PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Peter Kowalski (ranked 1552 p4p, 1219 weight class) and Balthasar Van Thüringen (ranked 175 p4p, 137 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Kowalski
vs
Van Thüringen

185 cm
29
268
15 - 14 - 0

192 cm
28
235
14 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Northern Zombie

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Peter Kowalski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Balthasar Van Thüringen!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Thüringen throws a looping overhand right but Kowalski ducks down to avoid it.
A big left from Kowalski misses.
Kowalski throws a looping overhand right but Van Thüringen ducks down to avoid it.
Van Thüringen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Van Thüringen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Van Thüringen delivers a nice body kick.
Kowalski throws out a powerful jab.
Kowalski uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Thüringen.
Van Thüringen's coach down at EMP WORLDCLASS was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Van Thüringen's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Van Thüringen takes one to the chin there.
Kowalski throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Van Thüringen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Van Thüringen.
Kowalski throws a poor cross that misses
and Van Thüringen counters with a left to the body.
Kowalski looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Thüringen staying out of range there.
Kowalski fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Thüringen moves out of range of the strikes.
Balthasar Van Thüringen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Thüringen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Van Thüringen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kowalski displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Thüringen throws out the jab.
It looked like Kowalski was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Van Thüringen connects with a leg kick.
Van Thüringen tests Kowalski's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kowalski uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Thüringen.
Van Thüringen misses with a straight left.
Van Thüringen throws a jab when Kowalski was well out of range.
Van Thüringen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kowalski attempts a counter takedown but Van Thüringen avoids it well and moves away.
Kowalski lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kowalski looks to throw the jab but Van Thüringen is out of range.
Kowalski throws a looping overhand right but Van Thüringen ducks down to avoid it.
Kowalski throws a jab when Van Thüringen was well out of range.
Van Thüringen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Thüringen misses with a straight right.
Kowalski with a lazy takedown attempt
and Van Thüringen counters with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kowalski closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Thüringen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kowalski.
Van Thüringen is looking to escape.
Van Thüringen is refusing to be controlled, as Kowalski sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Thüringen tries to kick Kowalski off but Kowalski keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kowalski missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kowalski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kowalski looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Van Thüringen tries to kick Kowalski off but Kowalski keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Van Thüringen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kowalski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski is nestled in close to Van Thüringen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kowalski is taking a breather. Van Thüringen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Van Thüringen is looking to escape.
Kowalski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kowalski drops an elbow to the side of Van Thüringen's head.
Kowalski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Van Thüringen's head.
Van Thüringen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kowalski lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Van Thüringen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Van Thüringen wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski working the head and body with strikes.
Van Thüringen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kowalski.
Kowalski not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kowalski lands with a punch from half guard.
Kowalski drops an elbow to the side of Van Thüringen's head.
Kowalski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Van Thüringen's head.
Kowalski throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Van Thüringen to regain full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kowalski wants to control from the top but Van Thüringen keeps moving.
Van Thüringen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kowalski postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kowalski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
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 Peter Kowalski will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Van Thüringen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kowalski connects with a single shot there.
Kowalski moves away from the strike by Van Thüringen.
Kowalski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Thüringen manages to avoid it.
Van Thüringen lands with a thumping leg kick.

Kowalski closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kowalski thows a huge punch but Van Thüringen dodges it nicely.
Kowalski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kowalski is stalling here. Van Thüringen is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kowalski seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Van Thüringen has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kowalski tries to buck Van Thüringen off but Van Thüringen is having none of it.
Peter Kowalski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Kowalski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Kowalski tries to improve position but can't.
Kowalski wants to control but Van Thüringen postures up.

Van Thüringen stands up.
Van Thüringen misses with an uppercut. Kowalski saw that one coming.
Kowalski changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A low kick from Van Thüringen is predictable there

and Kowalski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Van Thüringen's guard.
Kowalski throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kowalski throws an elbow that misses. Van Thüringen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kowalski's guard. Nice move by Van Thüringen!

Kowalski thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Kowalski is trying to control the position but Van Thüringen postures up.
Van Thüringen wanted to stand there but Kowalski had control of the position.
Kowalski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kowalski trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Kowalski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Van Thüringen is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Van Thüringen manages to get himself to full guard.

Van Thüringen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Van Thüringen keeping full guard, as Kowalski tries to pass.
Van Thüringen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kowalski looking to sit in guard and control but Van Thüringen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kowalski wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kowalski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kowalski trying to keep a closed guard but Van Thüringen is proving a slippery customer.
Kowalski has his hands on Van Thüringen's head, controlling the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kowalski trying to keep a closed guard but Van Thüringen is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Balthasar Van Thüringen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Van Thüringen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Van Thüringen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Van Thüringen slips under a jab.
Van Thüringen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Van Thüringen wants it to stay on the feet.
Van Thüringen throws a body shot but no joy.
Van Thüringen lands with a thumping leg kick.
A big left from Kowalski misses.
A slow jab from Van Thüringen misses its intended target.
Van Thüringen just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kowalski loads up on a big right hand but Van Thüringen slips the punch.
Van Thüringen is looking to chop away at Kowalski's legs.
Kowalski was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Van Thüringen misses with a body kick.
Van Thüringen throws a leg kick
and Kowalski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That kick from Van Thüringen tenderised Kowalski's leg. Kowalski is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski takes one to the chin there.
Kowalski steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Van Thüringen.
Kowalski throws a right hand that misses
and Van Thüringen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Kowalski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Van Thüringen has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Kowalski is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Van Thüringen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Van Thüringen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Thüringen digs a right hand underneath Kowalski's ribcage. Kowalski let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kowalski is looking to take this one to the mat.
Van Thüringen lands a left hand.
Van Thüringen lands with a right to the head.
Van Thüringen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kowalski backwards.
A hook to the body from Van Thüringen.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kowalski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kowalski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Van Thüringen counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peter Kowalski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Thüringen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kowalski.
Kowalski throws out a loose jab but Van Thüringen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kowalski is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Van Thüringen lands a really nice looking cross but Kowalski seems unphased.
Kowalski is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kowalski fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Balthasar Van Thüringen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A chopping leg kick lands by Van Thüringen.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Van Thüringen - that will leave a mark!
Nice body kick from Van Thüringen.
Kowalski on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Van Thüringen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kowalski.
Van Thüringen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kowalski's sensitive parts.
Van Thüringen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Van Thüringen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Van Thüringen wants it to stay on the feet.
Balthasar Van Thüringen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Thüringen throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Kowalski counters with a nice double leg into side control. Van Thüringen won't be happy with that.

Van Thüringen throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Kowalski throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kowalski takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Van Thüringen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kowalski's sensitive parts.
Van Thüringen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Thüringen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice defenses there by Kowalski.
Van Thüringen missing with a left hand there. Kowalski was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Van Thüringen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kowalski drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Van Thüringen scores with a leg kick.
A big left from Kowalski misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Thüringen misses with a hook.
Kowalski was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kowalski has a takedown stuffed.
Van Thüringen wants to counter the offense by Kowalski and move into the clinch position.
Van Thüringen ducks under a wild hook from Kowalski.
Kowalski looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Van Thüringen is fending him off so far but Kowalski persists. Nope, Van Thüringen circles away and we're back to standing.
Kowalski takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Van Thüringen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kowalski's sensitive parts.
Van Thüringen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kowalski takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Van Thüringen throws a body shot but no joy.
Van Thüringen scores with a nice body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kowalski throws a combination that misses
and Van Thüringen counters with a good low kick that Kowalski was not able to check.
Van Thüringen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Van Thüringen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Van Thüringen wants it to stay on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Balthasar Van Thüringen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Van Thüringen 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!