PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michal Tarnowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Athan Stamatis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tarnowski's entrance music is Hemp Gru - Sami swoi . A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Stamatis's choice of entrance music: Lose Yourself. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Tarnowski
vs
Stamatis

179 cm
26
154 lbs
35 - 8 - 0

176 cm
37
184 lbs
52 - 26 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 35 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michal Tarnowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 52 - 26 - 0, fighting out of New York, Athan Stamatis!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, David Schapiro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarnowski throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tarnowski comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Stamatis takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Tarnowski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stamatis circles away.
Tarnowski misses with a low kick.
Tarnowski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A left hand lands to the body for Tarnowski.

Stamatis breaks from the clinch.
Stamatis slips under a jab from Tarnowski.
Stamatis misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stamatis misses with a combination
and Tarnowski counters with a solid body kick.

Tarnowski scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stamatis manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Tarnowski is keen to just control but Stamatis is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarnowski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stamatis is not content to let Tarnowski control the position.
Tarnowski 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.
Tarnowski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tarnowski not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tarnowski working the head and body with strikes.
Tarnowski missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tarnowski not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Tarnowski is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Stamatis trying to control but Tarnowski postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tarnowski is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stamatis has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stamatis is staying active underneath Tarnowski, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stamatis wants to control but Tarnowski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stamatis regains full guard. Nicely done.
Tarnowski throws a big elbow that misses.
Stamatis looking for a sweep. Not yet Stamatis, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Stamatis dives in and grabs Tarnowski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tarnowski pushes down on Stamatis's head and hops out.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarnowski stuns Stamatis with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Stamatis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stamatis swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tarnowski counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tarnowski looks for the body kick but Stamatis saw that one coming.
Stamatis avoids the body shot from Tarnowski.
A head kick misses from Tarnowski.
Stamatis is trying to counter with his kicks.
Tarnowski misses with a body kick.
Tarnowski moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stamatis takes one on the button.
Stamatis swings for the body but Tarnowski moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tarnowski.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Tarnowski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A leg kick checked by Stamatis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Tarnowski - just one landing.
Stamatis throws a jab but it's blocked by Tarnowski.
Tarnowski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stamatis scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
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!
Stamatis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tarnowski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tarnowski is looking to score with low kicks.
Stamatis misses with a low kick.
Stamatis tries a head kick but it misses.
Stamatis digs a good hook to Tarnowski's body.
Stamatis fails with a takedown attempt.
Tarnowski changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Tarnowski fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Tarnowski dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Stamatis dips to his left and cracks Tarnowski with an uppercut!
Stamatis missing with a left hand there. Tarnowski was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tarnowski closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Tarnowski defending well as Stamatis loads up on a big left hand.
Tarnowski half committed to a counter leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tarnowski.
Tarnowski throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stamatis steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Stamatis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stamatis takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tarnowski checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stamatis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tarnowski.
Stamatis keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tarnowski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stamatis fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Tarnowski is out of range.
Tarnowski feinted with a counter takedown.
Stamatis wants to slow Tarnowski down by chopping away at his legs.
Tarnowski appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Tarnowski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stamatis can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarnowski clobbers Stamatis with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Tarnowski takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Stamatis lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tarnowski.
Tarnowski throws a combination that misses
and Stamatis counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tarnowski thinking.
Tarnowski throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tarnowski.
Stamatis looks for the body kick but Tarnowski saw that one coming.
Tarnowski attempts a counter takedown but Stamatis avoids it well and moves away.
Stamatis dodges the punch combination from Tarnowski.
A clash of legs there as Stamatis blocks the low kick.
Tarnowski wants to land a leg kick but Stamatis is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stamatis loads up on a big right hand but Tarnowski slips the punch.
Michal Tarnowski is winning the standup battle so far.
Tarnowski on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Stamatis. Stamatis obviously looking to wear him down.
Stamatis tries to land a front kick but Tarnowski steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tarnowski looks to score with a jab to the body but Stamatis is just out of range.
Stamatis unleashes a big counter combination but Tarnowski bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Stamatis knocks Tarnowski to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?

Tarnowski is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stamatis in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Tarnowski looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Stamatis turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Athan Stamatis!
Athan Stamatis was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.