PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jesper Nielsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bartek Szpakiewicz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nielsen kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Ni**as in paris. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Nielsen
vs
Szpakiewicz

163 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jesper Nielsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bartek Szpakiewicz!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szpakiewicz shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Szpakiewicz misses the jab.
Szpakiewicz throws an off balance right hand
and Nielsen counters with a one-two to the body.
Nielsen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sloppy strikes from Szpakiewicz. Those never looked like landing.
Szpakiewicz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nielsen counters with a left and a right that stings Szpakiewicz.

Szpakiewicz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Szpakiewicz trying to mount his opponent but Nielsen defends it.
Szpakiewicz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Szpakiewicz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Szpakiewicz is thwarting Nielsen's attempts to control the position.
Nielsen manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Szpakiewicz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nielsen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Nielsen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Szpakiewicz is one step ahead there.
Nielsen managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jesper Nielsen just wasn't active enough.
Szpakiewicz misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Szpakiewicz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nielsen's half guard.
Nielsen wants to control but Szpakiewicz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Szpakiewicz stalling.
Szpakiewicz working over Nielsen with some ground and pound. Nielsen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Szpakiewicz is keen to just control but Nielsen is a slippery customer.
Szpakiewicz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Szpakiewicz is trying to control the action in half guard but Nielsen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Szpakiewicz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Szpakiewicz.
Nielsen trying to control here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Szpakiewicz misses with a head shot. Nielsen uses the momentum to regain guard.
Nielsen is trying to control the position but Szpakiewicz postures up.
Nielsen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nielsen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nielsen working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Szpakiewicz postures up in Nielsen's guard and throws a big left but Nielsen blocks it.
Szpakiewicz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nielsen looking to control.
Nielsen really is a fat lump.
Szpakiewicz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nielsen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Szpakiewicz is looking to work some ground and pound but Nielsen has wrist control.
Szpakiewicz wants to get up but he can't break Nielsen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Jesper Nielsen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nielsen throws a right and a left that both miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nielsen misses with a two punch combination.
Nielsen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Szpakiewicz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nielsen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Szpakiewicz scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nielsen doesn't seem bothered though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bartek Szpakiewicz will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Szpakiewicz slips a jab and a cross from Nielsen.
Nielsen dodges the punch combination from Szpakiewicz.
Nielsen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nielsen misses with a double jab.

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

Szpakiewicz is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Nielsen can't fight it off and eventually Szpakiewicz manages to take the fight to the floor. Nielsen looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Szpakiewicz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nielsen is keeping the position for now.
Nielsen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Szpakiewicz is controlling him.
Szpakiewicz postures up in Nielsen's guard and throws a big left but Nielsen blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szpakiewicz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Szpakiewicz stands up over Nielsen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nielsen is pulling down on Szpakiewicz's head. It's preventing any offense from Szpakiewicz, at least for the moment.
Szpakiewicz trying to control but Nielsen is working from the bottom.
Szpakiewicz postures up.
Szpakiewicz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

We're going to have a standup here because Jesper Nielsen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nielsen stuffs the takedown.
Szpakiewicz checks a leg kick.
Szpakiewicz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nielsen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nielsen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nielsen throws a right hand that Szpakiewicz ducks under and follows up with a left that Szpakiewicz also avoids with ease.

Szpakiewicz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Szpakiewicz is breathing heavily.
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!
Szpakiewicz throws a strike but Nielsen avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Nielsen is trying to keep Szpakiewicz in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen is really struggling to control Szpakiewicz but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Szpakiewicz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nielsen controls Szpakiewicz momentarily but Szpakiewicz frees himself.

Jesper Nielsen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nielsen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Szpakiewicz throws a series of punches but Nielsen avoids them all with ease.
Nielsen lands a jab-cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
No joy there for Szpakiewicz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nielsen throws a series of strikes that have Szpakiewicz backpedaling.
Szpakiewicz takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nielsen misses with a two punch combination.
Sloppy strikes from Nielsen. Those never looked like landing.
Nielsen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A jab from Nielsen does it's job there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nielsen throws a nice looking combination but Szpakiewicz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nielsen looks to land a combination but Szpakiewicz avoids it well.

Szpakiewicz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nielsen!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Szpakiewicz looking to ground and pound but Nielsen is blocking nicely.

Szpakiewicz goes for an armbar but Nielsen turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Nielsen.
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 Jesper Nielsen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Szpakiewicz throws a hook but Nielsen blocks it.
Nielsen throws a nice looking combination but Szpakiewicz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Some wild striking there from Nielsen.
Danga de danga de dang - Nielsen scores with a four punch combination!
Szpakiewicz throws a nice looking combination but Nielsen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jesper Nielsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nielsen fails to land with a series of punches.
Nielsen throws a series of punches but Szpakiewicz avoids them all with ease.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Szpakiewicz.
Szpakiewicz tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
You can see the frustration on Nielsen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Szpakiewicz tries for a kimura but Nielsen is defending well.
Szpakiewicz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
You can see the frustration on Nielsen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Szpakiewicz scores with a couple of short elbows.

Szpakiewicz stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen misses with a kick to the body.
Szpakiewicz walks into a left hand.
Szpakiewicz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nielsen throws a one two combo.

Szpakiewicz clinches with his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nielsen looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Szpakiewicz has hold of one of Nielsen's legs. Nielsen is fighting the takedown attempt but Szpakiewicz gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Szpakiewicz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nielsen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Szpakiewicz is looking to work some ground and pound but Nielsen has wrist control.
Nielsen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Szpakiewicz wants to pass the guard but Nielsen is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jesper Nielsen just wasn't active enough.
Szpakiewicz tries to clinch there but Nielsen circles away.
Nielsen tries to bum rush Szpakiewicz with a series of wild strikes but Szpakiewicz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nielsen pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Szpakiewicz back to the cage. Nielsen follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Szpakiewicz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nielsen did well to prevent Szpakiewicz getting side control.
Bartek Szpakiewicz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nielsen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Szpakiewicz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Szpakiewicz thows a huge punch but Nielsen dodges it nicely.
Nielsen trying to control from the bottom.
Nielsen is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nielsen looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Szpakiewicz is looking for a kimura but Nielsen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Szpakiewicz to get the leverage.
Nielsen trying to control from the bottom.

Szpakiewicz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nielsen is just riding it out for now. Szpakiewicz eventually gives up the hold.
Nielsen trying to control here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bartek Szpakiewicz.
I think Szpakiewicz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bartek Szpakiewicz!
An out of breath Bartek Szpakiewicz thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.