PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wilmer Oliver (ranked 25273 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Janikowski (ranked 5302 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Oliver
vs
Janikowski

220 cm
18
193 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

179 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Wilmer Oliver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Damian Janikowski!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Janikowski looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Oliver will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Janikowski looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Oliver trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Oliver working a defensive guard but Janikowski manages to pass into side control anyway.
Oliver misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Janikowski staying calm.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oliver tries to bench press Janikowski off him but Janikowski keeps the position.
Oliver manages to work his way to half guard, despite Janikowski's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Janikowski is thwarting Oliver's attempts to control the position.
Oliver strikes from the bottom but Janikowski uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Oliver tries to buck Janikowski off but Janikowski is having none of it.
Janikowski is looking to take a break and control but Oliver is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oliver is letting Janikowski control him for a moment.
Oliver regains half guard.
Oliver is pressing down on Janikowski's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Janikowski sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Janikowski wants to control from the top but Oliver keeps moving.
Oliver looking to hit a scissor sweep but Janikowski is one step ahead there.
Janikowski not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Oliver tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Janikowski is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice body kick there by Oliver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliver changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Janikowski tries to avoid it but Oliver manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Janikowski to the ground. Janikowski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Janikowski drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Oliver defends it well.
Janikowski stuffs the takedown.
As Oliver backs off Janikowski throws a huge counter combo but Oliver manages to avoid it all.
A low kick from Oliver misses

and Janikowski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Oliver keeping full guard, as Janikowski tries to pass.
Oliver keeping moving, preventing Janikowski from controlling successfully.
Oliver is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oliver lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliver wants to stand but Janikowski is controlling his posture from full guard.

Oliver 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.
Oliver missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Oliver wants to control from the top but Janikowski keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Janikowski dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Oliver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Janikowski changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Oliver looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Oliver manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Oliver wants to get back to his feet.
Janikowski keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Oliver is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Janikowski is just riding it out for now. Oliver eventually gives up the hold.
Janikowski is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oliver not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oliver looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Oliver trying to control from half guard but Janikowski is working away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Janikowski can do anything to dispel that myth.
Oliver wants to stand up but Janikowski has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Oliver really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Oliver thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Janikowski's head.

Janikowski is defending against the submission attempts here by Oliver.
Janikowski felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Oliver seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Janikowski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Damian Janikowski has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliver is trying to control. Janikowski wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Janikowski wants to improve his position but Oliver is controlling well.
Oliver tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Janikowski.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Janikowski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Oliver sprawls well. Oliver wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Janikowski gets slowly back to his feet.
Oliver is looking for a counter combo.
Oliver tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Janikowski defends well and Oliver ends up having to push Janikowski into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Oliver clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Oliver manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Oliver looking for a takedown.
Janikowski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Oliver is stalling here.
Janikowski tries to land knees in the clinch but Oliver avoids the damage to the body.

Janikowski gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Janikowski has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Oliver is trying to maintain the position but Janikowski is very close to passing his half guard.
Janikowski wants to control but Oliver is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Damian Janikowski will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Oliver shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Janikowski looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Oliver fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Janikowski steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Oliver.
Oliver lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Janikowski circles away quickly and effectively.
Oliver does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Oliver waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Janikowski.
Oliver shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Janikowski pinned against the cage. Janikowski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oliver tries to score a power double leg takedown but Janikowski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Oliver somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wilmer Oliver. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliver throws a head kick that misses.
Oliver throws a body kick that misses
and Janikowski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Janikowski shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Oliver napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Janikowski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oliver keeps working.
Janikowski is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
You can see the frustration on Oliver's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliver is trying to get back to half guard.
Janikowski trying to control the position but Oliver is working away.
Oliver gets back to half guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Janikowski. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Janikowski trying to control from half guard but Oliver is working away.
Oliver misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Janikowski content to control rather than advance.
Janikowski prevents Oliver from improving his position.
Oliver trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Oliver sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Oliver blocking the ground and pound attempt from Janikowski.
Janikowski is stalling here. Oliver is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Janikowski seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Oliver has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Oliver decides to stand back up.

Oliver closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Oliver in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Oliver swings around for an armbar but Janikowski sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Oliver's guard.
Damian Janikowski is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Janikowski seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Wilmer Oliver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Damian Janikowski.
I've got Janikowski winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Damian Janikowski!
Damian Janikowski was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.