PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dav Bauwens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bartosz Solomon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bauwens
vs
Solomon

198 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
24
212 lbs
4 - 23 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dav Bauwens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bartosz Solomon!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bauwens looks to score with a jab to the body but Solomon is just out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Solomon blocks the leg kick.
Bauwens throws out a loose jab but Solomon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Despite the aggression on Solomon's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Solomon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bauwens fails with the takedown.
Bauwens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Solomon is defending well for now.

Solomon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bauwens shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Solomon sprawls well. Solomon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bauwens gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bauwens throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bauwens misses with a hook

and Solomon counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bauwens won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bauwens can't do much from the bottom here.
Solomon working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Bauwens is looking to regain half guard here but Solomon keeps moving and retains side control.
Bauwens gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Solomon is thwarting Bauwens's attempts to control the position.
Solomon wants to take a breather but Bauwens is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bauwens tries to roll over but Solomon keeps him under control.
Solomon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bauwens's head.
Bauwens is refusing to be controlled, as Solomon sits in half guard.
Bauwens might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bauwens avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Solomon.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Solomon looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Solomon not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bauwens pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bauwens has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Solomon.
Solomon is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Solomon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bauwens defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Solomon with that takedown attempt.
Bauwens catches Solomon with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bauwens is looking to slow Solomon down with leg kicks.
Bauwens throws a jab but it's blocked by Solomon.
A jab from Bauwens misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Solomon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bauwens pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bauwens turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Bauwens throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Solomon throws a low kick but Bauwens moves out of range easily.
Bauwens drops down looking for a counter takedown but Solomon sprawls and moves away.
Bauwens misses with an uppercut.
Bauwens throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bauwens sets himself, and Solomon steps forward looking for the clinch! Bauwens avoids it this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bauwens swings widly with a right hand
and Solomon counters with a stiff right hand.
Bauwens has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Solomon.
Solomon shoots for a double leg takedown but Bauwens sprawls well. He's pushed Solomon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bauwens changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bartosz Solomon will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bauwens throws a predictable looking body shot
and Solomon counters with a series of strikes. Bauwens will be more careful next time no doubt.
Bauwens misses with a body shot.
Solomon tries to counter with a clinch but Bauwens shakes him off and moves away.
Bauwens feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Solomon's calf.
Bauwens scores with a spinning back kick!
Bauwens jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bauwens just misses with a punch to the body.
Solomon unleashes a big counter combination but Bauwens bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Bauwens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Solomon tries to counter with a clinch but Bauwens shakes him off and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bauwens waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Solomon.
Bauwens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Solomon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Solomon is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bauwens to keep the fight standing.
Bauwens lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Solomon backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bauwens misses with a punch on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Solomon pulls guard effortlessly.
Bauwens is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bauwens has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Solomon wants to get back to his feet but Bauwens is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bauwens not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bauwens wants to pass the guard but Solomon is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bauwens lands a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon shoots in but no luck this time.
Bauwens throws a body punch but Solomon moves out of range.
Solomon explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Solomon blocks a jab.
Dav Bauwens is winning the standup battle so far.
Solomon avoids the body shot from Bauwens.
Solomon avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A right-left combo lands from Solomon.

It looks like Dav Bauwens has been cut.
Bauwens misses with a shot to the body
and Solomon counters with a one-two to the body.
A head kick misses from Solomon.
Bauwens tries to counter with a takedown but Solomon is quick to defend against it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bauwens waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Solomon.
Bauwens swings widly with a right hand
and Solomon counters with a three punch combo that has Bauwens backing up. Bauwens nods at Solomon to acknowledge the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Solomon fails to land the takedown.
Dav Bauwens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bartosz Solomon.
Solomon is breathing heavily.
Solomon tries a head kick but it misses.
Bauwens thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bauwens just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bauwens looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bauwens jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bartosz Solomon will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dav Bauwens's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bauwens blocks a head kick by Solomon.
Bauwens feinted with a counter takedown.
Bauwens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Solomon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bauwens cracks a nice hook into Solomon's ribs.
Solomon throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Bauwens jabs Solomon right on the nose. Solomon blinks but takes it well.
Solomon wants to clinch

and Bauwens counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Solomon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bauwens is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bauwens tries to pass to full mount but Solomon defends it.
Dav Bauwens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bauwens sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Solomon wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bauwens throws a body shot but no joy.
Solomon throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Solomon lands a head kick!
Solomon takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bauwens misses with a hook.
Solomon fails to land the takedown.
Solomon tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice defenses there by Solomon.
Bauwens is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Solomon's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Solomon throws a head kick but Bauwens moves out of range.
Solomon throws a head kick but Bauwens moves out of range.
Bauwens is looking to slow Solomon down with leg kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon 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.
Bauwens throws a leg kick but Solomon moved away.
Solomon throws a fast counter high kick but Bauwens manages to duck under it in time.
Bauwens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
As Bauwens backs off Solomon throws a huge counter combo but Bauwens manages to avoid it all.
Nice defenses there by Solomon.
Bauwens throws the left hand but Solomon avoids the punch easily.
Solomon bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bauwens looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bauwens connects with a leg kick. Solomon looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Solomon checks the leg kick.
Bartosz Solomon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Solomon throws a sloppy head kick and Bauwens moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dav Bauwens showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Solomon has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bartosz Solomon!