PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Kaczmarek (ranked 1834 p4p, 3719 weight class) and Tiaoali Lvavatai (ranked 182 p4p, 344 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Kaczmarek
vs
Lvavatai

172 cm
25
151
4 - 1 - 0

171 cm
21
151
2 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

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 Los Angeles, Marcus Kaczmarek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tiaoali Lvavatai !
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lvavatai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kaczmarek swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A big right from Lvavatai misses.
Kaczmarek attempts a counter takedown but Lvavatai avoids it well and moves away.
Lvavatai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kaczmarek feinted with a counter takedown.
We've been informed that Lvavatai has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Lvavatai throws an ugly left hook that misses

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

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

Kaczmarek is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lvavatai defends well.
Kaczmarek has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kaczmarek has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lvavatai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kaczmarek looking for a sweep. Not yet Kaczmarek, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kaczmarek is on top in guard.

Kaczmarek wants to pass the guard but Lvavatai is keeping the position.
Kaczmarek preventing the sweep.
Lvavatai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lvavatai looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kaczmarek tries to free his leg and advance position but Lvavatai is retaining full guard.
Kaczmarek trying to control but Lvavatai is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaczmarek advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai is looking to regain half guard here but Kaczmarek keeps moving and retains side control.

Kaczmarek is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lvavatai knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Kaczmarek tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kaczmarek has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lvavatai wants to control but Kaczmarek postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaczmarek tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Kaczmarek is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lvavatai is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kaczmarek is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Lvavatai holding on.

Kaczmarek wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lvavatai , who protects the arm well.

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.
You can see the frustration on Lvavatai 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Kaczmarek looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kaczmarek trying to control the action but Lvavatai is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lvavatai rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Kaczmarek counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kaczmarek trying to mount his opponent but Lvavatai defends it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Kaczmarek dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lvavatai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kaczmarek throws a counter high kick but Lvavatai was just alert enough to avoid it.
Lvavatai misses with a hook

and Kaczmarek counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lvavatai keeping moving, preventing Kaczmarek from controlling successfully.
Marcus Kaczmarek overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kaczmarek trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kaczmarek stopping the sweep attempt from Lvavatai .
Kaczmarek is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lvavatai can do to turn this around?
Kaczmarek wants to pass the guard but Lvavatai is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaczmarek slips nicely into half guard.

Kaczmarek is working for a kimura but Lvavatai is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaczmarek is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Lvavatai still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Lvavatai has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Kaczmarek is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kaczmarek wants to control but Lvavatai postures up.
Kaczmarek tries to buck Lvavatai off but Lvavatai is having none of it.
We've been hearing good reports from Kaczmarek's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai has control of an arm but Kaczmarek manages to advance to Lvavatai 's back!

Lvavatai defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.

Kaczmarek is looking for a triangle but Lvavatai pushes his legs off easily.
Lvavatai sitting in guard here, content to control.

Kaczmarek working for submissions but it's allowed Lvavatai to get to half guard.
Lvavatai seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kaczmarek does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaczmarek trying to control here.
Kaczmarek is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lvavatai 's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lvavatai 's back!

Kaczmarek is looking for the choke from the back position but Lvavatai is controlling his hands well.
Kaczmarek is trying to stick to Lvavatai 's back but Lvavatai is turning into Kaczmarek. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kaczmarek's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Lvavatai .

Kaczmarek working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Lvavatai has passed into half guard!
Kaczmarek is trying to maintain the position but Lvavatai is very close to passing his half guard.
Kaczmarek is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lvavatai is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaczmarek is looking to improve his position.
Lvavatai performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kaczmarek is trying to maintain the position but Lvavatai is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kaczmarek has a hand on Lvavatai 's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Lvavatai takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tiaoali Lvavatai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kaczmarek on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lvavatai throws a lazy uppercut

and Kaczmarek decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lvavatai 's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaczmarek stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lvavatai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kaczmarek is working hard here to advance position.
Kaczmarek stopping the sweep attempt from Lvavatai .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaczmarek content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaczmarek pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lvavatai is keeping the position for now.
Lvavatai lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kaczmarek is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kaczmarek working a defensive guard but Lvavatai manages to pass into side control anyway.
Kaczmarek wants to control but Lvavatai postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaczmarek tries to improve position but can't.
Kaczmarek wants to control but Lvavatai postures up.
Kaczmarek is trying to work for a sweep but Lvavatai has mounted him!
Lvavatai controlling the pace for now.
Kaczmarek is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kaczmarek is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kaczmarek wants to hold on but Lvavatai pushes him away.
Lvavatai controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai tries to control but Kaczmarek wriggling away.
Kaczmarek sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Kaczmarek looking for submissions off his back.
Lvavatai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kaczmarek keeps working.
Kaczmarek wants to control but Lvavatai is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four 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.
Well, if Lvavatai 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.

Kaczmarek looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lvavatai throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Lvavatai .
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Good work by Lvavatai as he checks the leg kick.
Lvavatai throws a head kick that misses

and Kaczmarek counters with a takedown into side control.
Kaczmarek is looking to take a break and control but Lvavatai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kaczmarek wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lvavatai , who protects the arm well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiaoali Lvavatai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lvavatai has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiaoali Lvavatai !
After winning the bout, Tiaoali Lvavatai thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.