PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Captain Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kshymensky Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Kowalski

200 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Captain Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kshymensky Kowalski!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Kowalski does no damage.
Kowalski tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Kowalski throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Kowalski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Kowalski is defending the position.
Gracie with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Gracie seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kowalski for as long as he can get away with.
Kowalski regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Captain Gracie just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Kowalski dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gracie. That did some damage!
Kowalski slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gracie walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kowalski cracks Gracie with an open hand slap.
Kowalski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kowalski tries to clinch up.
Some wild striking there from Kowalski.
Some wild striking there from Kowalski.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Kowalski didn't expect that.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Kowalski trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kowalski looking to control.
Kowalski throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Gracie's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gracie passes Kowalski's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kowalski keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Gracie prevents Kowalski from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is controlling the pace.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kowalski is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.
Gracie performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kowalski wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kowalski manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kowalski has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Kowalski's legs - danger averted.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Kowalski escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kowalski tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Gracie controlling the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Captain Gracie just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Gracie closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kowalski did well to prevent Gracie getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the pace.
Kowalski pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
Gracie not doing much here.
Gracie is thwarting Kowalski's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the action here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Captain Gracie just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Good work by Gracie as he checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nice takedown defense from Kowalski. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Captain Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kowalski shoots and misses

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Kowalski didn't expect that.
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie won't allow Kowalski to sweep him here.
Kowalski being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Captain Gracie dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kowalski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Kowalski didn't expect that.
Gracie has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kowalski had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gracie is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kowalski Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gracie's back instead.
Gracie manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kowalski's guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
Kowalski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kowalski is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Gracie content to stall in guard here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Captain Gracie just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Kowalski throws a head kick that Gracie semi-blocks.
Kowalski wants to clinch.

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.
Kowalski tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kowalski won't be happy with that.
A lull in the action here as Gracie stalls from top position.
Gracie wants to control but Kowalski is keeping him busy.
Gracie just content to control the position.
Kowalski is trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie takes a little break here. Kowalski wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position but Kowalski is working away.
Kowalski is looking to reverse the position.
Kowalski is being controlled here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Captain Gracie just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A big right from Kowalski misses.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Kowalski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gracie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kowalski moves into full guard.

Kowalski throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Kowalski is keeping the position.
Gracie content to stall in guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Captain Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gracie, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Captain Gracie!