PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Fike (ranked 24299 p4p, 0 weight class) and Szczepan Franek (ranked 9263 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Fike has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fike
vs
Franek

166 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Fike!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Szczepan Franek!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fike shoots in but no luck this time.
Franek throws a counter combo.

Franek clinches up with Fike and pushes him back against the cage.

Franek's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fike throws an off balance right hand

and Franek counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Franek has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fike uses from the top position.
Franek wants to sweep here but Fike controlling him for the moment.
Fike trying to control but Franek is working from the bottom.
Franek controlling Fike's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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.
Fike trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fike could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Franek looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fike is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fike pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franek is keeping the position for now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Fike wants to control from the top but Franek keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Franek looking to score a takedown here. Fike is defending well but Franek drives through and ends up in Fike's guard.
Fike is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Franek showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franek postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fike not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fike bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Franek's guard.

Franek is pulling down on Fike's head to control his posture.

Franek has his feet on Fike's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Franek connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fike tries to clinch up but Franek circles away and keeps his distance.
Fike connects with the punch.
Franek ducks right into an uppercut from Fike.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fike. Franek does a little dance to reset his feet.

Fike drives through with a takedown into Franek's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Fike looking to sit in guard and control but Franek gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Franek stands up over Fike, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Franek controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Franek must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fike looking to hit a scissor sweep but Franek is one step ahead there.
Fike trying to keep a closed guard but Franek is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fike is on top in guard.

Fike trying to control the position from guard on top but Franek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franek manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fike manages to get himself to full guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Franek is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Szczepan Franek 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.

Fike has a takedown stuffed.
Fike stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fike wants it to stay on the feet.
Franek shoots for a takedown but Fike saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Franek bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fike is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
You can see the frustration on Fike's face as Franek controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franek decides to stand back up. Franek steps back and let's Fike get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fike lands a body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Franek.
Mike Fike has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Szczepan Franek.
Franek keeps the fight on the outside.
Fike shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Franek defends it nicely.
Fike misses with an uppercut.
Fike wants to clinch.
Fike wants to clinch up but Franek keeps it at a distance.
Franek is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Fike is looking to clinch but Franek is avoiding it.
Franek wants to counter with a clinch but Fike pushes him away.
Fike lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fike leaves Franek with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fike misses with a head kick.
Fike pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Franek feints a counter leg kick.
Franek walks into a jab.
Fike connects with a nice looking jab.

Franek shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fike might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Franek is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fike trying to control the position.
Franek pushes down on Fike's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Franek controlling the pace.

Fike actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franek is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Fike defends it well.
Fike throws a strike from the bottom but Franek passes into side control!
Fike is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
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. Franek connects with a nice short shot to Fike's temple.
Franek slows the pace down in half guard.
Franek is looking to advance position but Fike won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Szczepan Franek will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Fike'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!

Fike darts in trying to clinch

so Franek counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fike is on top in guard.

Franek looking for subs off his back but Fike has passed one foot through into half guard.

Franek has one foot on Fike's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nice jab there from Fike.
Fike shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franek but Franek pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fike scores with a jab.

Fike drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Franek is wriggling around but Fike manages to pass to half guard.

Fike wants to pass to mount but Franek is defending the position.
Franek keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fike has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fike landing strikes, looking to finish!
Fike avoids the attempt from Franek to control.
Franek throwing punches from his back. He's mounted here but still fighting back.
Szczepan Franek has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fike looking to control but Franek is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Fike throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Franek because Fike loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franek throwing hammer fists to the chest of Fike. What's that going to do exactly?
Franek is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Fike throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Fike throws some wild stikes that Franek manages to avoid easily.
Franek is working to get back to half guard.

Fike stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Franek looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fike is fending him off so far but Franek persists. Nope, Fike circles away and we're back to standing.
Franek takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Franek pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franek leaves Fike with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fike bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Franek's head.
Fike tries to clinch up but Franek circles away and keeps his distance.
Fike fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Fike. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franek takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A combination from Franek does no damage.

Franek gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Franek gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Fike regains guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franek slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mike Fike has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Szczepan Franek is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Franek wants to get up but he can't break Fike's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Fike.
I think Franek 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Szczepan Franek!