PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Blazej Maleszewski (ranked 1264 p4p, 1664 weight class) and Giancarlo Zuniga (ranked 125 p4p, 166 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Maleszewski
vs
Zuniga

173 cm
27
131
8 - 7 - 0

173 cm
27
135
7 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Blazej Maleszewski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Giancarlo Zuniga!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zuniga has managed to clinch.

Maleszewski has hold of one of Zuniga's legs. Zuniga is fighting the takedown attempt but Maleszewski gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Zuniga is adopting a defensive guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maleszewski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maleszewski throws a big elbow that misses.
Zuniga has Maleszewski pulled in close to control his posture.
Let's hope that Zuniga has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Maleszewski really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maleszewski trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuniga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zuniga holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Maleszewski takes the fight into the clinch.
Maleszewski has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zuniga after a bit of a struggle.
Zuniga tries to pull guard but Maleszewski forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Maleszewski lands a takedown into guard.
Maleszewski definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Zuniga wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Zuniga's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Maleszewski trying to control but Zuniga is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maleszewski is really struggling to control Zuniga but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Zuniga looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Zuniga pulls Maleszewski in close to prevent any damage.
Maleszewski controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Maleszewski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maleszewski wants to control from the top but Zuniga keeps moving.
Zuniga has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

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

Zuniga has closed the distance and engaged Maleszewski in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maleszewski has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Zuniga is trying to keep an underhook but Maleszewski manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Zuniga tries to roll over but Maleszewski keeps him under control.
Maleszewski controlling the pace.
Zuniga desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Zuniga is pressing down on Maleszewski's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zuniga trying to keep a closed guard but Maleszewski is proving a slippery customer.
Maleszewski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zuniga pulls Maleszewski in to control the position.
Zuniga is trying to keep Maleszewski in close.
Maleszewski wants to control from the top but Zuniga keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuniga not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zuniga can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maleszewski controls the pace.
Zuniga is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Maleszewski trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuniga 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.

Zuniga darts in and clinches Maleszewski up against the cage.

Maleszewski gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zuniga is trying is best to control the position here.
Maleszewski not doing much here.
Maleszewski is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Blazej Maleszewski dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Zuniga is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maleszewski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zuniga swats away the attempt to clinch by Maleszewski.
Zuniga tries to clinch but Maleszewski moves out of range.

Maleszewski instigates a clinch.

Maleszewski lands a takedown into guard.
Maleszewski 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.
Zuniga is pulling down on Maleszewski's head to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maleszewski looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Maleszewski stopping the sweep attempt from Zuniga.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maleszewski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zuniga not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zuniga seems keen to control Maleszewski's posture.
Maleszewski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maleszewski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zuniga is keeping the position for now.
Zuniga is adopting a defensive guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Maleszewski trying to control but Zuniga is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Zuniga wants to clinch up but Maleszewski keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maleszewski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Zuniga moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zuniga pulls guard.
Zuniga has Maleszewski pulled in close to control his posture.
Maleszewski working some strikes from top position.
Zuniga has his hands on Maleszewski's head, controlling the position.
Maleszewski is stalling in the full guard.
Zuniga not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Blazej Maleszewski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maleszewski being controlled here momentarily.
Zuniga not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Maleszewski is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maleszewski trying to control but Zuniga is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Zuniga is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Maleszewski moves into the clinch.
Zuniga tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maleszewski smiles and moves away.
Zuniga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maleszewski paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Maleszewski pushes Zuniga up against the cage in a clinch.
Maleszewski looking for a takedown.

Maleszewski turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Zuniga is trying to control Maleszewski's posture but Maleszewski avoids it.
Zuniga tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maleszewski wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The strikes coming from Maleszewski are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Maleszewski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zuniga keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maleszewski working away.
Zuniga defending against the ground and pound.
Zuniga struggling a bit here.
Maleszewski landing a few strikes.
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Zuniga is looking to reverse the position.
Zuniga is not content to let Maleszewski control the position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Maleszewski working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zuniga is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Maleszewski's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maleszewski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zuniga's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Blazej Maleszewski dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Maleszewski swats away the attempt to clinch by Zuniga.
Giancarlo Zuniga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Maleszewski has taken the fight to the clinch.
Maleszewski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zuniga can do to turn this around?
Zuniga jumps guard but Maleszewski turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Maleszewski turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Zuniga holding on.
Zuniga manages to get back to half guard.
Zuniga is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maleszewski is looking to stall here but Zuniga recovers full guard.
Zuniga keeping moving, preventing Maleszewski from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuniga is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zuniga pulls Maleszewski in close to his closed guard and prevents Maleszewski from doing any damage or advancing position.
Maleszewski postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zuniga is adopting a defensive guard.
Zuniga thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Maleszewski controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Maleszewski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zuniga is keeping the position for now.
Zuniga is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zuniga pulls Maleszewski in to control the position.

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.
Maleszewski controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zuniga holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Maleszewski wants to clinch.
Zuniga wants to clinch.

Maleszewski clinches up against the cage.

Maleszewski manages to pull guard.
Zuniga 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.
Maleszewski working a defensive guard here.
Zuniga sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuniga tries to free his leg and advance position but Maleszewski is retaining full guard.
Zuniga is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Maleszewski trying to control the position.
Zuniga stays in close to Maleszewski's body and controls the position.
Zuniga stands and throws Maleszewski's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Maleszewski tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zuniga wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Maleszewski prevents Zuniga from moving into mount.
Maleszewski is being controlled here.
Zuniga tries to move to mount but Maleszewski blocks the move with his legs.
Sloppy strikes there by Zuniga.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuniga working away.
Zuniga is looking to take a break and control but Maleszewski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Zuniga is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maleszewski has escaped the position, nice work there.
Maleszewski is trying to control Zuniga's posture but Zuniga avoids it.
Zuniga trying to control the action but Maleszewski is working from the bottom.
Maleszewski is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zuniga has hold of Maleszewski's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Maleszewski tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Zuniga cranks the arm and Maleszewski screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Maleszewski, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Giancarlo Zuniga!