PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Charles Carlyle (ranked 1240 p4p, 153 weight class) and Victor Szczęsny (ranked 1680 p4p, 204 weight class). Carlyle comes into the arena with Ladies and Gentlemen blaring out of the sound system. Charles Carlyle has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Carlyle
vs
Szczęsny

177 cm
37
153 lbs
22 - 9 - 1

225 cm
43
135 lbs
47 - 27 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Sportivité

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Charles Carlyle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 47 - 27 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Victor Szczęsny!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Carlyle, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Carlyle scores with a jab. Szczęsny acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Carlyle pushes Szczęsny up against the cage in a clinch.
Szczęsny blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Szczęsny comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Szczęsny creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Carlyle's defenses.
Szczęsny is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Szczęsny stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Carlyle lands a hook that snaps the head of Szczęsny backwards.
Carlyle stalling.
Szczęsny is pressed up against the cage. Carlyle has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Szczęsny down to the mat. Szczęsny avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Szczęsny has closed the distance and engaged Carlyle in a clinch.
Carlyle tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Carlyle successfully pulls guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carlyle pulls Szczęsny in close to his closed guard and prevents Szczęsny from doing any damage or advancing position.
Carlyle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Szczęsny is one step ahead there.
Carlyle trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlyle is adopting a defensive guard.
Szczęsny lands a couple of digs.
Szczęsny throws an elbow that misses. Carlyle uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Szczęsny's guard. Nice move by Carlyle!

Szczęsny has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Carlyle can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Szczęsny looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlyle wants to control from the top but Szczęsny keeps moving.
Carlyle is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Carlyle won't allow Szczęsny to sweep him here.
Szczęsny is trying to control the position but Carlyle postures up.
Carlyle preventing the sweep.
Carlyle trying to control but Szczęsny is working from the bottom.
Szczęsny seems keen to control Carlyle's posture.
Carlyle tries to free his leg and advance position but Szczęsny is retaining full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Szczęsny is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Carlyle moves in looking to clinch but Szczęsny pushes him off.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Carlyle, right into the meat.
Nice defenses there by Szczęsny.
Carlyle throws a lazy uppercut
and Szczęsny counters with a nice leg kick.

Szczęsny scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Szczęsny throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Carlyle sneaks back into half guard.
Szczęsny is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Carlyle wants to improve his position but Szczęsny is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carlyle is working hard here to advance position.
Szczęsny not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Szczęsny slows the pace down in half guard.
Carlyle moves into full guard.
Carlyle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Szczęsny is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Carlyle is on top in guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Szczęsny working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Carlyle 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.

Carlyle throws a hook to the side of Szczęsny's head but Szczęsny sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Carlyle shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Szczęsny pinned against the cage. Szczęsny gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Szczęsny sizes up Carlyle with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Carlyle takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Carlyle looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Carlyle seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szczęsny is trying to control but can't.
Carlyle is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlyle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Szczęsny keeps working.
Carlyle controlling the action here.

Carlyle is working for an americana but Szczęsny has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Carlyle was thinking about the submission.
Carlyle is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Szczęsny can do to turn this around?
Carlyle controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Szczęsny is trying to keep Carlyle in close.
Carlyle wants to control from the top but Szczęsny keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Szczęsny looking to hit a scissor sweep but Carlyle is one step ahead there.

Szczęsny looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Szczęsny looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Szczęsny is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Szczęsny has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Carlyle is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Carlyle lands an elbow that stopped Szczęsny in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Victor Szczęsny has been cut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Szczęsny as Carlyle tries to tie him up.
Carlyle misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny tries to land a knee to the head but Carlyle blocks with his arms.
Carlyle lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Carlyle has a couple of punches blocked by Szczęsny.
Szczęsny blocking some punches.
Szczęsny misses with an elbow strike.
Szczęsny creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Carlyle's defenses.
Szczęsny trying to control the position but instead, Carlyle has worked for underhooks and has pushed Szczęsny into the cage.
Szczęsny trying to control the position but instead, Carlyle has worked for underhooks and has pushed Szczęsny into the cage.
Carlyle gets through Szczęsny's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Szczęsny misses with a body punch.
A bit of stalling here from Szczęsny.
Szczęsny trying to control the position but instead, Carlyle has worked for underhooks and has pushed Szczęsny into the cage.
Szczęsny with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Carlyle throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny taking a breather.

Carlyle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Carlyle shoots in looking for a takedown. Szczęsny tries to sprawl out of it but Carlyle keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Szczęsny manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed right hand from Szczęsny misses the target.
Carlyle attempts a counter takedown but Szczęsny avoids it well and moves away.
Szczęsny swats away the attempt to clinch by Carlyle.
Carlyle misses with a straight right.
Szczęsny jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Carlyle checks a leg kick nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carlyle moves out of range of the body kick from Szczęsny.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Szczęsny enables Carlyle to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Szczęsny manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Szczęsny being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Charles Carlyle will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Victor Szczęsny's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Carlyle walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Szczęsny darts in looking for a takedown but Carlyle gets double underhooks and turns Szczęsny into the cage.
Carlyle changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Szczęsny tries to avoid it but Carlyle manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Szczęsny to the ground. Szczęsny escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Szczęsny throws an off balance right hand
and Carlyle counters with a stiff right hand.

Carlyle decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Szczęsny is rocked!
Carlyle prevents Szczęsny from improving his position.
Szczęsny is still in real trouble! Can Carlyle finish him?
Szczęsny is refusing to be controlled, as Carlyle sits in half guard.
Carlyle sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Szczęsny seems to have recovered his senses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szczęsny has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Carlyle is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carlyle is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Szczęsny has managed to free his arm - good work.

Carlyle seems to be working for a kimura but Szczęsny defends the submission attempt.
Szczęsny on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Carlyle is looking to advance position but Szczęsny won't allow it.
Carlyle landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Szczęsny wants to get back to his feet.
Szczęsny trying to control here.
Carlyle passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Szczęsny!

Carlyle looking for a guillotine from mount but Szczęsny is having none of it.

Carlyle looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Szczęsny is desperately trying to improve his position but Carlyle has a good base and remains in mount.
Victor Szczęsny has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carlyle controlling the position easily from mount.
Carlyle lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Szczęsny wants to hold on but Carlyle pushes him away.
Carlyle tries to control but Szczęsny wriggling away.

Carlyle is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Szczęsny has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Szczęsny!
Szczęsny throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Szczęsny throws an elbow that misses. Carlyle uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Szczęsny's guard. Nice move by Carlyle!

Carlyle wants to pass the guard but Szczęsny is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carlyle passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Carlyle working away.
Szczęsny is trying to improve his position.

Carlyle tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Charles Carlyle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Carlyle controlling the position from side mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carlyle trying to control the position but Szczęsny is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charles Carlyle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Carlyle, 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charles Carlyle!
Charles Carlyle very nearly forgot to thank Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.