PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Szymon Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harris has chosen Lupe Fiasco - Superstar as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kowalski
vs
Harris

223 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Szymon Kowalski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kurt Harris!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harris throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Harris swats away the attempt to clinch by Kowalski.
Kowalski really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Harris stuffs the takedown attempt from Kowalski. Kowalski gets slowly back to his feet.
Kowalski walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Harris darts in and clinches Kowalski up against the cage.
Kowalski crunches a lovely knee into Harris's ribcage.
Kowalski tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Harris smiles and moves away.

Harris has Kowalski up against the cage in a clinch.

Harris lands a takedown into guard.
Kowalski working a defensive guard but Harris manages to pass into side control anyway.
Kowalski sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kowalski's head.
Harris controlling the pace.
Harris tries to pass to full mount but Kowalski defends it.
Harris controlling the action here.
Harris looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kowalski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harris trying to control from Kowalski's half guard. Kowalski has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Harrisis looking to pass into half guard but Kowalski pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kowalski is in guard.
Kowalski will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kowalski throwing strikes from guard but Harris blocks nicely.
Kowalski being controlled here momentarily.
Harris keeping moving, preventing Kowalski from controlling successfully.
Kowalski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Harris looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Harris looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harris has his feet on Kowalski's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Kowalski shoots for a takedown but Harris saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Szymon Kowalski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Harris drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kowalski looking for a sweep. Not yet Kowalski, not yet.
Harris wants to control from the top but Kowalski keeps moving.
Harris working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Harris distracts Kowalski with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kowalski keeping moving, preventing Harris from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski wants to sweep but no luck.
Harris trying to control but Kowalski is working from the bottom.
Kowalski manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kowalski thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Harris tries to hold on but Kowalski postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Harris dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Harris looks to score with a jab to the body but Kowalski is just out of range.
Harris fails with a takedown attempt.

Harris closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kowalski jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Harris walks away with a smile on his face. Kowalski gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Harris gets the takedown into side control.
Harris in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Harris throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Harris throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Harris is breathing heavily.

Harris goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kowalski rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Harris's guard! Nice work there by Kowalski!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski thows a big elbow that misses.
Harris is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kowalski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kowalski is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kowalski sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kowalski thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two 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.
Kowalski is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kowalski wants to control from the top but Harris keeps moving.
Harris wants to sweep here but Kowalski controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kowalski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kowalski trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Harris looking for a sweep. Not yet Harris, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kowalski with a poor takedown

and Harris counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Harris trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Kowalski manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Harris wants to sweep but no luck.
Kowalski stops Harris from standing up.
Harris working a defensive guard here.
Kowalski postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

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.
Harris wants to sweep but no luck.
Kowalski trying to control but Harris is working from the bottom.
Kowalski with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kowalski makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kowalski throwing strikes from guard but Harris blocks nicely.
Kowalski postures up in Harris's guard and throws a big left but Harris blocks it.
Kowalski trying to control but Harris is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Harris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Harris moves into the clinch.
Kowalski gets underhooks to prevent Harris's takedown attempt.

Harris jumps guard and drags Kowalski to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kowalski works over Harris with some ground and pound from guard.
Kowalski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Harris keeping moving, preventing Kowalski from controlling successfully.
Harris preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Harris bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kowalski's guard.
Harris stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kowalski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kowalski 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.
Harris wants to control from the top but Kowalski keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski pulls Harris in close to his closed guard and prevents Harris from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kowalski is trying to control the position but Harris postures up.
Harris working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Harris stands and throws Kowalski's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kowalski is looking to regain half guard here but Harris keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Harris avoids the strikes from the bottom by Kowalski.

Harris tries for a kimura but Kowalski is defending well.
Harris working away.
Kowalski is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harris is trying to get an arm triangle but Kowalski is defending well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Harris shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Harris showed some decent athleticism there.
Kowalski wants to get back to full guard.

Harris is looking for a kimura here.
Harris trying to pass the guard but Kowalski defending well.
Kurt Harris is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski is refusing to be controlled, as Harris sits in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harris throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Szymon Kowalski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kowalski throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurt Harris comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Harris 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurt Harris!