PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kostya Tszyu (ranked 2763 p4p, 236 weight class) and Watsz Mawe (ranked 2721 p4p, 230 weight class). Tszyu comes to the cage accompanied by Till the End of Time. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Tszyu
vs
Mawe

185 cm
28
160 lbs
18 - 5 - 3

170 cm
30
160 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 3, fighting out of New York, Kostya Tszyu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Watsz Mawe!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mawe misses with a telegraphed body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Mawe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tszyu lands with an overhand left.
Mawe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tszyu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mawe was well out of range. Poor timing from Tszyu.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mawe is defended easily by Tszyu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mawe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tszyu swivels and escapes.
Kostya Tszyu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Watsz Mawe.
Mawe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tszyu's waist but Tszyu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mawe off to one side.
Tszyu lands with a good body shot.
Tszyu scores with a jab to the head.
Sloppy strikes from Mawe. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mawe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mawe darts in trying to clinch
and Tszyu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mawe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tszyu.
Mawe looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Mawe takes a jab right on the kisser.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mawe.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tszyu.

Mawe shoots in and gets a takedown into Tszyu's guard.

Tszyu is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tszyu is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Mawe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Tszyu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mawe tries to close the distance and clinch but Tszyu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mawe on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mawe shoots for a double leg takedown but Tszyu sprawls well. He's pushed Mawe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mawe fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tszyu is looking to land body kicks.
The fighters circling - Tszyu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Mawe clinches up against the cage.
Mawe is looking to take this one to the mat.
Mawe changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tszyu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tszyu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Mawe moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nice takedown defense from Tszyu. No joy for Mawe on that attempt.
Tszyu swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mawe takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Mawe moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Tszyu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mawe.
Mawe tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kostya Tszyu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mawe takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Tszyu looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mawe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tszyu scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Tszyu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mawe.
Tszyu was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mawe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tszyu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mawe on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tszyu. Tszyu obviously looking to wear him down.
Mawe dodges the punch combination from Tszyu.
Tszyu jabs Mawe right on the nose. Mawe blinks but takes it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tszyu jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Mawe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tszyu.
Tszyu moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mawe or perhaps it was just good defense by Tszyu, which made it look bad.
Tszyu misses with a series of wild punches.

Mawe closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tszyu's guard.

Tszyu is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostya Tszyu dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Tszyu, as that shot connected.
Tszyu is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Tszyu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mawe manages to avoid it.
Tszyu scores with a jab to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tszyu.
Tszyu throws a leg kick but Mawe checks it.
Tszyu leaves Mawe with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mawe takes one to the chin there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Tszyu.
Tszyu lands with a straight right. Mawe didn't see that one coming.
Tszyu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tszyu is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tszyu throws a head kick that misses
and Mawe counters with a three punch combo that has Tszyu backing up. Tszyu nods at Mawe to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mawe fails with the takedown
and Tszyu counters with a nice uppercut.
Watsz Mawe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mawe shoots in looking for a takedown. Tszyu tries to sprawl out of it but Mawe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tszyu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kostya Tszyu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Watsz Mawe.
Tszyu misses with a wild body shot.
A little jabbing left from Mawe on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tszyu smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tszyu lands with a cross.
Tszyu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mawe can do to turn this around?
Tszyu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mawe. That did some damage!
Tszyu misses with a wild body shot.
Mawe unleashes a big counter combination but Tszyu bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Mawe looking to score a takedown here. Tszyu is defending well but Mawe drives through and ends up in Tszyu's guard.
Mawe passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mawe prevents Tszyu from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu taking punishment in the form of punches.
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!
Tszyu is trying to get back to his feet.
Mawe controls the position from side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tszyu is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mawe asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Mawe is putting a hurting on Tszyu here, landing some big shots from side control.
Mawe trying to control the action but Tszyu is working from the bottom.
Tszyu is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mawe has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu is working to avoid the ground and pound but Mawe connects with a decent elbow.
Tszyu prevents Mawe from moving into mount.
Tszyu is pushing Mawe's head away, looking to escape. Mawe manages to hold on to the position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mawe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Watsz Mawe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mawe in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Tszyu is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mawe has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Mawe tries for a kimura but Tszyu is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tszyu explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Mawe rushes Tszyu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mawe blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mawe tries to pull guard but Tszyu won't allow it.
Tszyu lands with a light punch inside.
Mawe is trying to pull guard but Tszyu turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tszyu throws a punch but it's blocked by Mawe.
Mawe tries to pull guard but Tszyu forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mawe fails to pull guard.
Mawe is looking for a takedown.
Mawe is trying to pull guard but Tszyu turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mawe is breathing heavily.
Mawe jumps guard but Tszyu turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tszyu prevents Mawe from breaking the clinch.
Mawe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tszyu misses with some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tszyu misses with some punches.
Nice body punch from Tszyu - that landed with a thud.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostya Tszyu dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Good exchange - Tszyu coming out on top.
Some wild striking there from Tszyu.
Tszyu throws a sloppy head kick and Mawe moves out of range easily.
Mawe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mawe feints the counter takedown.
Tszyu digs a good body shot into Mawe's ribs.
Tszyu swings for the body but Mawe moves out of range.
Tszyu throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Mawe blocks a head kick by Tszyu.
Tszyu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mawe has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tszyu works the jab nicely.
Mawe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tszyu throws out the jab.
Tszyu lands with an uppercut that bounces Mawe off the cage and back into range.
Tszyu smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mawe shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mawe was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mawe looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tszyu is avoiding damage well.
Tszyu is trying to get back to his feet.
Mawe tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Mawe is chipping away with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mawe scores with a couple of short elbows.

Tszyu explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Tszyu cracks Mawe with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Mawe throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tszyu was covering up waiting for the punch and Mawe finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kostya Tszyu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mawe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mawe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mawe is looking to work some ground and pound but Tszyu has wrist control.
Tszyu is looking to stand up but Mawe isn't so interested in that idea.
Mawe wants to pass the guard but Tszyu is keeping the position.
Mawe throwing strikes from guard but Tszyu blocks nicely.
Mawe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mawe is pushing down on Tszyu's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tszyu is fighting to maintain full guard but Mawe has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mawe lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tszyu is trying to stand.

Mawe seems to be looking for submissions.
Mawe is keen to just control but Tszyu is a slippery customer.
Tszyu looks like he's trying to stand up.

Tszyu makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Watsz Mawe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tszyu takes a swing at Mawe's ribcage but misses.
Tszyu fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mawe doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tszyu counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mawe thinking.
Mawe throws a looping overhand right but Tszyu ducks down to avoid it.
Tszyu connects with a high kick.
Tszyu clobbers Mawe with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Tszyu throws a shot from downtown. Mawe moves away and avoids it.
Tszyu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mawe manages to avoid it.
Mawe's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tszyu misses with an uppercut. Mawe saw that one coming.
Sloppy strikes from Tszyu. Those never looked like landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Tszyu does it's job there.
Tszyu darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Tszyu throws a body kick that misses.
Mawe shoots in and drives through. Tszyu sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kostya Tszyu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tszyu, 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kostya Tszyu!
A relieved looking Kostya Tszyu thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.