in the clinch but Slater avoids the damage to the body.
Szczerbiec has Slater pushed against the cage.
Szczerbiec tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Szczerbiec lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Slater blocks a body shot from Szczerbiec.
Szczerbiec wants to stall.
Slater lands a left hand that snaps the head of Szczerbiec backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczerbiec is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Patryk Szczerbiec has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harry Slater.
Slater tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Szczerbiec missing with knees to the body.
Szczerbiec missing with knees to the body.
Slater is working for takedown but Szczerbiec is calmly controlling the position for now.
Slater fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
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!
Szczerbiec utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Szczerbiec working hard to break the clinch.
Slater throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Szczerbiecs head.
Slater lands a body punch in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Szczerbiec.

Szczerbiec escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Slater on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Szczerbiec moves into the clinch.
Slater tries to score a body lock takedown but Szczerbiec shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Slater throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczerbiec utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Szczerbiec stalling the fight.
Szczerbiec tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Slater's elbow.
Szczerbiec misses with a knee to the head.
Slater can't find room to land a body shot as Szczerbiec controls the action.
Slater lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Slater.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Slater.
Nice body punch from Szczerbiec - that landed with a thud.
Szczerbiec prevents the takedown attempt.
Slater lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Szczerbiec crunches a lovely knee into Slater's ribcage.
Slater looks winded!
Slater tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Szczerbiec breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Slater throws a shot to the body.
Szczerbiec moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Harry Slater has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Slater throws a poor cross that misses
and Szczerbiec counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczerbiec defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Slater.
Harry Slater seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown attempt by Slater or perhaps it was just good defense by Szczerbiec, which made it look bad.
Szczerbiec lands with a thumping leg kick.
Slater shoots in but no luck this time.
Slater misses the jab.
Szczerbiec throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Szczerbiec lands a nice shot to the body.
Szczerbiec takes one on the button.
Szczerbiec is looking to clinch.
Slater throws a nice looking combination but Szczerbiec bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Slater fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Szczerbiec manages to avoid it.
Szczerbiec connects with a high kick.
Szczerbiec stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
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 Patryk Szczerbiec will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Harry Slater's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Szczerbiec scores with a body shot.

Szczerbiec has managed to clinch.
Slater fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Szczerbiec misses with a hook to the ribs.

Szczerbiec breaks the clinch.
Slater tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Szczerbiec manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Szczerbiec avoids the body shot from Slater.
Slater with a poor takedown

and Szczerbiec counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Patryk Szczerbiec has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Slater presses Szczerbiec against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Slater.
Szczerbiec misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Slater swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szczerbiec stalling against the cage.
Slater prevents a body shot from Szczerbiec.
Slater is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Szczerbiec gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Slater is trying to drag Szczerbiec to the mat but Szczerbiec just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Patryk Szczerbiec has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harry Slater.
Slater drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczerbiec goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Szczerbiec gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Slater.
Slater misses with some punches.
Szczerbiec blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Szczerbiec misses with a body punch.
Szczerbiec slowing the pace effectively.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Slater.
Szczerbiec is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Slater blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Szczerbiec blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Szczerbiec tries a body shot but Slater blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczerbiec is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Slater working aggressively here.
Slater swings wildly with an uppercut but Szczerbiec uses good head movement to avoid it.
Szczerbiec throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Slater misses with a punch on the inside.
Slater avoiding damage as Szczerbiec throws knees to the body.
Szczerbiec looking to slow down the pace here.
Slater is trying to drag Szczerbiec to the mat but Szczerbiec just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Szczerbiec missing with knees to the body.
Slater scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Slater has Szczerbiec pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Szczerbiec manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Szczerbiec has Slater pushed against the cage.
Szczerbiec trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slater swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Slater.
A body shot lands from Slater.
Szczerbiec is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Slater is keeping busy.
Slater tries a body shot but Szczerbiec blocks it.
Slater misses with a hook from the clinch.
Szczerbiec misses with a punch to the body.
Slater lands with a right to the head.
Szczerbiec missing with knees to the body.
Slater lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Szczerbiec scores a nice knee to the body.
Slater lands an uppercut.
Slater is trying to drag Szczerbiec to the mat but Szczerbiec just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Szczerbiec working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slater drops down looking for an ankle pick but Szczerbiec pulls his leg out and moves away.
Slater takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Slater lands the left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Szczerbiec pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Slater tries to counter with a clinch but Szczerbiec shakes him off and moves away.
Donk. Slater catches Szczerbiec right on the button with a cross.
Slater takes a swing at Szczerbiec's ribcage but misses.
Szczerbiec went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Szczerbiec lands a head shot.
Patryk Szczerbiec is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Slater keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Slater tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Szczerbiec was well out of range. Poor timing from Slater.
Szczerbiec slips a jab from Slater.
Szczerbiec doesn't manage to clinch there - Slater circles away.
Slater's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Slater duly obliges.

Szczerbiec is rocked!
Slater bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Harry Slater will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Harry Slater's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Szczerbiec throws a hook to the side of Slater's head but Slater sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Oh Szczerbiec is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Patryk Szczerbiec is winning the standup battle so far.

Slater closes the distance and clinches.
Szczerbiec is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Szczerbiec is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Slater.
Slater is working Szczerbiec over against the cage.
Slater swings wildly with an uppercut but Szczerbiec uses good head movement to avoid it.
Szczerbiec seems to have got his legs back now.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A nice right hand lands inside from Slater.
Slater lands with a right to the head.
Slater misses with a hook to the ribs.
Slater prevents a body shot from Szczerbiec.
Slater lands a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szczerbiec tries to land knees in the clinch but Slater avoids the damage to the body.
Slater lands a shot to the body.
Slater avoiding damage as Szczerbiec throws knees to the body.
Slater swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Szczerbiec is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Slater is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good body shot from Slater.
Slater prevents a body shot from Szczerbiec.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Slater.
Slater is trying to drag Szczerbiec to the mat but Szczerbiec just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Szczerbiec blocks an uppercut.
Szczerbiec goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Szczerbiec lands a good knee to the midsection. Slater won't want to take too many of those.
Slater misses with a punch on the inside.
Slater working aggressively here.
Szczerbiec trying to land knees to the body.
Szczerbiec struggles to land a body shot inside as Slater controls his hands.
Szczerbiec working aggressively here.
Slater takes a knee to the side of the body.
A nice left hand lands by Slater.

Szczerbiec manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Slater.
Slater misses with a straight right.
Szczerbiec slips under a jab from Slater.
Szczerbiec keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Szczerbiec tries to clinch up.
Szczerbiec connects with the punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Slater swats away the attempt to clinch by Szczerbiec.

Slater manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Szczerbiec on his heels. He'll look to pass Szczerbiec's guard now, I'm sure.
Slater missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Slater throwing strikes but missing.
Szczerbiec keeping moving, preventing Slater from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczerbiec utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Slater is pushing down on Szczerbiec's leg trying to pass to half guard. Szczerbiec is fighting to maintain full guard but Slater has managed to sneak the leg through.
Slater has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Slater looking to ground and pound but Szczerbiec is blocking nicely.
Slater 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.
Szczerbiec is squirming around, avoiding Slater's attempts to control the action.
Slater landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slater looking to finish Szczerbiec with some ground and pound. This is bad for Szczerbiec!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Slater. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Slater controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slater avoids the attempt from Szczerbiec to control.
Slater throwing strikes here but Szczerbiec is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Slater with a couple of short strikes.
Slater raining down hammerfists from mount.
Szczerbiec trying desperately to get to his feet.
Slater controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Slater really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Harry Slater's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Slater tries to bum rush Szczerbiec with a series of wild strikes but Szczerbiec uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Slater shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Slater is looking to take a break and control but Szczerbiec is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Szczerbiec wants to control but Slater is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Slater tries to pass the half guard into mount. Szczerbiec knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Slater seems to be working for a kimura but Szczerbiec defends the submission attempt.
Slater scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Slater connects with a nice short shot to Szczerbiec's temple.
Szczerbiec is not content to let Slater control the position.
Slater moves into full mount! Szczerbiec won't be happy about that!
Szczerbiec regains half guard.
Slater not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Slater is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Szczerbiec is just riding it out for now. Slater eventually gives up the hold.

Slater is working for a submission of some sort.
Harry Slater has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczerbiec is trying to stand.

Slater is looking for a kimura here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Slater lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slater looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Slater prevents Szczerbiec from improving his position.
Slater is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Slater landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Slater seems to be looking for submissions.

Szczerbiec has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Slater is on him like a limpet, forcing Szczerbiec back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczerbiec lands a knee to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Slater as Szczerbiec tries to tie him up.
Szczerbiec tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Slater's elbow.
A hook to the body from Szczerbiec.
Slater is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Slater lands a shoulder strike.
Slater scores with a nice hook to the head.
Szczerbiec misses with a punch to the body.
Slater lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Szczerbiec or not.
A nice left hand lands by Slater.
Slater misses with some punches.
Szczerbiec missing with knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A frustrated look appears on Szczerbiec's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Szczerbiec unloads a knee to the mid-section. Slater lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Szczerbiec taking a breather.

Slater gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Szczerbiec regains guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Slater dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Harry Slater's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A big right from Slater misses.
Szczerbiec lands a nice leg kick that just misses Slater's sensitive parts.
Slater swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Slater shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Szczerbiec's guard.
Szczerbiec is looking to stand up but Slater isn't so interested in that idea.
Slater tries to free his leg and advance position but Szczerbiec is retaining full guard.
Szczerbiec being controlled here, momentarily.
Slater pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Szczerbiec is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczerbiec controls Slater momentarily but Slater frees himself.
Slater throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Szczerbiec works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Szczerbiec looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Szczerbiec misses the shot to the body.
Slater tries to clinch but Szczerbiec moves out of range.
Slater wants to clinch up but Szczerbiec keeps it at a distance.

Slater bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Slater is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Szczerbiec knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Slater controls the position.
Harry Slater is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slater trying to control the position but Szczerbiec is working away.
Szczerbiec manages to get back to half guard.
Slater performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Szczerbiec is trying to stand back up but Slater is controlling him
Slater is taking a breather. Szczerbiec says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Slater trying to control from half guard but Szczerbiec is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Slater seems content to control.
Slater throwing shots but Szczerbiec is blocking nicely.
Szczerbiec looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Szczerbiec thows a leg kick but Slater checks it

and Slater decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Szczerbiec's guard.
Slater controls from within his opponent's guard.
Slater is continuing to stall.
Slater passes Szczerbiec's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Patryk Szczerbiec has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slater controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Slater has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Slater has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Szczerbiec is defending against the submission attempts here by Slater.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Slater seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harry Slater comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Slater 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight for Harry Slater!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Harry Slater!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Harry Slater!

Harry Slater wins by unanimous decision!
Harry Slater was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.