PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Urijah Phaber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phaber has chosen Monster as his entrance music. Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Urijah Phaber acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Brzeszczyszczykiewicz
vs
Phaber

168 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

171 cm
21
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Urijah Phaber!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
The fight stays on the outside here - Phaber looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Phaber tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Phaber's waist but Phaber gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Brzeszczyszczykiewicz off to one side.
Phaber lands with an overhand left.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz tries to clinch but Phaber is having none of it.
Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Phaber misses.

Brzeszczyszczykiewicz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Phaber wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phaber is not content to let Brzeszczyszczykiewicz control the position.
Phaber is trying to buck Brzeszczyszczykiewicz off.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Phaber rushes Brzeszczyszczykiewicz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Phaber using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Phaber wants to break free but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz has control.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz is trying to break free.
Phaber lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Phaber misses with a knee strike.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz is trying to maintain a safe position but Phaber gets an underhook and turns Brzeszczyszczykiewicz into the cage.

Phaber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Phaber tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Phaber gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Phaber breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Phaber tries a head kick but it misses.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz tries to land a front kick but Phaber steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phaber throws a sloppy head kick and Brzeszczyszczykiewicz moves out of range easily.
Phaber tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Phaber as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phaber fails in his attempt to clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Brzeszczyszczykiewicz.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Phaber pinned against the cage. Phaber gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Phaber tries to clinch up.

That's four 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.
Phaber is looking to clinch but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz is avoiding it.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Phaber sprawls well. Phaber wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Brzeszczyszczykiewicz gets slowly back to his feet.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Phaber counters with a left and a right that stings Brzeszczyszczykiewicz.
Phaber wants to clinch up but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz keeps it at a distance.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz throws a head kick that misses
and Phaber counters with a nice uppercut.
Phaber tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Brzeszczyszczykiewicz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Phaber won't be happy with that.
Phaber is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Brzeszczyszczykiewicz asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz trying to control the action but Phaber is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Phaber wants to clinch but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz slips to the side

and Brzeszczyszczykiewicz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Brzeszczyszczykiewicz.
Phaber keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Brzeszczyszczykiewicz's efforts to push away.
A frustrated look appears on Phaber's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Brzeszczyszczykiewicz turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz wants to control but Phaber is keeping him busy.

Phaber bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Phaber works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A combination from Phaber does no damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Phaber misses with a jab, cross combination.
Urijah Phaber is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz throws a predictable looking body shot
and Phaber counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Brzeszczyszczykiewicz thinking.
Phaber throws a sloppy head kick and Brzeszczyszczykiewicz moves out of range easily.
Phaber wants to clinch

and Brzeszczyszczykiewicz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Phaber tries to kick Brzeszczyszczykiewicz off in order to stand up. Brzeszczyszczykiewicz Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Phaber is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz is working Phaber over with some ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Phaber really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Brzeszczyszczykiewicz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brzeszczyszczykiewicz decides to stand up, so the ref orders Phaber to his feet.
Phaber bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Phaber counters with a left to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Phaber.

Brzeszczyszczykiewicz closes the distance and pushes Phaber back into the cage.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Phaber misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brzeszczyszczykiewicz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Phaber counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Phaber counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz misses the body punch
and Phaber connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Phaber moves into the clinch successfully.
Phaber keeps control of Brzeszczyszczykiewicz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Brzeszczyszczykiewicz.

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.

Brzeszczyszczykiewicz works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Brzeszczyszczykiewicz stands up from Phaber's guard - Brzeszczyszczykiewicz perhaps looking for a knockout.
Phaber tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz with a poor takedown
and Brzeszczyszczykiewicz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Phaber avoids the head kick by Brzeszczyszczykiewicz.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brzeszczyszczykiewicz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Phaber tries to clinch

and Brzeszczyszczykiewicz counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz dominated that second round.
That's time! Brzeszczyszczykiewicz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Phaber wants to clinch but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz slips to the side
and Phaber takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Phaber clinches with his opponent.
Phaber tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Phaber has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Phaber throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz blocks it with crossed arms.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz can't get the takedown.
Phaber tries to land a knee to the head but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz blocks with his arms.
Phaber is looking to break free of the clinch but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phaber tries to circle away but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz has him pinned against the cage.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz tries a knee to the head but Phaber blocks it.

Phaber breaks from the clinch.

Phaber moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Phaber is trying to break the clinch but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz is controlling him.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Phaber has him pressed against the cage.
Phaber tries to land a knee to the head but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz blocks with his arms.
Phaber tries to break the clinch but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz is controlling the position.
Phaber throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz blocks it with crossed arms.
Phaber using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Brzeszczyszczykiewicz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Phaber tries to clinch but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Phaber.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Phaber keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz gets cracked there but stands up to it.
No joy there for Brzeszczyszczykiewicz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Phaber throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Brzeszczyszczykiewicz.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz with a poor takedown
and Phaber counters with a left and a right that stings Brzeszczyszczykiewicz.
Phaber tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Brzeszczyszczykiewicz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Phaber is looking to stand back up but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Phaber.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz stops Phaber from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz working the head and body with strikes.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz is taking a breather. Phaber says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz with a poor takedown
and Phaber counters with a stiff right hand.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz with a poor takedown
and Phaber connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

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.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz misses with a takedown attempt
and Phaber counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz misses with a takedown attempt - Phaber sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Phaber tries to close the distance and clinch up but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Phaber tries to clinch up but Brzeszczyszczykiewicz circles away and keeps his distance.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz tries for a takedown but Phaber circles away easily
and Phaber cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Urijah Phaber has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Brzeszczyszczykiewicz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Phaber but Phaber pushes him off and we're back to square one.

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 Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Brzeszczyszczykiewicz, 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Franciszek Brzeszczyszczykiewicz!