PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Pall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mateusz Szmidt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mateusz Szmidt has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jon Pall's chin.

Pall
vs
Szmidt

185 cm
20
200 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

183 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jon Pall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mateusz Szmidt!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Bruno Lombardi and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pall drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Szmidt looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Pall trying to control but Szmidt is working from the bottom.
Pall preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szmidt manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Szmidt controlling from mount.

Szmidt is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Pall closes the distance and clinches up with Szmidt, looking for a takedown. Pall pushes Szmidt against the cage but Szmidt circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Szmidt shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Pall counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Szmidt wants to control but Pall is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pall controlling the action here.
Pall prevents Szmidt from improving his position.
Pall content to control rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Szmidt is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szmidt is controlling Pall's trapped leg to prevent Pall from advancing to side control.
Szmidt is in trouble now - Pall has advanced to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pall controlling the pace for now.
Pall seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Szmidt for as long as he can get away with.
Pall throws a strike there. Szmidt manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Szmidt has his takedown stuffed

and Pall counters with a shoot takedown. Szmidt fights it but they end up in guard.
Szmidt keeping full guard, as Pall tries to pass.
Szmidt doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Szmidt seems keen to control Pall's posture.
Pall trying to control the position from guard on top but Szmidt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pall passes Szmidt's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szmidt trying to control but Pall postures up.
Pall is looking to advance position but Szmidt won't allow it.
Pall is trying to control. Szmidt wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pall with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Pall decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two 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.
Szmidt tries to clinch

so Pall counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Szmidt is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pall trying to stand up but can't free himself from Szmidt's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Szmidt is trying to keep Pall in close.
Szmidt wants to sweep here but Pall controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szmidt scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Pall content to stall in guard here.
Pall stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Szmidt swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Szmidt is pulling down on Pall's head to control his posture.

That's four 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.
Pall sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Pall dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Szmidt closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pall to the mat! Pall manages to get full guard.
Szmidt controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Pall looking to control.
Szmidt looking to sit in guard and control but Pall gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Szmidt is on top in guard.
Pall pulls Szmidt in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pall utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Szmidt tries to free his leg and advance position but Pall is retaining full guard.
Szmidt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pall keeping moving, preventing Szmidt from controlling successfully.
Szmidt throws and elbow that misses. Pall uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Szmidt's guard. Nice move by Pall!

Szmidt working for submissions but it's allowed Pall to get to half guard.

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.
Pall performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Szmidt wants to get back to full guard but Pall has mounted him!
Pall controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Szmidt is squirming around, avoiding Pall's attempts to control the action.
Jon Pall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pall has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Szmidt's face.
Mateusz Szmidt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jon Pall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pall in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

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 Jon Pall.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pall, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Pall!