PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Elliott Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jedrzej Czyk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Francis
vs
Czyk

210 cm
23
215 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

193 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Elliott Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jedrzej Czyk!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Patrick Alders and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Francis dives in for a single leg takedown but Czyk sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Czyk fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Francis, pushing him back against the cage.

Francis manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Francis trying to control the position here.
Czyk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Czyk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Francis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Czyk defends well.
Czyk is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Czyk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Francis trying to keep a closed guard but Czyk is proving a slippery customer.

Francis is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Czyk presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Czyk ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Czyk no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Czyk is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Francis is controlling him.

Czyk manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Francis tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Czyk smiles and moves away.

Czyk feints and as Francis raises his hands in defense, Czyk changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Czyk controls the pace.
Francis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Czyk looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Francis wants to get back to his feet but Czyk is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Czyk looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Czyk's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Czyk is looking to work some ground and pound but Francis has wrist control.
Francis keeping full guard, as Czyk tries to pass.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Czyk closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Francis did well to prevent Czyk getting side control.
Czyk not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Francis is trying to stand up here but Czyk is controlling him well.
Francis keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Well, if Czyk is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Czyk wants to stand but Francis has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Czyk controlling the action here.
Francis is trying to stand back up but Czyk is controlling him
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Czyk content to control rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Francis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jedrzej Czyk dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Francis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Czyk tries to avoid it but Francis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Czyk to the ground. Czyk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jedrzej Czyk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Czyk pushes Francis up against the cage in a clinch.
Francis is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Czyk to keep the fight standing.

Francis pulls guard.
Czyk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Francis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Francis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Czyk is controlling him.
Francis working a defensive guard here.
Czyk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Czyk stands and steps away. Francis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Francis moves into the clinch successfully.
Czyk is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Francis is fighting off a takedown attempt but Czyk is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Francis to the mat. Francis regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Francis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Czyk.
Czyk's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Czyk postures up in Francis's guard and throws a big left but Francis blocks it.

Francis working for a triangle but Czyk defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Francis being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Czyk throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Czyk is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Francis fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elliott Francis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Czyk instigates a clinch.
Czyk with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Francis pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Czyk's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Czyk with a flurry of punches that miss.
Czyk throws a big right hand that misses.
Czyk slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Czyk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Francis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Czyk controls the pace.
Jedrzej Czyk has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Czyk has taken the fight to the clinch.
Francis is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Czyk gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Czyk is struggling to control the position.
Czyk scores a nice knee to the body.
Czyk throws a knee to the head but misses.

Francis is fighting off a takedown attempt but Czyk is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Francis to the mat. Francis regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Francis is working an open guard so Czyk takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Czyk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jedrzej Czyk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Czyk moves into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Czyk scores a nice knee to the body.

Czyk breaks from the clinch.

Czyk moves into the clinch.
Czyk connects with a nasty looking knee right to Francis's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jedrzej Czyk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Czyk closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

It looks like Elliott Francis has been cut.

Czyk has clasped his hands together around Francis's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Francis sneaks out the side door and pushes Czyk away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Czyk looking to score a takedown here. Francis is defending well but Czyk drives through and ends up in Francis's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Czyk content to stall in guard here.
Francis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Czyk gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Czyk closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Czyk stands up out of the half guard.

Czyk shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Francis's guard.
Czyk sitting in guard here, content to control.
Czyk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Czyk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Francis is wriggling around but Czyk manages to pass to half guard.
Czyk looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Czyk lands with a punch from half guard.

Czyk stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Francis to get to his feet.

Francis gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Czyk to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Czyk content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Czyk throws a strike but Francis rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Czyk manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Czyk looking to score a takedown here. Francis is defending well but Czyk drives through and ends up in Francis's guard.
Czyk postures up in Francis's guard and throws a big left but Francis blocks it.
Francis trying to keep a closed guard but Czyk is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Czyk postures up in Francis's guard and throws a big left but Francis blocks it.
Jedrzej Czyk is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Czyk sitting in guard here, content to control.
More stalling from Czyk.
Czyk is looking to work some ground and pound but Francis has wrist control.

Czyk gets to his feet. Francis looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Francis shoots for a double leg takedown but Czyk sprawls well. He's pushed Francis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Elliott Francis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Francis gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Czyk to score an easy takedown into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jedrzej Czyk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Czyk has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jedrzej Czyk!