PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tomasz Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Varskinji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kowalski comes into the arena with Two Steps From Hell - Heart of Courage (Extended Version) blaring out of the sound system. Igor Varskinji has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kowalski
vs
Varskinji

191 cm
22
130 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

160 cm
27
136 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tomasz Kowalski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Varskinji!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Varskinji throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kowalski tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Varskinji is in Kowalski's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Varskinji sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kowalski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Varskinji must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Varskinji slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Varskinji wants to control from the top but Kowalski keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Igor Varskinji was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Varskinji fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kowalski misses with a takedown
and Varskinji makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kowalski on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Varskinji tries to clinch but Kowalski is having none of it.
Varskinji tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kowalski manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski throws a half hearted mid kick.
Igor Varskinji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Varskinji throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kowalski jumps guard but Varskinji turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Varskinji has a couple of punches blocked by Kowalski.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kowalski jumps guard but Varskinji turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomasz Kowalski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Varskinji pulls guard.
Kowalski trying to control but Varskinji is working from the bottom.

Kowalski has gone for a leg lock! Varskinji slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kowalski's guard.
Varskinji trying to control the position from guard on top but Kowalski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Varskinji pushing down on Kowalski's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kowalski wants to get back to full guard.
Kowalski moves into full guard.
Varskinji wants to pass the guard but Kowalski is keeping the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Varskinji is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varskinji wants to control from the top but Kowalski keeps moving.

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

Kowalski manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Varskinji on his heels. He'll look to pass Varskinji's guard now, I'm sure.

Kowalski stands up and waves to Varskinji to follow him.
Varskinji pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Varskinji moves in looking to clinch but Kowalski pushes him off.
Kowalski tries for a takedown but Varskinji circles away easily

and Varskinji counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kowalski's guard now.
Kowalski is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kowalski looking for a sweep. Not yet Kowalski, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski keeping moving, preventing Varskinji from controlling successfully.
Varskinji pushing down on Kowalski's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Varskinji is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kowalski doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Varskinji.

Varskinji postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Kowalski to stand up.

Varskinji scores with a takedown into Kowalski's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kowalski trying to control the position.
Varskinji wants to control from the top but Kowalski keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Varskinji dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Varskinji fails in his attempt to clinch.
Varskinji throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kowalski.
Varskinji has a takedown stuffed.
Kowalski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Varskinji lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kowalski backs up against the cage.

Kowalski is rocked!
Kowalski really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kowalski misses with a takedown attempt

and Varskinji counters with a double leg that slams his opponent to the canvas! Kowalski is in trouble here! Varskinji pounds away until the ref steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Slam). Igor Varskinji!