PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Josh Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sebastian Rynkowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rynkowski has chosen Mama Selita - 303 as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Sebastian Rynkowski was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Faber
vs
Rynkowski

165 cm
21
152 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

175 cm
29
154 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Victory! Sports Nutrition

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josh Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sebastian Rynkowski!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faber tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rynkowski counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rynkowski with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rynkowski looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rynkowski is thwarting Faber's attempts to control the position.
Faber is not content to let Rynkowski control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rynkowski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Faber's coaches at The Bear's Den have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

Rynkowski is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Faber sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rynkowski seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Faber is looking to control Rynkowski's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Faber avoid being mounted?
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rynkowski in particular looking to stall.
Rynkowski works his foot free and advances to mount.
Faber wants to hold on but Rynkowski pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Faber keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Rynkowski goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Faber turns into him and now he's in Rynkowski's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rynkowski looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rynkowski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rynkowski kicks Faber off and gets to his feet.

Faber gets a clinch.
Faber is pressed up against the cage. Rynkowski has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Faber down to the mat. Faber avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Josh Faber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Faber tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rynkowski swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rynkowski changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Rynkowski throws a front kick aimed at Faber's knee but Faber avoids it well.

Faber gets the takedown into side control.
The ground and pound from Faber seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Rynkowski struggling a bit here.
Rynkowski has one of Faber's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faber working the strikes but Rynkowski uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber is trying to control the action in half guard but Rynkowski is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Faber is thwarting Rynkowski's attempts to control the position.
Faber not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rynkowski wants to improve his position but Faber is controlling well.
Rynkowski works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Faber passes into half guard.
Rynkowski regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Faber.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sebastian Rynkowski will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Faber gets a clinch.
Faber tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Faber looking to slow down the pace here.
Rynkowski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Faber gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rynkowski.
Faber is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Rynkowski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rynkowski.
Faber tries to counter by clinching up but Rynkowski breaks away and moves out of range.
Josh Faber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastian Rynkowski.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rynkowski swats away the attempt to clinch by Faber.
Rynkowski misses with a takedown
and Faber counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Faber closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rynkowski wants a takedown but no success here.
Faber dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Faber goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Faber is trying to maintain a safe position but Rynkowski gets an underhook and turns Faber into the cage.

Rynkowski is trying to trip Faber. He has hold of a leg but Faber is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rynkowski persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Faber is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Faber looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rynkowski is one step ahead there.
Rynkowski trying to control but Faber is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber pulls Rynkowski in close to prevent any damage.
Rynkowski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Faber keeping moving, preventing Rynkowski from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rynkowski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Faber seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Rynkowski has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Faber is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Faber closes the distance and clinches.
Faber displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rynkowski up against the cage.
A short left from Faber.
A head punch on the inside from Faber fails to land.

Rynkowski pulls guard.
Faber lands a couple of digs.
Faber wants to stand but Rynkowski has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Rynkowski looking for a guillotine here but Faber defends easily.
Rynkowski trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber trying to control but Rynkowski is working from the bottom.
Faber content to stall in guard here.
Sebastian Rynkowski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Faber stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rynkowski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rynkowski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Faber dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Faber feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Faber looking to sit in guard and control but Rynkowski gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rynkowski not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Faber preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Faber looking to control.
Rynkowski trying to control but Faber is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faber trying to keep a closed guard but Rynkowski is proving a slippery customer.
Rynkowski is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rynkowski stands and throws Faber's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Faber's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Rynkowski has an Americana. Faber didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Rynkowski is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Rynkowski hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Sebastian Rynkowski!
Our winner, Sebastian Rynkowski, 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.