PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abunazir Kindzal (ranked 24315 p4p, 24488 weight class) and Jan Kowalski (ranked 557 p4p, 537 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kindzal
vs
Kowalski

178 cm
24
150
4 - 6 - 0

190 cm
21
150
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abunazir Kindzal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Jan Kowalski!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowalski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kindzal.
Kindzal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kindzal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kowalski scores with a jab to the jaw.

Kindzal moves into the clinch successfully.
Kowalski throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kindzals head.
Kowalski is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kindzal goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kowalski working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kowalski throws a punch but it's blocked by Kindzal.

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

Kowalski has managed to clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kowalski throws an elbow but misses.

Kowalski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kowalski stuffs the takedown.

Kowalski gets caught flat footed, as Kindzal shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kowalski looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kindzal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski wants to hit a sweep here but Kindzal passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kowalski there!
Kindzal putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Kindzal is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Kindzal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kowalski instigates a clinch.
Kowalski prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abunazir Kindzal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kowalski manages to break the clinch.
Kindzal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kowalski looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Kowalski moves into range and clinches up with Kindzal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kindzal is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Kindzal breaks from the clinch.
Kowalski misses with an attempted mid kick.

Kowalski gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Kindzal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kowalski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kowalski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kindzal goes for a takedown attempt but Kowalski pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kowalski lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Kowalski closes the distance and pushes Kindzal back into the cage.
Kindzal will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kowalski up against the cage.
Kindzal is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kindzal breaks the clinch.

Kowalski gets a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Kindzal.
Kindzal stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kindzal drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kowalski pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kowalski pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
As Kowalski tries to get set, Kindzal tries to push him back and clinch up but Kowalski manages to avoid the attempt.
No luck for Kindzal with that takedown attempt.
Kindzal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kowalski swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kindzal doesn't manage to clinch there - Kowalski circles away.
Despite the aggression on Kowalski's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kindzal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kindzal.
Kindzal lands a head kick!
Kindzal is breathing heavily.
Kowalski swinging wildly here.
Nice uppercut there from Kowalski.
Kowalski throws a right hand that Kindzal ducks under and follows up with a left that Kindzal also avoids with ease.
Kindzal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kindzal throws a leg kick but Kowalski sees it coming and moves out of range.
It seemed like Kowalski was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Kowalski dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kowalski throws a nice looking combination but Kindzal bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kowalski misses with a double jab.
Kowalski stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kowalski wants it to stay on the feet.
Kowalski stuffs the takedown attempt from Kindzal. Kindzal gets slowly back to his feet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kowalski! But no joy.

Kindzal gets tackled into the cage by Kowalski. Kowalski maintains the clinch.

Kindzal breaks the clinch.
Abunazir Kindzal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kowalski. Kindzal does a little dance to reset his feet.

Kowalski drives through and clinches with Kindzal against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kowalski tries to work over Kindzal's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kowalski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kowalski takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kindzal tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kowalski's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kindzal manages to break the clinch.
Kowalski misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kowalski is breathing heavily.
Kindzal has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Kindzal shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kowalski's guard.
Kowalski preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kindzal engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kindzal 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.
Kowalski keeping moving, preventing Kindzal from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Kowalski has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Kindzal has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Kindzal gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kowalski regains guard.

Kowalski pushes Kindzal off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kowalski clinches up with Kindzal and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kowalski throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kindzal blocks it with crossed arms.

Kindzal manages to break the clinch.
Kowalski throws a nice looking combination but Kindzal bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Kowalski clinches.

Kindzal breaks from the clinch.
Jan Kowalski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kindzal tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kowalski defends well and Kindzal ends up having to push Kowalski into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kowalski lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abunazir Kindzal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kindzal scores with a head kick.
Kowalski has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kowalski fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kindzal, pushing him back against the cage.
Kowalski creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kindzal wants a takedown but no success here.

Kowalski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kindzal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kowalski as he avoids it easily.
As Kindzal backs off Kowalski throws a huge counter combo but Kindzal manages to avoid it all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kowalski has closed the distance and engaged Kindzal in a clinch.

Kindzal manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kowalski manages to break the clinch.
Kindzal showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kowalski.

Kowalski darts in and clinches Kindzal up against the cage.
Kowalski tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kindzal's elbow.

Kindzal manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Kowalski decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Kowalski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kowalski stuffs the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kindzal is defended easily by Kowalski.
Kowalski is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kindzal fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kowalski takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kindzal looks for the body kick but Kowalski saw that one coming.

Kowalski moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kowalski breaks the clinch.

Kowalski moves into the clinch.
Kowalski throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kindzals head.
Kindzal controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kindzal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kindzal stalling.

Kindzal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kowalski fails to land with a series of punches.
Kowalski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kowalski stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abunazir Kindzal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kowalski rushes Kindzal and presses him up against the cage.

Kindzal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kowalski has managed to clinch.
Kindzal swings wildly with an uppercut but Kowalski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kowalski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kindzal breaks from the clinch.

Kindzal decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kindzal prevents Kowalski from standing back up.
Kindzal trying to control from half guard but Kowalski is working away.
Kindzal not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kindzal with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kindzal has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kowalski pushes Kindzal off looking to stand but Kindzal dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kindzal is keen to just control but Kowalski is a slippery customer.

Kindzal is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kindzal blocks the strikes from Kowalski.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kindzal throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kindzal fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kowalski avoids it really well and circles away.
Kindzal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kindzal is looking to clinch but Kowalski is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Kowalski moves into the clinch successfully.
Kowalski fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kindzal tries to pull guard but Kowalski forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kowalski stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kowalski with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Kowalski fails to land.
Kowalski throws a punch but it's blocked by Kindzal.

Kindzal breaks from the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kindzal fails with a takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Kowalski's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Abunazir Kindzal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jan Kowalski is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kowalski connects with a looping right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jan Kowalski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kowalski winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jan Kowalski!