PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kacper Strzelba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen McKey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Strzelba
vs
McKey

185 cm
19
165 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kacper Strzelba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stephen McKey!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Strzelba gets the takedown into side control.
Strzelba misses with the ground and pound.
McKey is pushing Strzelba's head away, looking to escape. Strzelba manages to hold on to the position though.
You can see the frustration on McKey's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Strzelba misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
McKey wants to control but Strzelba postures up.

Strzelba is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McKey has escaped the position, nice work there.
Strzelba throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and McKey works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
McKey blocking the ground and pound attempt from Strzelba.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strzelba thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McKey's head.

Strzelba is working for a kimura here but McKey manages to reverse the position and he's now in Strzelba's guard.
Strzelba wants to stand but McKey is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKey throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Strzelba works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McKey tries to free his leg and advance position but Strzelba is retaining full guard.

Strzelba has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. McKey is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Strzelba on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Strzelba is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
McKey missing with knees to the body.
McKey misses with a knee to the head.
Strzelba is trying to force a seperation but McKey has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strzelba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A combination from McKey does no damage.
McKey pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Strzelba back to the cage. McKey follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
McKey fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Strzelba.
Strzelba throws a right and a left that McKey avoids nicely.
Strzelba lands with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McKey bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Sloppy strikes from Strzelba. Those never looked like landing.
A little jabbing left from McKey on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Strzelba 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Strzelba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Strzelba wants to stand and escape but instead McKey has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Strzelba wants to stand and escape but McKey is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKey with a flurry of punches that miss.
McKey loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McKey throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McKey advances position into side control!
Strzelba is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

McKey working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Strzelba wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Strzelba explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

McKey gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Strzelba throwing strikes from guard but McKey blocks nicely.

McKey throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Strzelba advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kacper Strzelba dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Strzelba scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Strzelba is looking for a kimura here.

Strzelba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McKey doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Strzelba.

McKey looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strzelba thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McKey's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strzelba decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Strzelba swats away the attempt to clinch by McKey.
Strzelba went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
McKey throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kacper Strzelba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Strzelba tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McKey defends well and Strzelba ends up having to push McKey into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Strzelba throws a right hand that McKey ducks under and follows up with a left that McKey also avoids with ease.
McKey looks to clinch

and Strzelba decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McKey's guard.

Strzelba drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McKey dives on top into guard.

Strzelba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McKey.

Strzelba kicks McKey off and gets to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McKey misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strzelba stalks McKey and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into McKey's face. McKey staggers backwards, shaken.
McKey throws a body shot but no joy.
As McKey tries to get set, Strzelba tries to push him back and clinch up but McKey manages to avoid the attempt.
Danga de danga de dang - Strzelba scores with a four punch combination!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McKey, right into the meat.
McKey dives in and grabs Strzelba's left leg, looking for a takedown. Strzelba pushes down on McKey's head and hops out.

Strzelba feints and as McKey raises his hands in defense, Strzelba changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Strzelba tries to free his leg and advance position but McKey is retaining full guard.
Strzelba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Strzelba stands up from guard. Let's bang!
McKey is breathing heavily.
Strzelba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McKey throws a big counter head kick but Strzelba avoids it with no problem.
Kacper Strzelba is winning the standup battle so far.
McKey keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McKey tries to sprawl but Strzelba drives through with a takedown into half guard.

McKey looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Strzelba thows a huge punch but McKey dodges it nicely.
McKey avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Strzelba.
McKey keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McKey won't allow Strzelba to pass to mount.

Strzelba escapes and gets back to his feet.
Strzelba misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Strzelba misses.
McKey unleashes a big counter combination but Strzelba bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Strzelba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Strzelba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McKey.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Strzelba.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kacper Strzelba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McKey falls off balance throwing a combination
and Strzelba counters with a stiff right hand.
McKey throws a looping overhand right but Strzelba ducks down to avoid it.
McKey ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strzelba moves away.
Strzelba rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McKey counters with a head kick. That will keep Strzelba thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
McKey tries to clinch but Strzelba is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kacper Strzelba dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McKey shoots in looking for a takedown but Strzelba manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McKey's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice takedown defense from McKey. No joy for Strzelba on that attempt.
McKey bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Strzelba's head.
McKey misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McKey throws a head kick but Strzelba moves out of range.
Strzelba takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
McKey throws a head kick that half lands.
Stephen McKey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McKey throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Strzelba looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for McKey!
Strzelba knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McKey on the ground.
McKey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Strzelba is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McKey knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Strzelba has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strzelba looking to ground and pound but McKey is blocking nicely.
Strzelba dominating with strikes here.
McKey wants to hold on but Strzelba pushes him away.
Strzelba misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
McKey wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Strzelba.
Strzelba connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Strzelba unloads with some shots from mount but McKey bucks and avoids them well.

Strzelba is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but McKey is surviving well by controlling Strzelba's body position as best he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strzelba throwing strikes here but McKey is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Strzelba misses with a head shot.

Strzelba has control of McKey's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and McKey regains control of the situation pretty easily.
McKey keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Strzelba has control of McKey's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and McKey regains control of the situation pretty easily.
McKey tries to hold on but Strzelba postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Strzelba there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Strzelba breaks from McKey's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kacper Strzelba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McKey gets back to half guard.
Strzelba winds up and cracks McKey with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Strzelba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

McKey actively working from the bottom here.

Strzelba looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McKey is defending against the submission attempts here by Strzelba.
Stephen McKey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strzelba is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for McKey!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kacper Strzelba showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Strzelba, 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kacper Strzelba!