PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Krzysztof Zakrzewski (ranked 25349 p4p, 4348 weight class) and Evan Knuckle (ranked 0 p4p, 463 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Zakrzewski
vs
Knuckle

175 cm
18
155
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
165
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Krzysztof Zakrzewski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Evan Knuckle!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zakrzewski misses with a head kick.
Knuckle fails with a takedown attempt.

Zakrzewski gets a double leg takedown into Knuckle's guard.

Knuckle kicks Zakrzewski off and gets to his feet.
Knuckle keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zakrzewski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zakrzewski fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zakrzewski takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Krzysztof Zakrzewski has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zakrzewski shoots in for a double leg but Knuckle sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krzysztof Zakrzewski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knuckle has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Zakrzewski.

Knuckle moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckle is leaning against Zakrzewski and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Knuckle lands a good knee to the midsection. Zakrzewski won't want to take too many of those.
Zakrzewski is breathing heavily.
Knuckle unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zakrzewski tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Knuckle avoids it.
Knees to the body from Knuckle.

Knuckle successfully pulls guard.

Knuckle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Knuckle pushes Zakrzewski off and gets back to his feet.
Knuckle throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Knuckle gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knuckle scores a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckle creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zakrzewski's defenses.

Knuckle pulls guard successfully.
Knuckle is pulling down on Zakrzewski's head to control his posture.

Knuckle uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Zakrzewski on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Knuckle throws a head kick that Zakrzewski semi-blocks.
Knuckle throws a head kick that half lands.

Knuckle rushes Zakrzewski and presses him up against the cage.
Zakrzewski takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckle crunches a lovely knee into Zakrzewski's ribcage.
Knuckle putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zakrzewski in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Knuckle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Knuckle dives in for a single leg takedown but Zakrzewski sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zakrzewski throws a leg kick
and Knuckle counters with a two punch combo.

Knuckle pushes Zakrzewski up against the cage in a clinch.
Knuckle scores a nice knee to the body.
Knuckle stalling the fight.
Zakrzewski misses with a punch on the inside.
Zakrzewski tries to pull guard but Knuckle holds him up against the cage and eventually Zakrzewski drops back down to his feet.
Knuckle connects with a knee to the head.
Knuckle lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Knuckle creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zakrzewski takes a knee to the side of the body.

Knuckle manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Knuckle.
Knuckle throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zakrzewski.
Zakrzewski looks for a takedown but Knuckle sprawls well.
Knuckle throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zakrzewski.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knuckle keeps the fight on the outside.
Knuckle scores with a jab to the body.
Zakrzewski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Knuckle dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Krzysztof Zakrzewski's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Knuckle plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Zakrzewski is looking to clinch.
Zakrzewski shoots in but no luck this time.
Evan Knuckle seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Knuckle slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Knuckle moves into the clinch.

Knuckle drags the fight down to the ground.
Zakrzewski wants to pass the guard but Knuckle is keeping the position.
Knuckle is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Evan Knuckle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Knuckle wants to stand up but Zakrzewski is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knuckle scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Zakrzewski takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zakrzewski takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Knuckle throws a head kick that misses.
Krzysztof Zakrzewski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knuckle scores with a head kick. Zakrzewski tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Evan Knuckle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knuckle stuffs the takedown attempt from Zakrzewski. Zakrzewski gets slowly back to his feet.
Zakrzewski shoots in for a takedown but Knuckle shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krzysztof Zakrzewski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knuckle lands with a shot to the body.
Knuckle throws a series of punches but Zakrzewski moves out of range.
Zakrzewski appears to be looking for a big counter.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Knuckle takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckle landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zakrzewski is trying to drag Knuckle to the mat but Knuckle just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Knuckle scores a nice knee to the body.
Knuckle landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knuckle landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knuckle has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Knuckle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Knuckle shoots in and drives through. Zakrzewski sprawls well.
Zakrzewski tries to close the distance and clinch but Knuckle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Knuckle gets caught napping as Zakrzewski dives in and scores a takedown. Knuckle manages to retain guard.

Knuckle has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Zakrzewski is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckle stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Zakrzewski wants a takedown but no success here.
Knuckle landing knees to the body.

Knuckle breaks the clinch.
Zakrzewski on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Knuckle. Knuckle obviously looking to wear him down.
Knuckle throws the kick towards the body but Zakrzewski avoids it.
Zakrzewski blocks a head kick by Knuckle.
Zakrzewski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Knuckle tries a head kick but it misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zakrzewski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knuckle fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zakrzewski has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sloppy strikes from Knuckle. Those never looked like landing.
Zakrzewski throws a counter high kick but Knuckle was just alert enough to avoid it.
Knuckle slaps away a takedown attempt from Zakrzewski, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zakrzewski moves in looking to clinch but Knuckle pushes him off.
No luck for Knuckle with that takedown attempt.
Zakrzewski throws a head kick that Knuckle semi-blocks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Knuckle forces Zakrzewski back against the cage and clinches.
Knuckle landing knees to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Knuckle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Krzysztof Zakrzewski's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Zakrzewski slips a jab and a cross from Knuckle.
Zakrzewski shoots in but Knuckle avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Knuckle dives in for a single leg takedown but Zakrzewski sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zakrzewski fails in his attempt to clinch.
Knuckle lands with a slapping head kick.
Knuckle misses with a head kick.
Zakrzewski went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Zakrzewski misses with a takedown attempt - Knuckle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zakrzewski keeps Knuckle at a distance using the push kick.
Knuckle misses with a head kick.
Zakrzewski shoots for a double leg takedown but Knuckle sprawls well. He's pushed Zakrzewski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krzysztof Zakrzewski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Knuckle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zakrzewski wants to clinch up but Knuckle keeps it at a distance.
Zakrzewski tries to clinch up but Knuckle circles away and keeps his distance.
Knuckle throws a sloppy head kick
and Zakrzewski counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zakrzewski avoids the head kick by Knuckle.
Zakrzewski seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Knuckle thuds his shin into the meat of Zakrzewski's side.

Knuckle closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zakrzewski looking to stall.

Knuckle breaks from the clinch.
Knuckle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zakrzewski fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zakrzewski takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Knuckle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Zakrzewski scores with a takedown into Knuckle's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knuckle seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Zakrzewski won't allow Knuckle to get back to his feet.
Knuckle pulls Zakrzewski in to control the position.

Knuckle has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Zakrzewski is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
A bit of stalling here from Knuckle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Knuckle to work.
The crowd are getting on Knuckle's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Knuckle misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zakrzewski.

Knuckle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zakrzewski tries for a takedown but Knuckle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Knuckle scores with a head kick. Zakrzewski tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Zakrzewski clinches.
Knuckle with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knuckle has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zakrzewski is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Knuckle lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zakrzewski backwards.
Knuckle landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knuckle missing with knees to the body.
Zakrzewski wants to get back to striking at distance but Knuckle won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knuckle manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zakrzewski won't allow Knuckle to get back to his feet.
Knuckle controls Zakrzewski momentarily but Zakrzewski frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knuckle managing to control the position.
Zakrzewski trying to control but Knuckle is working from the bottom.

Knuckle has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zakrzewski off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Krzysztof Zakrzewski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Evan Knuckle is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Knuckle fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zakrzewski, pushing him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evan Knuckle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Knuckle has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evan Knuckle!