PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marek Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnson
vs
Kowalski

150 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Sydney, Joe Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marek Kowalski!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Johnson really is a fat lump.
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kowalski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson wants to clinch

and Kowalski counters with a takedown into side control.
Kowalski happy to just control the position for now.
Johnson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kowalski wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kowalski remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Kowalski is trying to ground and pound but Johnson uses the momentary lack of control by Kowalski to regain half guard.
Kowalski controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to control Kowalski's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnson avoid being mounted?

Kowalski is trying to work for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kowalski controlling the pace.
Kowalski is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kowalski is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski controlling the action here.
Kowalski throwing shots but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Johnson trying to control but Kowalski postures up.
Johnson missing with punches from the bottom.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.
Kowalski keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Kowalski drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kowalski lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.

Johnson 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kowalski tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Kowalski looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
It looks like Kowalski might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski with a nice head shot there.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Kowalski is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kowalski gets to his feet. Johnson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kowalski counters with a two punch combo.

Kowalski scores a takedown into full mount!
Johnson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kowalski blocks Johnson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Johnson is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marek Kowalski dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kowalski changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Johnson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Johnson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kowalski off and has taken his back!
Johnson is not going to allow Kowalski to sit and survive in this position.
Kowalski is really stuck here.

Kowalski defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Kowalski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kowalski has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Johnson missing with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson has the hooks in. Kowalski is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Johnson working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Kowalski is doing well to defend. Johnson seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Kowalski is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Joe Johnson!