PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mieszko Szczygiel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ikuhisa Minowa (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.

Szczygiel
vs
Minowa

175 cm
28
192 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

182 cm
22
200 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mieszko Szczygiel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ikuhisa Minowa!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Minowa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Szczygiel wants to clinch up but Minowa keeps it at a distance.
Minowa stuns Szczygiel with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Minowa tries to bum rush Szczygiel with a series of wild strikes but Szczygiel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Szczygiel tries to clinch up.
Szczygiel takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Szczygiel slips under a jab.
Szczygiel tries to clinch up but Minowa circles away and keeps his distance.
Szczygiel takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Szczygiel wants to clinch.
Minowa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Minowa misses with a series of wild punches.
Szczygiel is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczygiel throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Szczygiel scores with a kick to the midsection.
Minowa moves out of range of the body kick from Szczygiel.

Minowa gets tackled into the cage by Szczygiel. Szczygiel maintains the clinch.
Minowa wants to break free but Szczygiel has control.
Szczygiel landing knees to the head.
Minowa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Come on Szczygiel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Szczygiel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Minowa blocks it with crossed arms.
Szczygiel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Szczygiel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Minowa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Minowa tries to circle away but Szczygiel has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minowa is trying to push Szczygiel away but Szczygiel has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Szczygiel with a knee to the head.
Minowa avoiding damage as Szczygiel throws knees to the body.
Minowa is trying to drag Szczygiel to the mat but Szczygiel just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Szczygiel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Minowa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Minowa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Szczygiel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Minowa is defending well for now.
Minowa letting Szczygiel take a breather here.
Szczygiel missing with knees to the body.
Minowa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Minowa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Szczygiel stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minowa wants to break free but Szczygiel has control.
Minowa tries to score a body lock takedown but Szczygiel shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Minowa breaks from the clinch.
Minowa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Minowa misses with a few strikes there.
Mieszko Szczygiel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Minowa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Minowa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Minowa counters with a series of strikes. Szczygiel will be more careful next time no doubt.
Szczygiel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Minowa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Szczygiel tries to clinch up.
Minowa throws out a loose jab but Szczygiel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Minowa moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel moves in looking to clinch but Minowa pushes him off.
Minowa misses with the combination.
Minowa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Minowa looks to land a combination but Szczygiel avoids it well.
Minowa throws a shot from downtown. Szczygiel moves away and avoids it.
Szczygiel throws a push kick but Minowa slaps the foot to one side.
Szczygiel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Minowa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Minowa misses with a wild body shot.
Szczygiel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Minowa.
Mieszko Szczygiel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ikuhisa Minowa.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Minowa takes a swing at Szczygiel's ribcage but misses.
Nice defenses there by Szczygiel.
Szczygiel wants to clinch.

Szczygiel instigates a clinch.
Minowa tries to break the clinch but Szczygiel is controlling the position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Szczygiel.
Minowa wants to get back to striking at distance but Szczygiel won't allow it.
Szczygiel leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nice elbow from Szczygiel.

It looks like Ikuhisa Minowa has been cut.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel landing knees to the head.
Minowa wants to break the clinch but can't.
Szczygiel has Minowa pressed against the cage, preventing Minowa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Szczygiel dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
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!
Minowa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Szczygiel leaning his opponent against the cage.
Szczygiel gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Szczygiel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Minowa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Szczygiel landing knees to the head.

Minowa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Szczygiel walks into a jab.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel misses with a low kick.
Minowa keeps the fight on the outside.
Szczygiel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Szczygiel slips under a jab from Minowa.

Minowa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Minowa wants to stand and escape but instead Szczygiel has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Szczygiel's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Minowa keeping full guard, as Szczygiel tries to pass.

Minowa is looking for a triangle here but Szczygiel uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Minowa looks to move to half guard but instead Szczygiel has passed into mount! Damn!
Szczygiel is landing with some decent strikes but Minowa is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Minowa is working to get back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Minowa is trying to reverse the position but instead Szczygiel has taken his back - oops!
Szczygiel doesn't have the hooks in and Minowa manages to turn into his guard.
Minowa looking to sit in guard and control but Szczygiel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Szczygiel works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Szczygiel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Minowa is just riding it out for now. Szczygiel eventually gives up the hold.
Minowa is trying to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Szczygiel wants to pass the guard but Minowa is defending well.
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 Mieszko Szczygiel will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ikuhisa Minowa's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Minowa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Szczygiel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Minowa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Minowa tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Szczygiel tries to clinch up.
Szczygiel finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Szczygiel moves out of range as Minowa strikes.
Minowa lands with a nice combination. Szczygiel backs away looking to recover.
Minowa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Szczygiel's waist but Szczygiel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Minowa off to one side.

Szczygiel moves into the clinch.
Szczygiel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Minowa wants to take the fight to the mat but Szczygiel manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Minowa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Szczygiel keeps control of Minowa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Szczygiel tries to land knees in the clinch but Minowa avoids the damage to the body.
Szczygiel taking a breather.
Minowa has Szczygiel pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Szczygiel manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mieszko Szczygiel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ikuhisa Minowa.
Szczygiel looking to slow down the pace here.
Szczygiel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Minowa has had enough of the clinch but Szczygiel keeps him there for the moment.
Minowa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Szczygiel slowing the pace effectively.
Szczygiel landing knees to the body.
Minowa is breathing heavily.

Minowa breaks from the clinch.
Minowa throws a big shot that misses.
Minowa blocks the body kick.
A combination from Minowa does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minowa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Minowa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Szczygiel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Szczygiel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A slapping body kick lands there for Szczygiel.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Szczygiel fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Minowa shoots in looking for a takedown. Szczygiel tries to sprawl out of it but Minowa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Szczygiel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Szczygiel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Minowa shoots in looking for a takedown. Szczygiel tries to sprawl out of it but Minowa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Szczygiel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minowa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A jab from Minowa misses.
Szczygiel moves out of range as Minowa strikes.
Szczygiel is looking to clinch but Minowa is avoiding it.
Minowa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Szczygiel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Szczygiel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Szczygiel doesn't manage to clinch there - Minowa circles away.

Szczygiel closes the distance and pushes Minowa back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minowa working hard to break the clinch.

Minowa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Szczygiel looks to clinch
and Minowa counters with a two punch combo.
Szczygiel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Minowa just misses with a punch to the body.
Ikuhisa Minowa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Minowa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Szczygiel throws a lazy right hand but Minowa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Minowa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Szczygiel sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Szczygiel misses with a body shot.
Szczygiel throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Szczygiel doesn't manage to clinch there - Minowa circles away.
Szczygiel throws a head kick that misses.
Szczygiel cracks a nice hook into Minowa's ribs.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Szczygiel.
Szczygiel wants to clinch.
That kick from Szczygiel tenderised Minowa's leg. Minowa is trying to keep his angry face on.
Szczygiel tries to clinch but Minowa is having none of it.
Minowa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Szczygiel moves away.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Minowa crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Szczygiel - the referee stops the clock and Minowa gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Szczygiel. Minowa manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Szczygiel is looking to clinch.
Minowa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Szczygiel circles away.
Szczygiel tries to clinch but Minowa moves away
enabling Minowa to counter with a crisp jab.
Szczygiel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Minowa's sensitive parts.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel tries to clinch there but Minowa circles away.
Szczygiel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Minowa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Minowa lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Szczygiel moves into range and clinches up with Minowa.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Szczygiel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Minowa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Szczygiel landing knees to the body.
Minowa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The referee calls for Szczygiel to work.
Szczygiel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Minowa is trying to break the clinch but Szczygiel is controlling him.
Minowa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Minowa wants to get back to striking at distance but Szczygiel won't allow it.
Minowa takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Minowa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Szczygiel is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Minowa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Szczygiel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Szczygiel trying to stall but Minowa improves his position.
Minowa has had enough of the clinch but Szczygiel keeps him there for the moment.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Szczygiel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Minowa's defenses.
A frustrated look appears on Minowa's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Minowa takes an elbow to the temple.
Szczygiel displaying some good clinch control by pressing Minowa up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Szczygiel throws an elbow but misses.
Szczygiel with a knee to the head.
Szczygiel is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Szczygiel trying to stall but Minowa improves his position.
Szczygiel connects with a knee to the head.
Szczygiel is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mieszko Szczygiel.
Minowa keeps the fight on the outside.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Crunch! Szczygiel slams his shin into Minowa's torso.
Szczygiel lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mieszko Szczygiel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Szczygiel lands with a kick to the ribs.
Szczygiel tries to close the distance and clinch but Minowa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mieszko Szczygiel has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Szczygiel prevents Minowa from breaking the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Szczygiel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ikuhisa Minowa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Szczygiel slowing the pace effectively.
Szczygiel working Minowa over with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mieszko Szczygiel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Szczygiel 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Mieszko Szczygiel!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Mieszko Szczygiel!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Mieszko Szczygiel!

Mieszko Szczygiel wins by unanimous decision!