PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Constantin Niculescu (ranked 966 p4p, 1130 weight class) and Jana Iii Sobieskiego (ranked 129 p4p, 149 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Niculescu
vs
Sobieskiego

183 cm
24
205
10 - 5 - 0

185 cm
24
206
9 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Constantin Niculescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Jana Iii Sobieskiego!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niculescu connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Niculescu misses the shot to the body.
Niculescu connects with a nice looking jab.
Sobieskiego jabs Niculescu right on the nose. Niculescu blinks but takes it well.
Sobieskiego throws a head kick but Niculescu moves out of range.
Sobieskiego misses with a wild combination.
Niculescu drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sobieskiego sprawls and moves away.
Niculescu checks the leg kick.
Niculescu tries to counter with a takedown but Sobieskiego is quick to defend against it.

Sobieskiego gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sobieskiego being controlled against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Sobieskiego fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niculescu scores with a shoulder strike.
Sobieskiego lands a left hand.
Sobieskiego tries a body shot but Niculescu blocks it.
Niculescu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sobieskiego can't find room to land a body shot as Niculescu controls the action.
Niculescu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Niculescu swings wildly with an uppercut but Sobieskiego uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niculescu digs a right hand underneath Sobieskiego's ribcage. Sobieskiego let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sobieskiego misses with a hook from the clinch.
Niculescu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Niculescu lands a body punch in the clinch.
Niculescu lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sobieskiego.
Niculescu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sobieskiego blocking some punches.

Niculescu gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Niculescu landing some decent shots from guard.
Sobieskiego utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Niculescu's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sobieskiego is trying to keep Niculescu in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu won't allow Sobieskiego to get back to his feet.
Sobieskiego tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Niculescu with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sobieskiego keeping moving, preventing Niculescu from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Niculescu postures up and lands a big shot to Sobieskiego's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sobieskiego is trying to keep Niculescu in close.
Sobieskiego is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobieskiego keeping moving, preventing Niculescu from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sobieskiego misses with a low kick.
Sobieskiego dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Niculescu. That did some damage!
Niculescu throws a lazy right hand but Sobieskiego sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sobieskiego looks to throw the jab but Niculescu is out of range.
Sobieskiego connects with a single shot there.
Niculescu fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sobieskiego on the side of the head.
Niculescu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Niculescu jabs Sobieskiego to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sobieskiego slips under a jab from Niculescu.
Sobieskiego misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sobieskiego looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A left lands for Niculescu.
Niculescu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sobieskiego misses with a few strikes there.
Niculescu drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sobieskiego sprawls and moves away.
Sobieskiego rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Niculescu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
It looks like Niculescu has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

Niculescu gets in close and instigates a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Niculescu.
Niculescu misses with a body punch.
Sobieskiego takes a shot to the head.
Sobieskiego blocking some punches.
Niculescu tries to work over Sobieskiego's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Niculescu swings wildly with an uppercut but Sobieskiego uses good head movement to avoid it.
Niculescu misses with some punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Constantin Niculescu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sobieskiego defending well as Niculescu loads up on a big left hand.
Sobieskiego moves out of range of the strikes.
Niculescu throws out a loose jab but Sobieskiego uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sobieskiego slips under a jab from Niculescu.
Niculescu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sobieskiego can do to turn this around?
Niculescu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sobieskiego throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Niculescu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sobieskiego looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sobieskiego on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sobieskiego misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sobieskiego swings for the body but Niculescu moves out of range.
Sobieskiego takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sobieskiego staying out of range there.
Sobieskiego throws a fast counter high kick but Niculescu manages to duck under it in time.
Niculescu misses with a hook.
Niculescu keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niculescu avoids the head kick by Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego throws out a leg kick but Niculescu moves out of range and Sobieskiego only half commits.
Sobieskiego throws a low kick but Niculescu moves out of range easily.
Good leg kick by Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego thows a left - swing and a miss!
Niculescu scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sobieskiego in his tracks.

Niculescu takes the fight into the clinch.
Sobieskiego struggles to land a body shot inside as Niculescu controls his hands.
Sobieskiego has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Niculescu seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Sobieskiego can turn it around.
Sobieskiego working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Niculescu can't find room to land a body shot as Sobieskiego controls the action.
Niculescu wants to stall.
Niculescu blocking some punches.
Niculescu is working Sobieskiego over against the cage.
Sobieskiego lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Niculescu backwards.
Niculescu misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobieskiego tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Niculescu's elbow.
Sobieskiego misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego scores with a shot to the side of Niculescu's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Niculescu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Niculescu missing with a left hand there. Sobieskiego was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Niculescu's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sobieskiego connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Niculescu scrambles back to his feet.

Sobieskiego gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sobieskiego working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Constantin Niculescu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Niculescu lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sobieskiego misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Niculescu fails to land.
Sobieskiego can't find room to land a body shot as Niculescu controls the action.
Sobieskiego misses with some punches.
Sobieskiego takes a shot to the head.
Niculescu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sobieskiego throws a head punch that misses.
Niculescu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Niculescu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu presses Sobieskiego against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Niculescu blocks an uppercut.
Sobieskiego swings wildly with an uppercut but Niculescu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Niculescu lands a body punch in the clinch.
Niculescu struggles to land a body shot inside as Sobieskiego controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Sobieskiego fails to land.
Niculescu blocks an uppercut.
Niculescu lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sobieskiego backwards.
Sobieskiego throws a punch but it's blocked by Niculescu.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sobieskiego.
Niculescu misses with a punch to the body.
Sobieskiego throws a punch but it's blocked by Niculescu.
Sobieskiego misses with a body punch.
Sobieskiego misses with a short punch on the inside.
Niculescu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right hand to the body from Niculescu.
Sobieskiego is breathing heavily.
Niculescu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sobieskiego's elbow.
Sobieskiego throws a punch but it's blocked by Niculescu.

Niculescu lands a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Niculescu keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sobieskiego's head.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Niculescu is looking to work some ground and pound but Sobieskiego has wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Niculescu's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Niculescu is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Niculescu sitting in guard here, content to control.
Niculescu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Niculescu trying to control but Sobieskiego is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Constantin Niculescu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Niculescu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Sobieskiego misses with a low kick.
Niculescu throws a jab but it's blocked by Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Niculescu misses with an uppercut. Sobieskiego saw that one coming.
Constantin Niculescu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice defenses there by Sobieskiego.
Niculescu lands a jab to Sobieskiego's midsection.
Sobieskiego takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Niculescu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sobieskiego has time to react.
Niculescu misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niculescu misses with a hook. Sobieskiego ducked under it nicely.
Constantin Niculescu is winning the standup battle so far.
Niculescu throws a body shot but no joy.
Niculescu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A big right from Niculescu misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niculescu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Niculescu connects with a crisp jab.
Sobieskiego misses with a wild combination.
Niculescu works the jab nicely.
Niculescu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sobieskiego was well out of range. Poor timing from Niculescu.
Sobieskiego is looking for the big counter here.
Niculescu misses with a looping right.
Niculescu blocks a jab.
Niculescu lands with a shot to the body.
Sobieskiego tries to clinch up.
Niculescu takes a swing at Sobieskiego's ribcage but misses.
Niculescu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It seemed like Sobieskiego was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Niculescu, as that shot connected.
Sobieskiego connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Niculescu lunges at Sobieskiego with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sobieskiego's hand.
Niculescu blocks a low kick nicely.
Niculescu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sobieskiego sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sobieskiego.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Niculescu connects with a looping right hand.
Sobieskiego connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Niculescu's hands.
Niculescu blocks a jab.
Niculescu looks to throw the jab but Sobieskiego is out of range.
Niculescu uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sobieskiego misses with a double jab.
Sobieskiego steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Niculescu.
Jana Iii Sobieskiego has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobieskiego keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Niculescu darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sobieskiego uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Niculescu.
Sobieskiego misses with a low kick.
Niculescu feinted with a counter takedown.
Sobieskiego throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sobieskiego lands a nice looking kick to the body. Niculescu takes a step back to recover.
Sobieskiego tried to score with a low kick but Niculescu checks it.
Niculescu attempts a counter takedown but Sobieskiego avoids it well and moves away.
A slow jab from Niculescu misses its intended target.
Constantin Niculescu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sobieskiego throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sobieskiego throws out a leg kick but Niculescu moves out of range and Sobieskiego only half commits.
Niculescu dodges the punch combination from Sobieskiego.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobieskiego avoids the body shot from Niculescu.
Niculescu tries for a takedown but Sobieskiego sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sobieskiego thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Niculescu if he has to take too many more of those.
Niculescu connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sobieskiego's hands.
Niculescu cracks Sobieskiego with an open hand slap.
Niculescu throws a body shot but no joy.
It seemed like Sobieskiego was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sobieskiego uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Niculescu.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Niculescu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sobieskiego throws out a loose jab but Niculescu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Niculescu drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sobieskiego sprawls and moves away.
Niculescu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sobieskiego keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Niculescu.
Niculescu avoids the head kick by Sobieskiego.
A solid body kick from Sobieskiego.

And that's the end of the fight!
Constantin Niculescu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Niculescu 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Constantin Niculescu!
Constantin Niculescu was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.