PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kcim Balam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bartosz Szkuta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Balam
vs
Szkuta

169 cm
25
148 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

150 cm
26
142 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kcim Balam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bartosz Szkuta!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balam misses the shot to the body.

Szkuta moves into the clinch.
Balam looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Szkuta lands a takedown into guard.

Szkuta drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Szkuta jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Balam will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Balam being controlled here, momentarily.
Balam knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Szkuta on the ground.
Balam looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Szkuta controlling from the top position.
Balam looking for a sweep. Not yet Balam, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szkuta trying to control the position from guard on top but Balam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balam thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Balam looking to hit a scissor sweep but Szkuta is one step ahead there.
Szkuta sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balam escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Szkuta gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Szkuta pushing down on Balam's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Szkuta seems to be looking for submissions.
Balam definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The fighters are battling for position here. Balam manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Szkuta stopping the sweep attempt from Balam.
Szkuta trying to control the position from guard on top but Balam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Szkuta passes Balam's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Balam wants to get back to full guard.
Szkuta passes the guard and advances to mount!
Szkuta can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Balam is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Szkuta looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Szkuta has hold of Balam's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Balam manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Balam keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Szkuta looking to secure an arm triangle but Balam defends it well.
Balam is desperately trying to improve his position but Szkuta has a good base and remains in mount.

Szkuta looking to secure an arm triangle but Balam defends it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balam is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szkuta trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Szkuta with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Szkuta is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Balam is surviving well by controlling Szkuta's body position as best he can.
Balam keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Balam is working hard here to advance position.
Balam wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Balam showing good submission defense here.
Balam breaks Szkuta's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balam postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Szkuta is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Balam defends well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balam with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Balam has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Szkuta wants to sweep but no luck.
Szkuta manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Balam manages to get himself to full guard.

Szkuta passes into half guard.
Szkuta works his way into side control.
Balam gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Balam tries to get to full guard but Szkuta has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bartosz Szkuta dominated that round.
That's time! Balam's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Balam pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Balam clinches up with Szkuta and pushes him back against the cage.

Szkuta gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Balam regains guard.

Szkuta drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Szkuta jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bartosz Szkuta has got the better of the ground game so far.
Balam trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Balam is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Balam missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Szkuta tries to get to full guard but Balam has control of the leg.
Balam trying to mount his opponent but Szkuta defends it.
Szkuta trying to hold on to Balam's head to control him but Balam postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balam throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Szkuta is looking to control Balam's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Szkuta avoid being mounted?
Szkuta regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Balam.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szkuta working a defensive guard here.
Balam works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Balam throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Szkuta is pressing down on Balam's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Szkuta is trying to control the position but Balam postures up.

Szkuta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Szkuta throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Balam working some strikes from top position.
Balam with a flurry of punches that miss.

Szkuta working for a triangle but Balam defends it easily.

Balam stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Szkuta has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Balam manages to get his head free but now Szkuta has transitioned to an armbar! Balam grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Szkuta! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bartosz Szkuta!
Bartosz Szkuta spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.