PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frank Fury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henryk Szlangbaum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frank Fury has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Fury
vs
Szlangbaum

180 cm
25
142 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frank Fury!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Henryk Szlangbaum!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fury bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Szlangbaum can do anything to dispel that myth.
Fury working away.
Szlangbaum is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Fury off and has taken his back!
Fury covering up well and avoiding damage.
Fury surviving as best he can, preventing damage.
Fury has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Szlangbaum.
Fury trying to control the action but Szlangbaum just sinks the hooks in.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fury covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Szlangbaum punches the canvas rather than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Szlangbaum punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fury tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Fury wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Szlangbaum.
Szlangbaum misses with a head shot.
Szlangbaum thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Szlangbaum sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Szlangbaum controlling from the full mount.
Fury wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Szlangbaum.
Szlangbaum misses with a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szlangbaum throws some wild stikes that Fury manages to avoid easily.
Szlangbaum avoids the attempt from Fury to control.
Szlangbaum can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fury is looking to escape.
Szlangbaum throws a wild left hand from mount and Fury manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fury wants to improve his position but Szlangbaum is controlling well.
Fury 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Szlangbaum misses with a head shot. Fury uses the momentum to regain guard.
Szlangbaum pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fury is keeping the position for now.
Szlangbaum loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fury is trying to keep Szlangbaum in close.
Szlangbaum wants to control from the top but Fury keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fury avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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

Szlangbaum gets a takedown into half guard.
Szlangbaum missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Szlangbaum missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Szlangbaum throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fury is staying active underneath Szlangbaum, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Szlangbaum sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fury defending well though.
Szlangbaum not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henryk Szlangbaum dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fury fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Szlangbaum avoids it really well and circles away.
Szlangbaum is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Fury feints and as Szlangbaum raises his hands in defense, Fury changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Szlangbaum looking for a sweep. Not yet Szlangbaum, not yet.
Szlangbaum not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fury throwing strikes from guard but Szlangbaum blocks nicely.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Szlangbaum is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szlangbaum trying to control the position from guard on top but Fury is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Szlangbaum throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szlangbaum throws a big right hand that misses.
Szlangbaum throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fury trying to keep a closed guard but Szlangbaum is proving a slippery customer.
Fury working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Szlangbaum.
Szlangbaum has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fury is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Szlangbaum trying to hold on to Fury's head to control him but Fury postures up.
Fury missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fury missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fury lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Szlangbaum punching from the bottom.
Fury scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fury drops an elbow to the side of Szlangbaum's head.
Szlangbaum on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Szlangbaum makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Szlangbaum.
Szlangbaum striking off his back but it's not causing Fury any problems.
Fury looking to sit in guard and control but Szlangbaum gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Fury tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Szlangbaum throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Szlangbaum stopping the sweep attempt from Fury.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fury lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Szlangbaum has momentary wrist control but Fury slips an elbow through the middle.
Szlangbaum working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fury.
Fury trying to control the position from guard on top but Szlangbaum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fury's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fury working some strikes from top position.
Szlangbaum keeping moving, preventing Fury from controlling successfully.
Szlangbaum throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Fury scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Szlangbaum trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szlangbaum avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Szlangbaum is trying to control the position but Fury postures up.
Fury trying to control the position from guard on top but Szlangbaum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Szlangbaum wants to sweep but no luck.
Szlangbaum not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Szlangbaum throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Fury fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fury dives in and grabs Szlangbaum's left leg, looking for a takedown. Szlangbaum pushes down on Fury's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Fury. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Szlangbaum. No joy for Fury on that attempt.

Fury gets a takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Fury dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Szlangbaum scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Fury dives in and grabs Szlangbaum's left leg, looking for a takedown. Szlangbaum pushes down on Fury's head and hops out.
Fury closes this distance looking for a takedown but Szlangbaum circles away.
Henryk Szlangbaum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Szlangbaum looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fury is defended easily by Szlangbaum.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Fury. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szlangbaum slaps away a takedown attempt from Fury, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Fury closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fury lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fury lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Fury throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Szlangbaum works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fury is looking to work some ground and pound but Szlangbaum has wrist control.
Fury won't allow Szlangbaum to sweep him here.
Szlangbaum thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Szlangbaum utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Szlangbaum wants to sweep here but Fury controlling him for the moment.
Fury distracts Szlangbaum with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Szlangbaum is adopting a defensive guard.
Fury content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szlangbaum working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fury.
Fury postures up in Szlangbaum's guard and throws a big left but Szlangbaum blocks it.
Szlangbaum throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Szlangbaum thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Frank Fury overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Szlangbaum trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

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

Fury closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Szlangbaum did well to prevent Fury getting side control.
Szlangbaum is trying to maintain the position but Fury is very close to passing his half guard.
Szlangbaum works his way to full guard. Good work.
Fury throwing strikes but missing.
Szlangbaum thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fury postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Szlangbaum throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Fury is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Szlangbaum throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Fury is working Szlangbaum over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fury postures up in Szlangbaum's guard and throws a big left but Szlangbaum blocks it.
Szlangbaum is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Szlangbaum trying to control the pace.
Fury is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szlangbaum thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fury's head.
Szlangbaum throws a strike but Fury avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Szlangbaum missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fury manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Szlangbaum manages to get himself to full guard.

Fury postures up in Szlangbaum's guard and throws a big left but Szlangbaum blocks it.
Szlangbaum has momentary wrist control but Fury slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Szlangbaum trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Szlangbaum trying to keep a closed guard but Fury is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Fury showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fury has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Frank Fury!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Frank Fury!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Henryk Szlangbaum!

Frank Fury wins by split decision!
A relieved looking Frank Fury thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.