PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abdi Faruk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sebastian Rynkowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rynkowski is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Papa Roach - Last Resort. Sebastian Rynkowski has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Faruk
vs
Rynkowski

178 cm
25
152 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Arcticus University: London
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Abdi Faruk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sebastian Rynkowski!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Patrick Alders and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faruk fails with the takedown

and Rynkowski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Faruk is trying to control the position but Rynkowski postures up.
Rynkowski controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rynkowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rynkowski is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Faruk not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rynkowski slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rynkowski takes the fight into the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Rynkowski.

Rynkowski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rynkowski.
Rynkowski slows the pace down.
Rynkowski tries to advance position but instead Faruk slips a leg back in to half guard.
Rynkowski content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rynkowski missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rynkowski prevents Faruk from improving his position.

Rynkowski is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Faruk defends it well.
Well, if Rynkowski is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Faruk is trying to get back to full guard.

Rynkowski is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rynkowski sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Faruk manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rynkowski looking to sit in guard and control but Faruk gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rynkowski pulls Faruk in close to prevent any damage.
Faruk wants to control from the top but Rynkowski keeps moving.
Rynkowski told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Rynkowski looking for a guillotine here but Faruk defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Faruk got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rynkowski has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Faruk has managed to get both his arms back between Rynkowski's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastian Rynkowski dominated that round.
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.

Faruk throws a sloppy head kick

and Rynkowski counters with a shoot takedown. Faruk fights it but they end up in guard.

Faruk kicks Rynkowski off and gets to his feet.
Rynkowski displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Faruk.

Rynkowski looking to score a takedown here. Faruk is defending well but Rynkowski drives through and ends up in Faruk's guard.

Rynkowski gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Faruk shoots in for a double leg but Rynkowski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Rynkowski shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Faruk's guard.

Faruk looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rynkowski scoring with some ground and pound.
Faruk wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rynkowski is working Faruk over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rynkowski seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rynkowski postures up in Faruk's guard and throws a big left but Faruk blocks it.

Rynkowski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rynkowski is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Let's hope that Rynkowski 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.
Rynkowski has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rynkowski throws a strike but Faruk rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rynkowski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Faruk's guard.

Rynkowski is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rynkowski's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rynkowski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rynkowski is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rynkowski throwing strikes but missing.

Rynkowski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Faruk has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rynkowski has managed to get both his arms back between Faruk's legs - danger averted.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rynkowski postures up and lands a big shot to Faruk's brow.
Faruk looking for a sweep. Not yet Faruk, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastian Rynkowski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Faruk shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rynkowski sprawls well. Rynkowski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Faruk gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Rynkowski as Faruk shoots in.
Faruk shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rynkowski pinned against the cage. Rynkowski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdi Faruk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rynkowski dives in and scores a takedown into Faruk's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faruk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rynkowski is one step ahead there.
Rynkowski stands up over Faruk, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rynkowski slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Faruk is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rynkowski working some strikes from top position.
Rynkowski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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

Rynkowski has Faruk pulled in close to control his posture.
Faruk trying to control but Rynkowski is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faruk is working Rynkowski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rynkowski pulls Faruk in close to prevent any damage.
Faruk with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Rynkowski has an active guard here but Faruk has managed to pass into half guard.

Faruk seems to be working for a kimura but Rynkowski defends the submission attempt.
Rynkowski works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rynkowski is looking for a triangle but Faruk pushes his legs off easily.

Rynkowski working for submissions but it's allowed Faruk to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rynkowski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rynkowski has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Faruk is working away from the top position though.
Faruk is trying to control the action in half guard but Rynkowski is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rynkowski wants to improve his position but Faruk is controlling well.
Rynkowski misses with some strikes from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Faruk is thwarting Rynkowski's attempts to control the position.
Rynkowski is not content to let Faruk control the position.
Rynkowski is looking for a sweep. Faruk is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Faruk is trying to work for a kimura but Rynkowski is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Faruk tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Rynkowski.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Abdi Faruk.
Well Rynkowski 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sebastian Rynkowski!
During a confident post fight interview, Sebastian Rynkowski thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.