PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pawel Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nebojsa Zupan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kowalski
vs
Zupan

170 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pawel Kowalski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nebojsa Zupan!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Roberts and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowalski staying out of range there.
Zupan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Zupan scores with a hook.
Kowalski misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zupan misses with a straight left.
Zupan misses with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zupan. Kowalski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zupan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Zupan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kowalski tries to clinch but Zupan moves out of range.
Kowalski takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zupan swings for the body but Kowalski moves out of range.

Zupan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Zupan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zupan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kowalski's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kowalski looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zupan looks to land a combination but Kowalski avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zupan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kowalski.
Zupan looks to land a left hand but Kowalski moved out of range nicely.
Kowalski throws a looping overhand right but Zupan ducks down to avoid it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kowalski.
Zupan lands with a right hand.
Kowalski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zupan was well out of range. Poor timing from Kowalski.
A punch combination from Zupan misses.
Zupan has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Kowalski is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Zupan misses with an uppercut.
Kowalski takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Zupan is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Zupan cracks a nice hook into Kowalski's ribs.
Zupan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kowalski looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kowalski is breathing heavily.
Kowalski takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Zupan has Kowalski up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zupan prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pawel Kowalski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kowalski tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zupan just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zupan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zupan lands a really nice looking cross but Kowalski seems unphased.
Zupan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zupan misses with a wild combination.

Zupan closes the distance and clinches.
A body shot lands from Zupan.
Kowalski can't get the takedown.
Zupan scores with a shoulder strike.
Zupan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Zupan breaks the clinch.
Zupan scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zupan cracks Kowalski with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sloppy strikes from Zupan. Those never looked like landing.
Kowalski walks into a stiff left hand from Zupan.
Zupan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Kowalski drops his hands momentarily and Zupan takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Zupan scores with a sloppy right hand. Kowalski should have avoided that one.
Zupan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zupan cracks Kowalski with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Zupan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kowalski could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kowalski takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zupan misses with a series of wild punches.
Zupan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zupan.
Nebojsa Zupan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zupan misses with a two punch combination.
Zupan scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Zupan connects with a crisp jab.
Zupan moves into range and connects with a jab.
Zupan has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Zupan lands with a good body shot.
Nebojsa Zupan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zupan lands a lovely overhand right.
Kowalski tries to move into range but Zupan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kowalski dives in for a single leg takedown but Zupan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zupan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zupan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Zupan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zupan scores with a jab to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nebojsa Zupan dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zupan lands a slapping body shot.
Zupan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kowalski at a distance.
Kowalski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Zupan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zupan lands a nice uppercut.

Zupan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zupan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kowalski doesn't seem bothered though.
Kowalski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed right hand from Zupan misses the target.
Zupan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kowalski throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zupan's waist but Zupan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kowalski off to one side.

Zupan forces Kowalski back against the cage and clinches.
Kowalski is trying to pull guard but Zupan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pawel Kowalski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zupan lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zupan lands a body shot.

Zupan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Zupan moves into the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Zupan as the two fighters clinch.
Nice body punch from Zupan - that landed with a thud.
Zupan lands a nice uppercut.

Zupan manages to break the clinch.
Kowalski takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A jab from Zupan finds it's way through Kowalski's defenses.
Zupan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zupan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zupan lands the left hand.
Pawel Kowalski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zupan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kowalski dodges the punch combination from Zupan.
Kowalski looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zupan throws a shot to the body.
Kowalski avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kowalski takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kowalski takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Zupan connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kowalski. Kowalski circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kowalski takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kowalski takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kowalski drops his hands momentarily and Zupan takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Zupan's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kowalski under the eye.
Kowalski takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Zupan throws a nice looking combination but Kowalski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zupan slows down the pace here.
Zupan works on Kowalski's body with a couple of short punches.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Kowalski. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Zupan.
Zupan controlling the action here for a moment.

Zupan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zupan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kowalski manages to avoid it.
Zupan closes the distance and lands a one-two.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zupan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zupan stalling.
Zupan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Zupan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Zupan breaks the clinch.
Zupan feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kowalskis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Kowalski tries to keep at a distance but Zupan has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zupan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kowalski backwards.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zupan lands a hook that snaps the head of Kowalski backwards.
Zupan is struggling to control the position.
A right hand to the body from Zupan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nebojsa Zupan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Zupan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kowalski keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zupan.
Nice uppercut there from Kowalski.
Zupan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A cross from Zupan lands.
Danga de danga de dang - Zupan scores with a four punch combination!
Zupan slaps away a takedown attempt from Kowalski, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zupan cracks Kowalski with an open hand slap.
Zupan lands with a nice body punch.
Zupan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kowalski needs to keep his hands up - Zupan had a free shot at his head there.
Kowalski throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zupan scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zupan scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Zupan misses with a wild combination.
Kowalski takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nebojsa Zupan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zupan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zupan wants it to stay on the feet.
Zupan scores with a shot to the body.
Kowalski gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A right-left combo lands from Zupan.
Zupan tests Kowalski's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kowalski takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Zupan misses with a double jab.

Zupan clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Zupan on the inside.
Kowalski tries to pull guard but Zupan won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pawel Kowalski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zupan lands a hook that snaps the head of Kowalski backwards.
Nebojsa Zupan seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zupan lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zupan is leaning against Kowalski and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short right from Zupan.
Zupan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zupan lands a hook to the side of the head.

Zupan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Zupan clinches up with Kowalski and pushes him back against the cage.

Zupan manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Kowalski.
Zupan scores with a punch to the head.
Zupan takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zupan throws a nice looking combination but Kowalski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zupan connects with the punch.
Some wild striking there from Zupan.
Zupan lands a slapping body shot.
Kowalski takes one on the button.
Good shot there by Zupan.
Kowalski takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zupan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zupan misses with a double jab
and Kowalski counters with a solid body kick.
Kowalski takes one to the side of the head.
Kowalski shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zupan defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zupan connects with a looping right hand.
Nice body punch from Zupan.
Zupan connects with a looping right hand.
Kowalski takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Kowalski gets tackled into the cage by Zupan. Zupan maintains the clinch.
Zupan lands a body punch.
Zupan throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Zupan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zupan scores with a hook.
Zupan lands with a good body shot.
Pawel Kowalski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zupan lands with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nebojsa Zupan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zupan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 26:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 26:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nebojsa Zupan!