PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kirk George (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Lewdanski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Damian Lewdanski has the eye of the tiger tonight.

George
vs
Lewdanski

156 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

160 cm
25
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kirk George!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Damian Lewdanski!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Dmitry Maklakov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

George closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lewdanski seems a little lost for a moment, as George dominates the positioning.
George misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Lewdanski tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but George presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Lewdanski tries to reverse the position but George maintains control.
George 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.
George throws some wild stikes that Lewdanski manages to avoid easily.
George avoids the attempt from Lewdanski to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lewdanski tries to reverse the position but George maintains control.
George looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lewdanski wants to control but George is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewdanski is looking to get to half guard.
George takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lewdanski prevents any damage by holding on tight.
George can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lewdanski is looking to escape.
Lewdanski is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lewdanski is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lewdanski tries to hold on but George postures up.
George controlling the position easily from mount.
Lewdanski really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lewdanski wants to hold on but George pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
George landing shots from mount.
Lewdanski throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
George controlling his opponent.
George prevents Lewdanski from getting the reversal.
Lewdanski is squirming around, avoiding George's attempts to control the action.
Lewdanski tries to lock up and control but George gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lewdanski is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Lewdanski tries to lock up and control but George gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lewdanski can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
George with the ground and pound from mount.
Lewdanski sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
George tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Lewdanski.
George is controlling the pace.
George trying to control from Lewdanski's half guard. Lewdanski has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
George won't allow Lewdanski to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk George dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

George throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
George keeps the fight on the outside.

Lewdanski has closed the distance and engaged George in a clinch.
Lewdanski using the Thai plumb to throw knees but George has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
George could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

George breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Lewdanski drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

George bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lewdanski tries to clinch up but George circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lewdanski moves into the clinch successfully.

Lewdanski pulls guard.
Lewdanski wants to stand up but George is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lewdanski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but George can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lewdanski has control of George's left arm, preventing George from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
George postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lewdanski keeping moving, preventing George from controlling successfully.
George scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lewdanski looking to control but George passes into half guard.
Lewdanski is trying to get back to full guard.
Lewdanski trying to control from the bottom.
George seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lewdanski does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lewdanski looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
George wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
George fails with the takedown
and Lewdanski counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lewdanski fails in his attempt to clinch.

George clinches.
George drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Lewdanski has hold of one of George's legs. George is fighting the takedown attempt but Lewdanski gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
George keeping moving, preventing Lewdanski from controlling successfully.
George seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewdanski is looking to pass into half guard but George pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now George is in guard.

Lewdanski working a defensive guard here.

Lewdanski has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. George is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Lewdanski.
Lewdanski is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked George off and has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kirk George will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lewdanski shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches George napping and manages to drive through into side control!

George throws Lewdanski to one side and escapes!
Lewdanski scores with a body shot.
Lewdanski paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
George fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lewdanski fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt George.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
George throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lewdanski's waist but Lewdanski gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing George off to one side.
Lewdanski misses the shot to the body.

Lewdanski looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for George!
George is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lewdanski off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
George is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Kirk George overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lewdanski surviving as best he can, preventing damage.

Lewdanski is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake George off. It looks like it's working - George slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Lewdanski displaying calm under pressure there.

George moves into the clinch.

Lewdanski gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Lewdanski tries to free his leg and advance position but George is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as George holds on and takes a little breather.
George can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lewdanski controls the pace.
Lewdanski trying to control the position from guard on top but George is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
George looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lewdanski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as George works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewdanski's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
George blocks a head kick by Lewdanski.

Lewdanski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lewdanski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lewdanski looking to sit in guard and control but George gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lewdanski has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. George has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

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

Lewdanski closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

George bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
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!
George avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

George gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lewdanski to score an easy takedown into full guard.
George keeping full guard, as Lewdanski tries to pass.

George is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Lewdanski lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Damian Lewdanski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kirk George is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Lewdanski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kirk George.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for George, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirk George!