PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Richard Flare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bartosz Kotowiec (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richard Flare has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Flare
vs
Kotowiec

174 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

184 cm
18
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Richard Flare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bartosz Kotowiec!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Joseph Jones and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flare closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kotowiec circles away.
Flare fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Kotowiec shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kotowiec showed some decent athleticism there.
Flare is trying to stand back up but Kotowiec is controlling him

Kotowiec is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Flare won't allow Kotowiec to pass to mount.
Kotowiec prevents Flare from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flare keeping hold of Kotowiec's head, controlling as best he can.
Kotowiec looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kotowiec is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Flare feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Flare is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flare looking to pass the guard.
Flare controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Kotowiec looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Flare has picked Kotowiec up and slammed him! Kotowiec can't keep hold of the triangle and Flare manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flare tries to get to his feet but Kotowiec is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Flare in his guard.
Flare controls from within his opponent's guard.

Flare avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kotowiec looks gassed!
Flare is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Flare passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kotowiec is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Flare off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flare is trying to get back to his feet but Kotowiec has full control of the position and if anything, Flare has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Flare really must keep his cool here. He's controlling one of Kotowiec's hands and whilst he does that, he's got a chance of escaping the position.
Flare trying to control the action but Kotowiec just sinks the hooks in.
Flare has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Flare is trying to break free.
Flare is trying to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kotowiec is hanging on to Flare's back as he tries to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Richard Flare will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Flare misses with a takedown

and Kotowiec decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Flare's guard.
Flare wants to sweep here but Kotowiec controlling him for the moment.
Kotowiec stands and throws Flare's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Kotowiec thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Flare wants to get back to his feet but Kotowiec drags him back down.
Flare prevents Kotowiec from improving position.
Kotowiec is breathing heavily.
Flare is trying to buck Kotowiec off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotowiec tries to advance to mount but Flare denies him.
What's Flare going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Flare pushes Kotowiec away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kotowiec gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

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

and Kotowiec counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flare pushes Kotowiec off looking to stand but Kotowiec dives back in and keeps control.
Flare is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kotowiec's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kotowiec's back!
Flare controls the action.
Flare'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.
Flare is trying to stick to Kotowiec's back but Kotowiec is turning into Flare. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Flare's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kotowiec.
Kotowiec looking to pass the guard.
Kotowiec stops Flare from standing up.
Flare on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Flare tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kotowiec drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Flare manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kotowiec has Flare in his guard.
Flare stays in close to Kotowiec's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Flare has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Flare knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kotowiec on the ground.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Richard Flare just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Flare doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kotowiec counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bartosz Kotowiec showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kotowiec is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kotowiec misses with a takedown

and Flare counters with a shoot takedown. Kotowiec fights it but they end up in guard.
Flare content to stall in guard here.
Flare trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Flare not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flare drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kotowiec looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kotowiec looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kotowiec!
Flare pushes Kotowiec away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kotowiec gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Flare is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Flare manages to get back to half guard.
Flare is in trouble now - Kotowiec has advanced to mount!
Kotowiec takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kotowiec working for a submission but Flare is keeping him at bay.

Kotowiec looking to secure an arm triangle but Flare defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kotowiec swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Flare is now in Kotowiec's guard. A big mistake from Kotowiec there, giving up the dominant position!
Flare is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Flare looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Flare is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richard Flare overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Flare seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kotowiec for as long as he can get away with.
Flare has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Flare in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Flare showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Flare has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Flare!