PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between António Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Kowalsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maia comes to the cage accompanied by It's a kind of magic by Queen. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maia
vs
Kowalsky

189 cm
26
181 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

186 cm
27
178 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Happy Pills (Video Proof 159Q, $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, António Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jan Kowalsky!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowalsky misses with a looping left.
Kowalsky doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kowalsky throws a body punch but Maia moves out of range.
Maia throws a right and a left that Kowalsky avoids nicely.
Maia misses with an uppercut.
Kowalsky fails with an attempt to clinch.

Maia closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kowalsky quickly recovers to half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Maia prevents Kowalsky from improving his position.
Maia trying to control from half guard but Kowalsky is working away.
Maia trying to mount his opponent but Kowalsky defends it.
Maia thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kowalsky is trying to control but Maia manages to pass to mount!
Kowalsky tries to control the position but Maia now has his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalsky takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Kowalsky has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Maia.
Kowalsky tries to escape but Maia has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Maia biding his time, controlling Kowalsky.

Maia looking for the RNC.
Kowalsky can't escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maia looking for the choke but no joy.

Maia is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Kowalsky is defending well though. Maia let's go of the attempt for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalsky manages to reverse the position and now he's in Maia's guard. Nice work there by Kowalsky.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Kowalsky from controlling successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kowalsky slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kowalsky would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Maia is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kowalsky wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jan Kowalsky was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Maia swings for the body but Kowalsky moves out of range.
Maia misses with a looping left.

Maia looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kowalsky moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kowalsky seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kowalsky looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kowalsky is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maia defends well.
Kowalsky not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kowalsky has Maia pulled in close to control his posture.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Kowalsky is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

António Maia dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kowalsky looks to score with a jab to the body but Maia is just out of range.
Kowalsky looks to score with a jab to the body but Maia is just out of range.
Maia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kowalsky.
Kowalsky tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maia swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kowalsky fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maia, pushing him back against the cage.
Maia wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kowalsky has him pressed against the cage.

Kowalsky is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Maia can't fight it off and eventually Kowalsky manages to take the fight to the floor. Maia looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Maia utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Maia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kowalsky gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maia is trying to keep Kowalsky in close.
Maia is really struggling to control Kowalsky but he's trying to hold on to the position.
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.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Kowalsky from controlling successfully.
Maia controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maia jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Kowalsky looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kowalsky wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Maia working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kowalsky decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kowalsky shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Maia's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Maia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kowalsky wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Kowalsky has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Maia is proving hard to escape from.
Kowalsky trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.
Maia is trying to control the position but Kowalsky postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia has his foot on Kowalsky's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kowalsky works his way back into a safe position though.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Kowalsky from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Maia is controlling Kowalsky's posture.
Kowalsky trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.

Jan Kowalsky has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Maia throws a hook but Kowalsky avoids it easily.
Kowalsky ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
António Maia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kowalsky looks to score with a jab to the body but Maia is just out of range.
Kowalsky looks to score with a jab to the body but Maia is just out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Maia. That snapped Kowalsky's head back.
Maia throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kowalsky sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Maia is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kowalsky is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Maia is trying to get an arm triangle but Kowalsky is defending well.
Kowalsky is looking for a sweep.
Maia tries to advance to mount but Kowalsky denies him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kowalsky manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Maia trying to hold on to Kowalsky's head to control him but Kowalsky postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jan Kowalsky will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Maia wants it to stay on the feet.

Maia 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.

Kowalsky is looking for a triangle but Maia pushes his legs off easily.
Kowalsky tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kowalsky not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Maia drops back looking for a leg! Kowalsky is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kowalsky manages to kick Maia off! Maia jumps back into Kowalsky's guard.
Kowalsky looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Maia wants to control from the top but Kowalsky keeps moving.
Maia is standing up over Kowalsky. Kowalsky looks to escape but Maia dives into side control.
Maia misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Maia is trying to get an arm triangle but Kowalsky is defending well.
António Maia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kowalsky tries to improve position but can't.

Maia looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kowalsky parries the strikes from Maia easily there. Maia is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kowalsky to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalsky is trying to control Maia's posture but Maia avoids it.
Maia working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
A lull in the action here as Maia stalls from top position.
Maia trying to control the action but Kowalsky is working from the bottom.
Kowalsky can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia is trying to get an arm triangle but Kowalsky is defending well.
Kowalsky is not content to let Maia control the position.

Maia looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kowalsky regains half guard there - taking advantage of Maia's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Kowalsky trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia works his way into side control.
Maia throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Maia is trying to ground and pound but Kowalsky uses the momentary lack of control by Maia to regain half guard.
Maia is just content to waste time from the top position. Kowalsky takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia trying to control but Kowalsky is working from the bottom.
Kowalsky is trying to control the position but Maia postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

António Maia clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kowalsky rushes Maia and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Maia has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kowalsky regains guard immediately.
Maia wants to control from the top but Kowalsky keeps moving.
Kowalsky has Maia pulled in close to control his posture.
Maia postures up.
Maia wants to pass the guard but Kowalsky is keeping the position.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Kowalsky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kowalsky is looking to clinch but Maia is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia stuns Kowalsky with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Maia thows a body shot but no joy.
Maia throws a lazy right hand but Kowalsky sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kowalsky tries to clinch but Maia moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maia. Kowalsky does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kowalsky is looking to clinch but Maia is avoiding it.
Maia slips under a jab.

Kowalsky clinches.

Maia is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Kowalsky can't fight it off and eventually Maia manages to take the fight to the floor. Kowalsky looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Kowalsky looking for a triangle here. Maia is fighting it but it looks tight! Kowalsky pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Maia is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Jan Kowalsky!
In his post fight interview, Jan Kowalsky started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.