PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Stanley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirk Karwoski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stanley comes to the cage accompanied by The man that you FEAR . Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Stanley
vs
Karwoski

190 cm
24
215 lbs
13 - 1 - 0

210 cm
25
287 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Meet the Future

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kyle Stanley!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kirk Karwoski!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stanley throws a low kick but Karwoski moves out of range easily.
Karwoski throws a hook but Stanley avoids it easily.
Stanley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karwoski.
Good exchange - Karwoski coming out on top.
Crunch! Stanley slams his shin into Karwoski's torso.
Stanley bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Karwoski changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Karwoski rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stanley moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stanley takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Stanley throws a leg kick but Karwoski sees it coming and moves out of range.
Stanley looks for the body kick but Karwoski saw that one coming.
Karwoski jabs at Stanley's body.
Karwoski throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stanley cracks Karwoski with a right hand to the side of the head.
Stanley fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stanley throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Karwoski stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Stanley uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Karwoski.
Stanley lands a nice looking body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanley slips under a jab.
Karwoski lands with a thumping leg kick.
Stanley avoids a punch combination nicely.
Karwoski checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Stanley throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Stanley throws a jab but it's blocked by Karwoski.
Karwoski tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Stanley throws a lazy right hand but Karwoski sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
That kick from Stanley tenderised Karwoski's leg. Karwoski is trying to keep his angry face on.
Stanley wants to clinch.
Stanley looks to score with a jab to the body but Karwoski is just out of range.
Karwoski circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanley connects with a nice looking jab.
An inside leg kick from Stanley misses.
Stanley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kirk Karwoski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stanley on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stanley slips a jab and a cross from Karwoski.
Karwoski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stanley moves away.
A clash of legs there as Karwoski blocks the low kick.
Stanley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karwoski swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Karwoski connects with the punch.
Stanley throws a jab when Karwoski was well out of range.
Karwoski misses with a wild body shot.
Karwoski shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Karwoski misses with a low kick.
Stanley throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Good leg kick by Stanley there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanley tries to land a front kick but Karwoski steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Stanley throws a leg kick but Karwoski checks it.
Stanley doesn't manage to clinch there - Karwoski circles away.

Stanley gets a clinch.

Stanley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Karwoski misses the jab.
Karwoski moves away from the strike by Stanley.
Stanley tries to clinch but Karwoski is having none of it.
Karwoski takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Stanley swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stanley connects with a high kick.

It looks like Kirk Karwoski has been cut.
Karwoski dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Karwoski connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Stanley momentarily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karwoski misses with a hook. Stanley ducked under it nicely.
Stanley bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stanley missing with a left hand there. Karwoski was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanley scores with a punch to the head.
Stanley fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karwoski throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stanley sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stanley throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Stanley bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stanley buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stanley throws a low kick but it's checked well by Karwoski.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Karwoski, right into the meat.
A slow jab from Karwoski misses its intended target.
Karwoski slips under a jab from Stanley.
A big right from Stanley misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stanley checks a low kick from Karwoski.
The fighters circle momentarily. Stanley darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Karwoski connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Stanley momentarily.
Karwoski checks a low kick from Stanley.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Stanley dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kirk Karwoski's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Karwoski tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Stanley connects with a leg kick. Karwoski looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Karwoski avoids the head kick by Stanley.
Stanley throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Karwoski feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Stanley's calf.
Karwoski throws a hook but Stanley blocks it.
Karwoski just misses with a punch to the body.
A good leg kick by Karwoski.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stanley.
Stanley swings for the body but Karwoski moves out of range.
Kyle Stanley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stanley moves into the clinch successfully.
Karwoski lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Stanley backwards.

It looks like Kyle Stanley has been cut.
Stanley misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stanley pushes Karwoski back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Karwoski swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Stanley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kyle Stanley is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanley finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Stanley uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Karwoski.
Stanley looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Karwoski takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Karwoski moves out of range of the strikes.
Stanley connects with a leg kick. Karwoski looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Stanley throws an off balance right hand
and Karwoski counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stanley lands a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Karwoski. Stanley does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice uppercut there from Stanley.
Karwoski throws a leg kick that misses.
Karwoski's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The fighters circling - Stanley throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Karwoski is looking to chop away at Stanley's legs.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Stanley here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Stanley takes a swing at Karwoski's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanley connects with a leg kick. Karwoski looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karwoski checks a low kick from Stanley.
Stanley takes a jab right on the kisser.
A telegraphed right hand from Karwoski misses the target.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Karwoski. Stanley shrugs it off though.
Stanley uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Karwoski.
Stanley cracks the inside of Karwoski's front leg.
Stanley lands with a slapping head kick.
Stanley chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice defenses there by Stanley.
Stanley throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A chopping leg kick lands by Stanley.
Stanley avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stanley is defended easily by Karwoski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karwoski throws a hook but Stanley avoids it easily.
Stanley throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Stanley throws a hook but Karwoski blocks it.
A lazy left from Karwoski finds it's target.
Stanley is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Karwoski.
The fighters circling - Stanley throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Stanley lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Karwoski has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Karwoski and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Stanley digs a good hook to Karwoski's body.
Karwoski is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Karwoski throws the left hand but Stanley avoids the punch easily.
Good shot there by Stanley.
Stanley on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Stanley throws out a powerful jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Karwoski takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Stanley feints and then cracks Karwoski's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Karwoski down.
Stanley looks for the body kick but Karwoski saw that one coming.
Karwoski throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Karwoski scores with a jab. Stanley acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Stanley lands a nice looking kick to the body. Karwoski takes a step back to recover.
Good leg kick by Stanley there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Karwoski misses with a looping right.
Stanley connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Karwoski throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Karwoski takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Stanley throws a head kick that misses
and Karwoski counters with a nice low kick that buckles Stanley's knee momentarily.
Stanley is looking to land body kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Stanley dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Karwoski misses with a leg kick.
Stanley fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stanley shoots in but no luck this time.
Karwoski throws a leg kick but Stanley checks it.

Karwoski tries to sprawl but Stanley drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Karwoski moves into full guard.
Karwoski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stanley lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stanley trying to control but Karwoski is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanley throws a big elbow that misses.
Stanley pushes down on Karwoski's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Stanley's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karwoski blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stanley.
Stanley has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Stanley looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Karwoski regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Stanley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanley trying to control the position from guard on top but Karwoski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stanley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Karwoski works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stanley looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Stanley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stanley has gone for a leg lock! Karwoski slips out almost immediately though and dives into Stanley's guard.
Stanley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karwoski is one step ahead there.
Karwoski trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanley manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Karwoski is in a horrible position here. Stanley smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Stanley is landing with some decent strikes but Karwoski is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karwoski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Stanley clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stanley staying out of range there.
Karwoski misses with a hook

and Stanley decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Karwoski's guard.
Stanley looking to sit in guard and control but Karwoski gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Karwoski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Karwoski wants to control from the top but Stanley keeps moving.
Stanley has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Stanley keeping full guard, as Karwoski tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karwoski is one step ahead there.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kirk Karwoski wasn't active enough on the ground.
A big right from Stanley misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Karwoski moves out of range as Stanley strikes.
Stanley looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Karwoski loads up on a big right hand but Stanley slips the punch.
Stanley throws the kick towards the body but Karwoski avoids it.
Karwoski misses with a hook.
Stanley swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Stanley misses with a body shot.
A good leg kick by Karwoski.
Karwoski lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Stanley backs up against the cage.
Stanley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stanley throws a leg kick that misses.
Karwoski throws an off balance right hand
and Stanley counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice body kick from Karwoski.
Karwoski does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karwoski scores with a hook to the body. Stanley takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Karwoski, right into the meat.
Stanley tries for a takedown but Karwoski circles away easily
and Karwoski counters with an outside leg kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
The fighters circle momentarily. Karwoski darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A bone on bone clash there as Stanley blocks the leg kick.
Stanley scores with a jab.
Stanley takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Karwoski throws a shot from downtown. Stanley moves away and avoids it.
Karwoski keeps the fight on the outside.
An inside leg kick lands from Stanley.
Stanley connects with a solid leg kick.
Stanley thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Karwoski if he has to take too many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanley steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Karwoski. That one must have hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Karwoski gets tackled into the cage by Stanley. Stanley maintains the clinch.
Stanley lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Karwoski backwards.

Stanley wants the takedown. Karwoski is fighting it off but Stanley persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Karwoski's guard against the cage.
Karwoski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stanley wants to control from the top but Karwoski keeps moving.
Stanley throws an elbow that misses. Karwoski uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stanley's guard. Nice move by Karwoski!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stanley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Kyle Stanley will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Karwoski lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stanley's sensitive parts.
Stanley lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Karwoski lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Karwoski misses with a looping right.
A leg kick checked by Stanley.
Stanley slips a jab from Karwoski.
Karwoski misses with a leg kick
and Stanley counters with a nice body kick.
Karwoski has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Stanley.
Stanley is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Stanley on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Karwoski walks into a left hand.
Stanley throws a right and a left that Karwoski avoids nicely.
A head kick misses from Stanley.
Karwoski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karwoski loads up on a big right hand but Stanley slips the punch.
Stanley fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Stanley closes the distance and clinches.
Stanley is leaning against Karwoski and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Stanley avoids a wild elbow strike from Karwoski.
Karwoski has a couple of punches blocked by Stanley.
Karwoski leaning his opponent against the cage.
Stanley misses with a hook from the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Stanley scores with a nice short uppercut.
Stanley working aggressively here.
Stanley is trying to maintain a safe position but Karwoski gets an underhook and turns Stanley into the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kirk Karwoski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanley softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stanley tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Karwoski's elbow.
Stanley can't get the takedown.
Stanley throws a head punch that misses.
Stanley lands an uppercut.
Karwoski looking to slow down the pace here.
Stanley throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Karwoskis head.
Karwoski gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Karwoski just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stanley's brow.
Stanley working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short left from Stanley.
Stanley pushes Karwoski back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Karwoski tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stanley avoids it.
Stanley lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Stanley blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karwoski is trying to stall.
Stanley scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Karwoski gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Stanley managing to block the knees to the body from Karwoski.
Stanley trying to stall but Karwoski improves his position.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Karwoski just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stanley's brow.
Kyle Stanley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stanley avoids the elbow strike from Karwoski, against the cage.
Stanley fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stanley swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Karwoski misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stanley.
Karwoski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Karwoski swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanley working aggressively here.
Kyle Stanley has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Karwoski is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Stanley lands with a left to the head.
Karwoski pushes Stanley back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Kyle Stanley's cut is getting worse.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karwoski lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Stanley's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Karwoski is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Karwoski displaying some good clinch control by pressing Stanley up against the cage.
Karwoski tries to stall but Stanley uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Stanley showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stanley 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 50:45
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 50:45
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Stanley!
Kyle Stanley retains his heavyweight title!
A very excited looking Kyle Stanley made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.