PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcin Kowalczyk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dwayne Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcin Kowalczyk looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Kowalczyk
vs
Johnson

201 cm
23
242 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

196 cm
25
260 lbs
5 - 17 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcin Kowalczyk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Dwayne Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kowalczyk gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kowalczyk tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Kowalczyk back against the cage.
Johnson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Johnson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Johnson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kowalczyk is breathing heavily.
Kowalczyk wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kowalczyk's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Johnson is trying to pull guard but Kowalczyk turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Johnson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Johnson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kowalczyk is defending well.
Johnson works on Kowalczyk's body with a couple of short punches.
Johnson digs a right hand underneath Kowalczyk's ribcage. Kowalczyk let out a lung full of air as it connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson leaning his opponent against the cage.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.

Johnson forces Kowalczyk back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Kowalczyk is controlling him.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Johnson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Johnson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson decides to return to a standing position.

Johnson rushes Kowalczyk and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Johnson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kowalczyk regains guard immediately.

Johnson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kowalczyk gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kowalczyk swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kowalczyk avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Johnson stands up and waves to Kowalczyk to follow him.

Johnson instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Johnson.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Kowalczyk has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the body.
Johnson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Marcin Kowalczyk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dwayne Johnson.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Kowalczyk won't allow it.
Johnson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kowalczyk walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Kowalczyk gets tackled into the cage by Johnson. Johnson maintains the clinch.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Kowalczyk has him pressed against the cage.

Johnson breaks the clinch.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
Johnson lands an elbow.

Johnson stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kowalczyk napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Johnson trying to control the action but Kowalczyk is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson landing a few strikes.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Johnson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson stands up and beckons Kowalczyk to his feet.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Johnson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Johnson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kowalczyk to the ground. Johnson is now in Kowalczyk's guard.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kowalczyk swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kowalczyk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kowalczyk's head.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Johnson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalczyk keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Kowalczyk keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Johnson scores with a jab to the body.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson avoiding damage.
Johnson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kowalczyk wants to break free but Johnson has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeps control of Kowalczyk as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Johnson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kowalczyk walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Kowalczyk gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Johnson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Johnson rushes Kowalczyk and presses him up against the cage.
Johnson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kowalczyk prevents it.
A right hook to the body lands for Johnson.

Johnson pulls guard effortlessly.
Kowalczyk won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.
Johnson managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalczyk wants to get up but he can't break Johnson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kowalczyk prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kowalczyk looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Johnson manages to pull guard.
Johnson wants to stand up but Kowalczyk is controlling him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kowalczyk being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Johnson gets a double leg takedown into Kowalczyk's guard.
Kowalczyk keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Kowalczyk is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Johnson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kowalczyk looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Johnson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Kowalczyk seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Johnson moves into the clinch.

Johnson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.

Johnson stands up and waves to Kowalczyk to follow him.

Johnson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kowalczyk's guard.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.

Johnson gets to his feet. Kowalczyk looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Johnson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Johnson trying to control the position but Kowalczyk is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson decides to stand back up. Johnson steps back and let's Kowalczyk get back to his feet.

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kowalczyk is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kowalczyk keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Johnson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Marcin Kowalczyk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Johnson clinches up with Kowalczyk and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalczyk working hard to break the clinch.

Johnson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Johnson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kowalczyk avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kowalczyk's head.
Johnson trying to control the pace.
Kowalczyk is looking to escape.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dwayne Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four 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.

Johnson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kowalczyk's half guard.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.

Johnson decides to stand up.

Johnson instigates a clinch.

Johnson breaks the clinch.

Johnson forces Kowalczyk back against the cage and clinches.
Kowalczyk tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnson's elbow.
Kowalczyk looking to stall.
Marcin Kowalczyk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwayne Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwayne Johnson!