PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chol-Hyon An (ranked 8208 p4p, 668 weight class) and Bartlomiej Szymuszowski (ranked 8680 p4p, 680 weight class). An kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Aegukka (DPRK national anthem). Szymuszowski is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by He's a Pirate. Bartlomiej Szymuszowski is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

An
vs
Szymuszowski

193 cm
28
221 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

189 cm
26
270 lbs
4 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Knockout power

Power Matrix Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chol-Hyon An!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Bartlomiej Szymuszowski!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Aafke Stam and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

An gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Szymuszowski is trying to pull guard but An has him pressed against the cage.
Szymuszowski fails to pull guard.
Come on An - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Szymuszowski jumps guard but An stands there with Szymuszowski around his waist. Szymuszowski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Chol-Hyon An has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bartlomiej Szymuszowski.

An pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Szymuszowski shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with An but An pushes him off and we're back to square one.
An feinted there with a counter leg kick.
An fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Szymuszowski.

An drives through and clinches with Szymuszowski against the cage.

Szymuszowski pulls guard successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

An is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
An slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
An sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Szymuszowski is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szymuszowski is not content to let An control the position.

An wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Szymuszowski, who protects the arm well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Szymuszowski can do anything to dispel that myth.

An tries for a kimura but Szymuszowski is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Szymuszowski is trying to get back to half guard.

An tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
An wants to lay and pray for a moment but Szymuszowski keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Szymuszowski wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

An tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Szymuszowski throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
An with the ground and pound but Szymuszowski regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
An is trying to control. Szymuszowski wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Szymuszowski tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Szymuszowski throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

An seems to be looking for submissions.
Szymuszowski is staying active underneath An, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Szymuszowski missing with punches from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

An takes the fight into the clinch.
Szymuszowski drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Szymuszowski tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. An just stands there and leans against the cage.
Szymuszowski fails to pull guard.
Szymuszowski's coach down at Forge Characters MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Szymuszowski's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Szymuszowski tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. An just stands there and leans against the cage.
A short right from An on the inside.
An lands with a left to the head.
An lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Szymuszowski jumps guard but An stands there with Szymuszowski around his waist. Szymuszowski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

An's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

An moves into range and clinches up with Szymuszowski.
An lands with a left to the head.
An is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Szymuszowski is defending well for now.

Szymuszowski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
An lands a head kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

An clinches up with Szymuszowski and pushes him back against the cage.
Szymuszowski looking for a takedown.
Szymuszowski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
An scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
An holding his opponent close, against the cage.

An's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chol-Hyon An dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Szymuszowski tries to keep at a distance but An has taken the fight into the clinch.
Szymuszowski is trying to pull guard but An has him pressed against the cage.
An scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short left from An.
An is working Szymuszowski over against the cage.

An tightens his grip and picks Szymuszowski up, before dumping him to the ground. Szymuszowski manages to land in guard.
An has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
An pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Szymuszowski is keeping the position for now.
Szymuszowski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

An is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An won't allow Szymuszowski to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szymuszowski keeping full guard, as An tries to pass.
An is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Szymuszowski can do to turn this around?
An is working hard here to advance position.
Szymuszowski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
An looking to pass the guard.
Szymuszowski lands with a heel strike from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

An has gone for a leg lock! Szymuszowski slips out almost immediately though and dives into An's guard.

Szymuszowski with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szymuszowski cracks An with a solid left hand.
An tries to strike from the bottom.
An throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
An wants to sweep but no luck.
An knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Szymuszowski on the ground.
Szymuszowski with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Szymuszowski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

An has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Szymuszowski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Szymuszowski sitting in guard, not really doing much.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting An here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Szymuszowski trying to control the position from guard on top but An is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Szymuszowski stands up over An, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
An is trying to control the position but Szymuszowski postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

An has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Szymuszowski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

An is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Szymuszowski defends well.
Szymuszowski showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Szymuszowski postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Szymuszowski trying to control but An is working from the bottom.
Szymuszowski won't allow An to sweep him here.
Szymuszowski landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Szymuszowski stopping the sweep attempt from An.

An is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Szymuszowski is aware though and is defending well.
An keeping moving, preventing Szymuszowski from controlling successfully.
An is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Szymuszowski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

An looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Szymuszowski lands a couple of digs.

Szymuszowski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
An tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chol-Hyon An will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Szymuszowski on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by An. An obviously looking to wear him down.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Szymuszowski.
Szymuszowski shoots in but An avoids the takedown attempt easily.

An drives through and clinches with Szymuszowski against the cage.
Szymuszowski tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. An smiles and moves away.
Chol-Hyon An has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bartlomiej Szymuszowski.
An connects with a solid leg kick.
Szymuszowski shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has An pinned against the cage. An gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An lands a high kick!
No luck for Szymuszowski with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

An pushes Szymuszowski up against the cage in a clinch.
An lands a left hand that snaps the head of Szymuszowski backwards.
An lands a nice uppercut.
Szymuszowski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Szymuszowski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

An escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Szymuszowski shoots in for a double leg but An sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
An throws a nice outside leg kick.
Szymuszowski fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

An gets in close and instigates a clinch.
An lands a right hand that snaps the head of Szymuszowski backwards.

An's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
An throws a nice outside leg kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Szymuszowski or perhaps it was just good defense by An, which made it look bad.

An fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Szymuszowski, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An is pushing Szymuszowski up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
An avoiding damage.
An lands with a right to the head.
Szymuszowski jumps guard but An stands there with Szymuszowski around his waist. Szymuszowski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Szymuszowski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables An to keep the fight standing.
Szymuszowski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

An has picked Szymuszowski up - he's going for a ride! An dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
An thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Szymuszowski's head.
An frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

An working for a guillotine from mount but Szymuszowski is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An lands with some strikes.
An tries to control but Szymuszowski wriggling away.

An working for a guillotine from mount but Szymuszowski is in no mood to give up.

An gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

An closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Szymuszowski did well to prevent An getting side control.
An looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Szymuszowski avoiding damage under a succession of punches from An.
An not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
An scoring with strikes to the body and head.

An is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An tries to pass the half guard into mount. Szymuszowski knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Chol-Hyon An is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Szymuszowski punching from the bottom.
An missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

An is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Szymuszowski sees it coming and defends easily.
An looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chol-Hyon An showed his dominance in that final round.
Well An has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Chol-Hyon An!
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight for Chol-Hyon An!
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Chol-Hyon An!

Chol-Hyon An wins by unanimous decision!
A victorious Chol-Hyon An thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.