PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fig Newton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Kowal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kowal has chosen Czas na Walke as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Newton
vs
Kowal

196 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
220 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fig Newton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marco Kowal!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowal tries to clinch but Newton is having none of it.
Kowal displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kowal should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kowal fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Newton avoids it really well and circles away.

Newton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kowal taking punishment in the form of punches.
Newton is chipping away with strikes.
Newton moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Newton stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Newton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kowal defending against the ground and pound.
Kowal is trying to escape the position but Newton is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kowal keeps working.
Kowal can't do much from the bottom here.
Kowal manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
It looks like Newton is going to stand back up.
Kowal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kowal is trying to control but can't.
Newton wants to pass to mount but Kowal is defending the position.

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.
Kowal is trying to maintain the position but Newton is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Newton throws the kick towards the body but Kowal avoids it.

Newton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kowal, pushing him back against the cage.
Newton managing to block the knees to the body from Kowal.
Newton can't get the takedown.
Newton can't get the takedown.
Newton is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Newton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Newton falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kowal counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Newton wants the takedown. Kowal is fighting it off but Newton persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kowal's guard against the cage.
Newton wants to control from the top but Kowal keeps moving.
Newton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kowal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Newton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kowal looks gassed!

Newton stands up from Kowal's guard - Newton perhaps looking for a knockout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kowal is defended easily by Newton.
Newton on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Newton lands but Kowal takes it in his stride.
Newton throws a sloppy head kick

and Kowal holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Newton gets underhooks to prevent Kowal's takedown attempt.
Fig Newton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Kowal.

Newton has picked Kowal up - he's going for a ride! Newton dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Newton tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kowal knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Newton decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Newton thuds his right hand into Kowal's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Newton shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Newton slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Newton shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Newton sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Kowal defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Newton.
Kowal tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Newton goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kowal turns into him and now he's in Newton's guard.
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.
Kowal tries to free his leg and advance position but Newton is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Newton doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Newton looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kowal is fighting to break Newton's control of his arms but Newton is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kowal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Kowal postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Newton is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kowal, into his guard.
Kowal looking to hit a scissor sweep but Newton is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton sitting in guard here, content to control.
Newton tries to free his leg and advance position but Kowal is retaining full guard.
Newton throwing strikes but missing.
Newton controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newton landing with the ground and pound.
Kowal wants to control the position but Newton says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Newton trying to control the pace.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Newton connects with a nice short shot to Kowal's temple.
Newton content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Newton seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newton working the head and body with strikes.
Newton controlling the pace.
Kowal has hold of Newton's hands but Newton slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Newton 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.
Newton works his way into side control.
Newton taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fig Newton dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Newton looks for a takedown but Kowal sprawls well.

Kowal has managed to clinch.

Newton manages to break the clinch.
Kowal misses with a takedown

and Newton counters with a single leg into guard. Kowal didn't expect that.
Newton forces his way into half guard.

Kowal is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Newton pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Newton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Newton there.
Newton lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Newton content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Newton stands up out of the half guard.

Newton shoots in and bounces Kowal off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton pushes down on Kowal's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Newton seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kowal for as long as he can get away with.
Kowal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Newton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kowal can do to turn this around?
Kowal is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Newton scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Newton looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Newton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Newton is taking a breather. Kowal 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.
Newton works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newton controlling the position easily from mount.
Kowal keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Newton is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kowal can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Marco Kowal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fig Newton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Newton controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fig Newton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Newton, 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fig Newton!