PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Max Tauer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Skrzetuski (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.

Tauer
vs
Skrzetuski

182 cm
25
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Max Tauer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jan Skrzetuski!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tauer takes a jab right on the kisser.
Skrzetuski shoots for a double leg takedown but Tauer sprawls well. He's pushed Skrzetuski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sloppy strikes from Skrzetuski. Those never looked like landing.
Skrzetuski misses with a head kick.
Skrzetuski tries to clinch but Tauer is having none of it.
Tauer tries to clinch up but Skrzetuski circles away and keeps his distance.

Skrzetuski moves into range and clinches up with Tauer.
Tauer is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Skrzetuski looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skrzetuski letting Tauer take a breather here.
Skrzetuski with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tauer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tauer tries a body shot but Skrzetuski blocks it.

Skrzetuski pulls guard effortlessly.
Tauer wants to get up but he can't break Skrzetuski's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skrzetuski is trying to control the position but Tauer postures up.
Tauer tries to stand but Skrzetuski is controlling from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tauer lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Skrzetuski fails to land with a series of punches.
Tauer slaps away a takedown attempt from Skrzetuski, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Skrzetuski tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tauer is able to avoid easily.
Skrzetuski fails with the takedown
enabling Tauer to counter with a crisp jab.
Max Tauer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Skrzetuski.
Skrzetuski defending well as Tauer loads up on a big left hand.
Tauer throws a front kick that sends Skrzetuski stumbling back into the cage.

Skrzetuski has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tauer pushes Skrzetuski back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tauer lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tauer misses with a punch on the inside.
Tauer lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tauer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Skrzetuski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tauer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tauer.
Tauer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Skrzetuski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A frustrated look appears on Skrzetuski's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Skrzetuski pulls guard successfully.
Tauer wants to stand but Skrzetuski has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Skrzetuski can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tauer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Skrzetuski tries to close the distance and clinch but Tauer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tauer is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Skrzetuski on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Tauer closes the distance and pushes Skrzetuski back into the cage.
Tauer blocks the elbow strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tauer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tauer tries a body shot but Skrzetuski blocks it.
Tauer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tauer tries to throw a body punch but Skrzetuski avoids it by throwing Tauer back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Tauer 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.

Tauer looks for the body kick but Skrzetuski saw that one coming.
And Skrzetuski tries to counter it with a takedown but Tauer pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Skrzetuski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tauer looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Skrzetuski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tauer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Skrzetuski fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tauer, pushing him back against the cage.
Skrzetuski fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tauer has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Tauer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Skrzetuski blocking some punches.
Skrzetuski is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tauer gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tauer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Skrzetuski can do to turn this around?
Tauer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Skrzetuski.
A head punch on the inside from Tauer fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skrzetuski has had enough of the clinch but Tauer keeps him there for the moment.
Skrzetuski is trying to maintain a safe position but Tauer gets an underhook and turns Skrzetuski into the cage.
Tauer lands a right hand.
A short right from Tauer.
Tauer misses with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tauer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skrzetuski wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tauer tries a body shot but Skrzetuski blocks it.
Tauer wants to stall.
Tauer scores with a nice hook to the head.

It looks like Jan Skrzetuski has been cut.
Tauer holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Tauer blocks an elbow strike from Skrzetuski.
Tauer swings wildly with an uppercut but Skrzetuski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Skrzetuski blocking some punches.
Tauer working aggressively here.
Tauer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Skrzetuski tries to pull guard but Tauer won't allow it.
Max Tauer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Skrzetuski.
Skrzetuski blocks an uppercut.
Tauer lands an uppercut.
Tauer working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tauer lands a right hand that snaps the head of Skrzetuski backwards.
Tauer misses with a body punch.
Tauer lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Skrzetuski or not.
Tauer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Skrzetuski's elbow.
Skrzetuski blocks an uppercut.
Tauer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tauer swings wildly with an uppercut but Skrzetuski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tauer misses with a hook from the clinch.

Skrzetuski wants the takedown. Tauer is fighting it off but Skrzetuski persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Tauer's guard against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skrzetuski stops Tauer from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tauer manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Skrzetuski is breathing heavily.
Skrzetuski is trying to pull guard but Tauer turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tauer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Skrzetuski is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tauer is keeping busy.
Skrzetuski tries to pull guard but Tauer won't allow it.
A short right from Tauer on the inside.
Tauer lands an uppercut.
Tauer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Skrzetuski.
Tauer lands a right hand.
Tauer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Skrzetuski tries to pull guard but Tauer holds him up against the cage and eventually Skrzetuski drops back down to his feet.
Tauer tries to throw a body punch but Skrzetuski avoids it by throwing Tauer back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tauer misses with a punch on the inside.

Skrzetuski jumps guard.
Tauer is looking to stand up but Skrzetuski won't let him.
Tauer wants to stand and escape but instead Skrzetuski has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Tauer wants to get back to his feet but Skrzetuski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Tauer dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jan Skrzetuski's cut.
That's time! Tauer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tauer throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Skrzetuski.
Skrzetuski tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tauer defends well and Skrzetuski ends up having to push Tauer into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Max Tauer is winning the standup battle so far.
Tauer scoring well with a low kick there.
That kick from Tauer tenderised Skrzetuski's leg. Skrzetuski is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tauer swinging wildly here.
Skrzetuski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Skrzetuski takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skrzetuski moves away from the strike by Tauer.
Tauer throws an overhand right that lands on Skrzetuski's shoulder, as Skrzetuski tries to avoid the shot.
Skrzetuski dives in for a single leg takedown but Tauer sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Skrzetuski is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tauer defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Skrzetuski.
Max Tauer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Skrzetuski.
Skrzetuski misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Skrzetuski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Skrzetuski is looking to clinch.
Tauer tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Skrzetuski manages to circle out of the way.
Skrzetuski ducks under a wild hook from Tauer.
Skrzetuski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tauer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tauer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tauer sets himself, and Skrzetuski steps forward looking for the clinch! Tauer avoids it this time.
Tauer is looking to clinch.
Tauer swinging wildly here.
Skrzetuski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skrzetuski shoots in for a takedown but Tauer shows good takedown defense.
Tauer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Skrzetuski manages to avoid it.

Tauer moves into the clinch successfully.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tauer.
Tauer throws a head punch that misses.
Skrzetuski on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A body shot lands from Tauer.
Tauer missing with knees to the body.
Skrzetuski blocking some punches.
Skrzetuski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Skrzetuski on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Tauer misses with a punch on the inside.
Skrzetuski tries to break free but Tauer pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tauer missing with knees to the body.
Tauer throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Skrzetuski.
Tauer trying to land knees to the body.
Tauer missing with knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tauer.
Max Tauer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head punch on the inside from Tauer fails to land.
Tauer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Skrzetuski.
Tauer misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Skrzetuski.
Skrzetuski prevents a body shot from Tauer.
Skrzetuski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tauer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tauer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Skrzetuski backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Tauer fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tauer is stalling here.
Skrzetuski is looking for a takedown.
Tauer has Skrzetuski pressed against the cage.
Skrzetuski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tauer stops a takedown attempt from Skrzetuski.
Tauer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Skrzetuski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Max Tauer has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Skrzetuski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Skrzetuski tries to pull guard but Tauer won't allow it.
Tauer gets through Skrzetuski's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Jan Skrzetuski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tauer lands a body shot in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Tauer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tauer, 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Tauer!
Our winner, Max Tauer, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.