PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Filip Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderley Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Souza comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Roy Jones - Can't be touched kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Wanderley Souza will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Kowalski
vs
Souza

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
26
210 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Filip Kowalski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wanderley Souza!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowalski throws a head kick that misses.
Nice sprawl there from Kowalski as Souza shoots in.

Souza tries to keep at a distance but Kowalski has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kowalski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kowalski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kowalski tries to score a power double leg takedown but Souza sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kowalski somewhat.
Souza misses with a jab, cross combination.
Souza scores with a one two! Kowalski had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Filip Kowalski has been cut.
Souza looks gassed!
Souza tries for a takedown but Kowalski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Souza tries to bum rush Kowalski with a series of wild strikes but Kowalski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Kowalski forces Souza back against the cage and clinches.
Souza misses with some punches.

Kowalski manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kowalski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Souza manages to get himself to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kowalski throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kowalski postures up in Souza's guard and throws a big left but Souza blocks it.
Kowalski throwing strikes but missing.
Kowalski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kowalski throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kowalski controls the pace.

Kowalski stands and steps away. Souza gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Kowalski has managed to clinch.
Kowalski stalling against the cage.
Kowalski has Souza pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Souza manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A knee to the head by Kowalski.

Kowalski breaks from the clinch.

Kowalski takes the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Souza tries to score a body lock takedown but Kowalski shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Filip Kowalski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderley Souza.

Kowalski decides to pull guard.

Kowalski is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Kowalski tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski effectively controlling the action here.
Kowalski lands an elbow just above Souza 's eye.
Kowalski gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kowalski unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Kowalski breaks from the clinch.

Souza gets tackled into the cage by Kowalski. Kowalski maintains the clinch.

Kowalski breaks the clinch.

Kowalski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kowalski keeps control of Souza as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Kowalski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kowalski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kowalski misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Souza shoots in for a double leg but Kowalski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Souza keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kowalski shoots for a takedown but Souza saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Souza shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kowalski eats them both and turns towards Souza to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Kowalski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kowalski lands a hook that snaps the head of Souza backwards.
Kowalski has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Souza is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza can't break the clinch.
Souza tries for a takedown but Kowalski manages to get underhooks.
A hook to the body from Kowalski.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filip Kowalski dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Filip Kowalski's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kowalski gets tackled into the cage by Souza. Souza maintains the clinch.
Souza wants to break free but Kowalski has control.

Kowalski pulls guard effortlessly.
Kowalski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Souza.
Kowalski seems keen to control Souza's posture.
Souza with a flurry of punches that miss.

Kowalski had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Souza defends it easily.
Souza lands a couple of digs.
Kowalski striking off his back but it's not causing Souza any problems.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Souza postures up and lands a big shot to Kowalski's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kowalski works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kowalski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kowalski pulls Souza in to control the position.

Kowalski uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Souza gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kowalski throws a knee to the head but misses.
Souza is trying to break the clinch but Kowalski is controlling him.
Kowalski tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Souza just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Souza fails to pull guard.

Kowalski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Souza swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kowalski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Souza swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kowalski doesn't manage to clinch there - Souza circles away.
Souza shoots for a double leg takedown but Kowalski sprawls well. He's pushed Souza's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Kowalski is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Souza's half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kowalski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Kowalski is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kowalski misses with a head shot. Souza uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kowalski gets to his feet. Souza looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Souza shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kowalski eats them both and turns towards Souza to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Kowalski pushes Souza up against the cage in a clinch.
Kowalski landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Souza takes an elbow to the temple.

Kowalski has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Souza uses from the top position.
Souza trying to control but Kowalski is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to stand and escape but instead Kowalski has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Souza is working an open guard so Kowalski takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Kowalski rushes Souza and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kowalski tries to pull guard but Souza won't allow it.
Souza drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Filip Kowalski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderley Souza.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kowalski connects with a nasty looking knee right to Souza's face.
Filip Kowalski has scored more points in the clinch so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kowalski breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filip Kowalski dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Filip Kowalski's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Souza throws a good cross that connects.

Souza darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Kowalski kicks Souza off and gets back to his feet.
Souza keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kowalski moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Kowalski closes the distance and clinches.
Kowalski landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Kowalski manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kowalski pulls Souza in close to his closed guard and prevents Souza from doing any damage or advancing position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kowalski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Souza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza wants to stand and escape but instead Kowalski has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Souza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kowalski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kowalski passes Souza's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Souza is trying to stand up here but Kowalski is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kowalski.
Kowalski takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kowalski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Souza keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kowalski is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski is trying to control. Souza wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Filip Kowalski wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Souza blocks a head kick by Kowalski.

Souza gets tackled into the cage by Kowalski. Kowalski maintains the clinch.
Souza can't break the clinch.
Kowalski lands a knee to the head.
Kowalski keeps control of Souza as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Kowalski pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski controls Souza momentarily but Souza frees himself.
Souza stops Kowalski from standing up.
Souza tries to free his leg and advance position but Kowalski is retaining full guard.
Kowalski is trying to keep Souza in close.
Souza wants to control from the top but Kowalski keeps moving.
Wanderley Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kowalski wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Filip Kowalski wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Souza misses with a series of wild punches.
Filip Kowalski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kowalski dodges the punch combination from Souza.

And that's the end of the fight!
Filip Kowalski showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kowalski has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Filip Kowalski!