PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sebastian Rynkowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Blitz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rynkowski's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Mama Selita - 303. Sebastian Rynkowski has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rynkowski
vs
Blitz

175 cm
29
154 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

175 cm
22
152 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sebastian Rynkowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Blitz!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rynkowski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rynkowski looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Rynkowski shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Blitz is trying to defend but Rynkowski finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Blitz is looking for a sweep. Rynkowski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rynkowski is controlling the pace.
Blitz is trying to control but Rynkowski passes into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rynkowski is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Blitz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Blitz managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rynkowski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rynkowski sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Blitz is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Rynkowski tries for a kimura but Blitz is defending well.
Rynkowski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blitz keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rynkowski wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Blitz, who protects the arm well.
Blitz can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blitz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Blitz trying to hold on to Rynkowski's head to control him but Rynkowski postures up.

Rynkowski is working for a kimura but Blitz is defending it quite comfortably.
Rynkowski wants to control but Blitz is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rynkowski seems to be looking for submissions.

Rynkowski is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Blitz tries to roll over but Rynkowski keeps him under control.
Blitz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rynkowski. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rynkowski scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Rynkowski is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Blitz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rynkowski is working away from the top position though.
Blitz is trying to stand up here but Rynkowski is controlling him well.
Rynkowski passes into side control, despite Blitz's attempt to control the position.
Blitz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rynkowski wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A lull in the action here.
Rynkowski trying to control the position but Blitz is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastian Rynkowski dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Blitz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Blitz throws a strike but Rynkowski avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Blitz preventing the sweep.
Blitz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rynkowski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Blitz wants to control from the top but Rynkowski keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rynkowski looking for a guillotine here but Blitz defends easily.
Blitz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rynkowski looking for a sweep. Not yet Rynkowski, not yet.

Rynkowski is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Blitz preventing the sweep.

Rynkowski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Blitz wants to control from the top but Rynkowski keeps moving.
Sebastian Rynkowski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.
Blitz stopping the sweep attempt from Rynkowski.
Blitz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Rynkowski has his foot on Blitz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Blitz works his way back into a safe position though.

Rynkowski is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Blitz is aware though and is defending well.
Blitz controls from within his opponent's guard.

Rynkowski is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Blitz is aware though and is defending well.
Blitz sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rynkowski working for a triangle but Blitz defends it easily.
Blitz wanted to stand there but Rynkowski had control of the position.
Blitz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rynkowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Blitz feints and as Rynkowski raises his hands in defense, Blitz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rynkowski wants to sweep but no luck.
Rynkowski trying to keep a closed guard but Blitz is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rynkowski keeping moving, preventing Blitz from controlling successfully.
My spies in Russian Fighting Community Gym inform me that Blitz has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Blitz stays in close to Rynkowski's body and controls the position.
Blitz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rynkowski's guard.
Rynkowski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blitz can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rynkowski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rynkowski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Blitz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Blitz tries to clinch there but Rynkowski circles away.

Rynkowski gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rynkowski is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Blitz is just riding it out for now. Rynkowski eventually gives up the hold.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rynkowski in particular looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blitz is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rynkowski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Blitz tries to get to full guard but Rynkowski has control of the leg.
Rynkowski is looking to take a break and control but Blitz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rynkowski is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Blitz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rynkowski.

Rynkowski seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Blitz trying to control here.
Rynkowski looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Rynkowski is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rynkowski is trying to control the action in half guard but Blitz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Blitz is holding on to half guard well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blitz trying to control here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rynkowski fails with the takedown

and Blitz counters by moving into the clinch.
Rynkowski tries to pull guard but Blitz won't allow it.
Blitz looking to slow down the pace here.
Rynkowski has Blitz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blitz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sebastian Rynkowski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Blitz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rynkowski shoots in for a takedown but Blitz shows good takedown defense.
Good leg kick by Blitz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Blitz jabs Rynkowski to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blitz tries to clinch but Rynkowski is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blitz has managed to clinch.
Blitz lands a good knee to the midsection. Rynkowski won't want to take too many of those.
Blitz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Blitz pulls Rynkowski into guard.
Blitz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rynkowski trying to control but Blitz is working from the bottom.
Rynkowski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blitz wants to control the position but Rynkowski says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rynkowski is controlling the pace.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blitz tries to get to full guard but Rynkowski has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Blitz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Blitz 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Blitz!
John Blitz managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Mohito Fightwear (Laundry), into his post fight interview.