PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jan Strzelba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyku Free (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Strzelba
vs
Free

188 cm
18
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

187 cm
19
193 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jan Strzelba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lyku Free!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Radbod Blank and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Free checks the leg kick.
Free is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Strzelba throws a wild body kick that Free sees coming a mile off.
Strzelba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Strzelba falls off balance throwing a combination

and Free counters with a single leg into guard. Strzelba didn't expect that.
Strzelba can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Free controls the pace.
Free stops Strzelba from standing up.
Strzelba keeping full guard, as Free tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Free's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Strzelba wants to get back to his feet but Free is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Free stands up and waves to Strzelba to follow him.
Strzelba goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Free shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Free content to stall in guard here.
Strzelba wants to stand but Free is controlling the position.
Free stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strzelba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Strzelba looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Free content to stall in guard here.
Free's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Free wants to pass the guard but Strzelba is keeping the position.
Free controlling from the top position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strzelba misses with a wild body shot.
Strzelba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Strzelba misses with a head kick.
Jan Strzelba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Free feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Free passes Strzelba's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Free is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Strzelba is trying to stand.
Free is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Strzelba looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Free slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strzelba throws a front kick aimed at Free's knee but Free avoids it well.

Free closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Strzelba quickly recovers to half guard.
Strzelba tries to kick Free off but Free keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyku Free dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Strzelba displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Free.
Strzelba scores with a leg kick.
Strzelba misses with a double jab

and Free counters with a single leg into guard. Strzelba didn't expect that.
Free stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strzelba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Free controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
My spies in Cozad Amsterdam inform me that Free has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strzelba is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Free is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Free shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Strzelba counters with a three punch combo that has Free backing up. Free nods at Strzelba to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Strzelba misses

and Free counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Strzelba!

Free decides to stand back up. Free steps back and let's Strzelba get back to his feet.
Strzelba gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Free counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Free.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strzelba wants to get back to his feet but Free passes into half guard.

Free decides to stand up.
Strzelba tries to bum rush Free with a series of wild strikes but Free uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Free closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lyku Free has got the better of the ground game so far.
Free is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Free trying to mount his opponent but Strzelba defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Free decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Strzelba keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jan Strzelba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyku Free.
Strzelba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Strzelba as Free shoots in.

Free gets a double leg takedown into Strzelba's guard.
Strzelba is looking to stand up but Free isn't so interested in that idea.
Free controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strzelba keeping full guard, as Free tries to pass.
Free has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Strzelba wants to stand up but Free is controlling him.
Strzelba trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Free is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Let's hope that Free has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyku Free 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Free shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Strzelba is trying to defend but Free finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Free stops Strzelba from getting back to his feet.
Free is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
More stalling from Free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Free stops Strzelba from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Strzelba throws a low kick, looking for Free's leg but Free calmly moves out of range.

Free shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Strzelba is trying to defend but Free finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Free looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Free.
Free is continuing to stall.
Strzelba pushes Free off looking to stand but Free dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Free content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Free is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Strzelba's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Free get's back to his feet.
Free closes this distance looking for a takedown but Strzelba circles away.
Strzelba shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Free is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Strzelba keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strzelba thows a left - swing and a miss!
Free feints the counter takedown.
Free keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Free fails with a takedown attempt.
Jan Strzelba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyku Free.
Strzelba buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Strzelba misses with a body kick.
Free on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strzelba stuffs the takedown.
Strzelba fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Free checks it well.
Jan Strzelba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lyku Free is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Strzelba cracks Free with an open hand slap.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyku Free comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Free winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyku Free!