PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Veird Tonikic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mariusz Kawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kawa is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Nocarz. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tonikic
vs
Kawa

196 cm
24
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 St Petersburg, Veird Tonikic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mariusz Kawa!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Viktor Lagutenko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonikic shoots for a takedown but Kawa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kawa looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Kawa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tonikic.
Tonikic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Veird Tonikic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tonikic shoots in and drives through. Kawa sprawls well.
Tonikic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kawa avoids it really well and circles away.
Tonikic really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nice takedown defense from Kawa. No joy for Tonikic on that attempt.
Tonikic tries for a takedown but Kawa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kawa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tonikic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tonikic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kawa but Kawa pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Kawa clinches up against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kawa takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Tonikic has Kawa pressed against the cage, preventing Kawa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonikic tries for a takedown. No joy.

Tonikic jumps into guard, dragging Kawa to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tonikic being controlled here, momentarily.
Kawa passes into half guard.
Kawa slows the pace down in half guard.

Kawa decides to stand and escape the position.
Tonikic fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonikic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kawa swivels and escapes.
Kawa displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kawa.
Tonikic shoots in for a takedown but Kawa shows good takedown defense.
Tonikic shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kawa pinned against the cage. Kawa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tonikic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kawa but Kawa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kawa throws a right and a left that Tonikic avoids nicely.
Tonikic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Tonikic moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawa tries to circle away but Tonikic has him pinned against the cage.
Tonikic has Kawa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kawa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kawa gets underhooks to prevent Tonikic's takedown attempt.
Tonikic tries for a takedown. No joy.

Tonikic breaks from the clinch.
Tonikic takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Tonikic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kawa defends it nicely.

Kawa gets tackled into the cage by Tonikic. Tonikic maintains the clinch.
Tonikic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tonikic drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kawa pulls his leg out and moves away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kawa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tonikic darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kawa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kawa missing with punches from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tonikic is just content to waste time from the top position. Kawa takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kawa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mariusz Kawa will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kawa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tonikic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kawa tries a low kick but Tonikic avoids it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tonikic is defended easily by Kawa.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Veird Tonikic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kawa stalks Tonikic and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tonikic's face. Tonikic staggers backwards, shaken.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tonikic.
Tonikic misses with a takedown
letting Kawa counter with a right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kawa takes the fight into the clinch.
Tonikic drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kawa gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tonikic drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kawa gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kawa is trying to break the clinch but Tonikic has him pressed against the cage.
Tonikic goes for a takedown attempt but Kawa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kawa tries to clinch up but Tonikic circles away and keeps his distance.
Kawa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kawa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tonikic shoots in and drives through. Kawa sprawls well.
Veird Tonikic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tonikic shoots in but Kawa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kawa misses with a body kick.
Tonikic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kawa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tonikic somewhat.
Tonikic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kawa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Veird Tonikic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tonikic shoots in for a takedown but Kawa shows good takedown defense.
Kawa moves in looking to clinch but Tonikic pushes him off.
Tonikic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kawa defends it nicely.
Mariusz Kawa seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Tonikic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonikic wants a takedown but no success here.
Kawa has had enough of the clinch but Tonikic keeps him there for the moment.
Kawa gets underhooks to prevent Tonikic's takedown attempt.
Tonikic drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tonikic goes for a takedown attempt but Kawa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kawa pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Tonikic back to the cage. Kawa follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Tonikic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kawa's waist but Kawa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tonikic off to one side.
Kawa tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tonikic clinches up with Kawa and pushes him back against the cage.
Tonikic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tonikic tries to score a body lock takedown but Kawa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tonikic tries to score a body lock takedown but Kawa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Tonikic jumps guard.

Tonikic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Tonikic looking for a guillotine here but Kawa defends easily.

Kawa gets to his feet - Tonikic follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mariusz Kawa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kawa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tonikic.
Tonikic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kawa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kawa throws a head kick but Tonikic moves out of range.
Kawa misses with a takedown attempt - Tonikic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tonikic shoots in and drives through. Kawa sprawls well.

Tonikic shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kawa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Tonikic will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Tonikic working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kawa is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Tonikic tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tonikic has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonikic prevents Kawa from escaping the position.
Tonikic is looking to take a break and control but Kawa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tonikic is trying to get an arm triangle but Kawa is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tonikic decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Tonikic closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Tonikic is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tonikic works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawa pushes Tonikic away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Tonikic gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Tonikic tries for a kimura but Kawa is defending well.
Kawa is trying to control Tonikic's posture but Tonikic avoids it.

Tonikic is trying to get an arm triangle but Kawa is defending well.
Kawa wants to control but Tonikic postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawa is trying to get back to his feet.
Tonikic wants to take a breather but Kawa manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Tonikic.
Tonikic wants to pass the guard but Kawa is keeping the position.
Tonikic trying to control but Kawa is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tonikic looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Veird Tonikic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kawa 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

The fight is ruled a draw!