PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Krzysztof Zakrzewski (ranked 24390 p4p, 24376 weight class) and John James (ranked 331 p4p, 351 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zakrzewski
vs
James

175 cm
20
155
3 - 10 - 0

185 cm
28
145
3 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Krzysztof Zakrzewski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John James!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zakrzewski moves to clinch but James breaks away
letting James counter with a right hand.
Zakrzewski fails with the takedown
and James counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Krzysztof Zakrzewski has been cut.
Zakrzewski closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Zakrzewski pushes James against the cage but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
James tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
James avoids the body shot from Zakrzewski.
James with the counter takedown but Zakrzewski avoids it easily.
Zakrzewski misses with a takedown
and James counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krzysztof Zakrzewski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zakrzewski throws a quick head kick that skims the top of James's head.
Zakrzewski shoots in but James avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
James is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zakrzewski shoots in and gets a takedown into James's guard.

James working for submissions but it's allowed Zakrzewski to get to half guard.
James is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zakrzewski wants to control but James is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zakrzewski is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
James is looking for a sweep. Zakrzewski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zakrzewski throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing James to regain full guard.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

James is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zakrzewski is aware though and is defending well.

James looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

James is looking for a triangle but Zakrzewski pushes his legs off easily.

James has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Zakrzewski is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for James.
James is looking to regain half guard here but Zakrzewski keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zakrzewski wants to control but James is keeping him busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Zakrzewski works over James's head and body with a nice combination.
Zakrzewski moves to clinch but James breaks away

and James counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Zakrzewski!
Zakrzewski is breathing heavily.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

James goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Zakrzewski has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for James but great work by Zakrzewski.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zakrzewski. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
James manages to work his way to half guard, despite Zakrzewski's best efforts.
James is staying active underneath Zakrzewski, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zakrzewski prevents James from improving his position.
James avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zakrzewski.
Zakrzewski is trying to control the action in half guard but James is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

James looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zakrzewski seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
James slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

James looking for a guillotine here but Zakrzewski defends easily.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Zakrzewski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

James is looking for a triangle but Zakrzewski pushes his legs off easily.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

James working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zakrzewski doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zakrzewski manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James keeping moving, preventing Zakrzewski from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zakrzewski wants to clinch.
James feints the counter takedown.
Zakrzewski tries to clinch but James is having none of it.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Zakrzewski misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
James drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Zakrzewski defends it well.
Zakrzewski has his takedown stuffed

so James counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

James drops back looking for a leg! Zakrzewski is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zakrzewski manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Zakrzewski's guard.

James postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zakrzewski is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of James, into his guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

James looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Zakrzewski passes into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Krzysztof Zakrzewski will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Zakrzewski with a lazy takedown attempt

and James counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Zakrzewski!

James working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

James goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Zakrzewski rolls with the submission and now he's on top in James's guard! Nice work there by Zakrzewski!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zakrzewski wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

James is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zakrzewski is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zakrzewski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zakrzewski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if James can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zakrzewski wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

James looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Zakrzewski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Zakrzewski got a little sloppy there for a moment and James has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zakrzewski has managed to get both his arms back between James's legs - danger averted.
Zakrzewski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zakrzewski tries to stand but James is controlling from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James working for a triangle but Zakrzewski defends it easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zakrzewski is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
Zakrzewski misses the body punch
and Zakrzewski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zakrzewski misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Krzysztof Zakrzewski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James circles away from the clinch attempt

and James counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Krzysztof Zakrzewski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zakrzewski is keeping the position for now.

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

Zakrzewski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

James is looking for a triangle but Zakrzewski pushes his legs off easily.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zakrzewski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

James is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zakrzewski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zakrzewski trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
James is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

James is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zakrzewski is aware though and is defending well.
Zakrzewski wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Zakrzewski looking to pass the guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Zakrzewski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

James working for a triangle but Zakrzewski defends it easily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Zakrzewski.
Zakrzewski doesn't succeed with the takedown

and James counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krzysztof Zakrzewski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

James drops back looking for a leg! Zakrzewski is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zakrzewski manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Zakrzewski's guard.

James is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

James drops back looking for a leg! Zakrzewski is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zakrzewski manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Zakrzewski's guard.

James drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zakrzewski manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now James has Zakrzewski in his guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Zakrzewski stands up and waves to James to follow him.
Zakrzewski with a poor takedown
enabling James to counter with a crisp jab.
Zakrzewski with a poor takedown
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zakrzewski wants to clinch

and James counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by James.

And that's the end of the fight!
John James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for John James!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for John James!
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for John James!

John James wins by unanimous decision!