PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Krzysztof Szczepaniak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick Givens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Givens has chosen 12 Stones-Psycho as his entrance music. Krzysztof Szczepaniak has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Krzysztof Szczepaniak
vs
Givens

190 cm
17
217 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Krzysztof Szczepaniak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Patrick Givens!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szczepaniak darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Givens looks for a takedown but Szczepaniak sprawls well.
Szczepaniak tries to clinch up but Givens circles away and keeps his distance.
Givens shoots in looking for a takedown. Szczepaniak tries to sprawl out of it but Givens keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Szczepaniak manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Szczepaniak scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Givens takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A lazy left from Szczepaniak finds it's target.
Szczepaniak thuds a left hand into Givens's body.
Szczepaniak dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Szczepaniak there.
Szczepaniak lands with a good body shot.
Givens misses with a low kick as Szczepaniak jumps back.
Szczepaniak punishes Givens's body with a nice straight punch.
A leg kick checked by Givens.
Szczepaniak walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Givens checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Givens takes one to the chin there.
Givens misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Szczepaniak.
Givens shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Givens manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Szczepaniak on his heels. He'll look to pass Szczepaniak's guard now, I'm sure.
Szczepaniak trying to keep a closed guard but Givens is proving a slippery customer.
Givens looking to sit in guard and control but Szczepaniak gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Givens not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Szczepaniak slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Szczepaniak stops Givens from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Givens keeping moving, preventing Szczepaniak from controlling successfully.
Szczepaniak 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.
Givens wants to sweep here but Szczepaniak controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Krzysztof Szczepaniak.
Szczepaniak with a nice cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Szczepaniak bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczepaniak connects with a jab.
Givens fails with a takedown attempt.
Krzysztof Szczepaniak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Givens.
Szczepaniak lands a jab to the nose.
Givens checks a leg kick nicely.
Szczepaniak is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Szczepaniak connects with a nice looking jab.
Krzysztof Szczepaniak is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Szczepaniak stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A right-left combo lands from Szczepaniak.
Szczepaniak scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Givens gets tackled into the cage by Szczepaniak. Szczepaniak maintains the clinch.
Szczepaniak lands with a left to the head.
Givens takes a knee to the side of the body.
Szczepaniak scores with a nice hook to the head.
Szczepaniak lands a body punch in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Szczepaniak comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczepaniak digs a right hand underneath Givens's ribcage. Givens let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Szczepaniak pushes Givens back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Szczepaniak landing knees to the body.
Szczepaniak lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Szczepaniak lands a damaging elbow.
A right hand to the body from Szczepaniak.
Szczepaniak is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Szczepaniak prevents a body shot from Givens.
Givens has Szczepaniak pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Szczepaniak manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A short right from Szczepaniak.
Givens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Szczepaniak comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Szczepaniak creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Givens's defenses.
Szczepaniak tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Givens avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Szczepaniak.
A nice left hand lands by Szczepaniak.
Szczepaniak lands a hook to the side of the head.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Szczepaniak missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krzysztof Szczepaniak dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Good exchange - Szczepaniak coming out on top.
Szczepaniak lands with an uppercut that bounces Givens off the cage and back into range.
Szczepaniak is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Szczepaniak jabs Givens right on the nose. Givens blinks but takes it well.
Nice shot lands for Szczepaniak.
Givens tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Szczepaniak defends well and Givens ends up having to push Szczepaniak into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Szczepaniak lands a shoulder strike.
Szczepaniak lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Szczepaniak lands with a right to the head.
A short body shot lands from Szczepaniak as the two fighters clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Szczepaniak as Givens tries to tie him up.
Szczepaniak scores a nice knee to the body.
Szczepaniak cracks Givens with a nice body shot.
Szczepaniak lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Givens wants to get back to striking at distance but Szczepaniak won't allow it.
Szczepaniak scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Givens takes an elbow to the forehead.
Szczepaniak lands a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczepaniak lands a left hand that snaps the head of Givens backwards.
Szczepaniak stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Szczepaniak lands an elbow inside.
Szczepaniak lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short uppercut from Szczepaniak.
Givens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A right handed body shot lands from Szczepaniak.
Szczepaniak lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Givens backwards.
Szczepaniak lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Givens backwards.
Szczepaniak softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Givens takes a shot to the head.
Szczepaniak lands a nice elbow.
Szczepaniak digs a right hand underneath Givens's ribcage. Givens let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Krzysztof Szczepaniak has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Szczepaniak working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Szczepaniak prevents the takedown attempt.
A short uppercut from Szczepaniak.

Givens gets control of Szczepaniak's arms and successfully pulls guard. Givens will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Givens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Szczepaniak is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Givens keeping moving, preventing Szczepaniak from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Krzysztof Szczepaniak just wasn't active enough.
Givens needs to keep his hands up - Szczepaniak had a free shot at his head there.
Szczepaniak scores with a one two! Givens had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Szczepaniak connects with the punch.
Szczepaniak jabs Givens to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Szczepaniak as Givens shoots in.
Krzysztof Szczepaniak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Givens.
Givens moves forwards but Szczepaniak connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Szczepaniak with a hook.
Szczepaniak fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Givens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Szczepaniak connects with a body shot.
Szczepaniak lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Givens takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Szczepaniak leaves Givens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Givens or perhaps it was just good defense by Szczepaniak which made him look bad.
Givens is breathing heavily.
A jab from Szczepaniak finds it's way through Givens's defenses.
Szczepaniak lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Krzysztof Szczepaniak is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczepaniak tries to score with a low kick but Givens moves his leg out of the way.
Givens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Szczepaniak moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Szczepaniak tests Givens's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice uppercut there from Szczepaniak.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Givens takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Szczepaniak fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Givens looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
It looks like Szczepaniak has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Szczepaniak works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Givens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Szczepaniak pinned against the cage. Szczepaniak gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Szczepaniak scores with a jab to the jaw.
Givens dives in for a single leg takedown but Szczepaniak sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krzysztof Szczepaniak dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Givens takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A shot to the liver by Szczepaniak. Beautiful body shot.
Givens takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Szczepaniak lands a nice looking body shot.
Givens walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Givens is defended easily by Szczepaniak.
Szczepaniak listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Szczepaniak ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Givens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Givens gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Szczepaniak counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Krzysztof Szczepaniak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Givens.
Givens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Szczepaniak stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Szczepaniak scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Givens shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Givens has taken the fight to the clinch.
Szczepaniak lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Givens wants to break free but Szczepaniak has control.
Szczepaniak lands a right hand.
Szczepaniak scores with a shot to the side of Givens's head.

Givens ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Givens no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Szczepaniak showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Szczepaniak wants to control from the top but Givens keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Givens can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Givens controls Szczepaniak momentarily but Szczepaniak frees himself.

We're going to have a standup here because Krzysztof Szczepaniak wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Givens fails with a takedown attempt.
Givens takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Szczepaniak darts in and clinches Givens up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Szczepaniak.
A nice right hand lands inside from Szczepaniak.
Szczepaniak is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Givens is defending well for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Szczepaniak lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Szczepaniak lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Szczepaniak creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Givens fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczepaniak gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Szczepaniak lands with a left to the head.
Szczepaniak scores with a shoulder strike.

Givens pulls guard successfully.
Szczepaniak not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Szczepaniak trying to control the position from guard on top but Givens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Szczepaniak is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Szczepaniak prevents Givens from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Krzysztof Szczepaniak just wasn't active enough.
Szczepaniak tries to clinch up.
Givens tries to score a power double leg takedown but Szczepaniak sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Givens somewhat.
Szczepaniak lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Givens on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Szczepaniak punishes Givens's body with a nice straight punch.
Szczepaniak lands a head shot.
Szczepaniak thuds his right hand into Givens's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Givens drops his hands momentarily and Szczepaniak takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Givens on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Patrick Givens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Szczepaniak is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Givens can do to turn this around?
Good leg kick by Szczepaniak there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Szczepaniak lands with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Krzysztof Szczepaniak showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Szczepaniak 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Krzysztof Szczepaniak!
During a confident post fight interview, Krzysztof Szczepaniak thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.