PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mordechai Kowalczyk (ranked 1712 p4p, 1731 weight class) and Juan Kemonito (ranked 102 p4p, 107 weight class). Kowalczyk's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Nocturne op. 9 no.2- Frederic Chopin. Kemonito has chosen Kemonito Entrance Music as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kowalczyk
vs
Kemonito

175 cm
29
145
13 - 4 - 1

150 cm
29
130
16 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Conviction

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 13 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mordechai Kowalczyk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Juan Kemonito!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Richard Clark and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowalczyk lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kemonito backs up against the cage.
Kowalczyk scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kowalczyk throws a low kick but Kemonito moves out of range easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kowalczyk.
Kemonito keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kemonito feints the counter takedown.
Kowalczyk misses the jab.
Kemonito thinks about the counter body kick.
Kemonito checks a low kick from Kowalczyk.
Kemonito throws a fast counter high kick but Kowalczyk manages to duck under it in time.
Kemonito tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kowalczyk paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kowalczyk scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kowalczyk tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kowalczyk looks to land a left hand but Kemonito moved out of range nicely.
Kowalczyk has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Defiant MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Kowalczyk is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kemonito slips a jab from Kowalczyk.
Kemonito changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kemonito ducks right into an uppercut from Kowalczyk.
Kowalczyk throws a combination that misses
and Kemonito counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kowalczyk wants to land a leg kick but Kemonito is out of range.
Nice shot lands for Kowalczyk.
Kowalczyk throws a looping overhand right but Kemonito ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalczyk throws a series of punches but Kemonito moves out of range.
Kowalczyk shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Despite the aggression on Kemonito's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kowalczyk tries to circle away but Kemonito has him pinned against the cage.
Kowalczyk is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kowalczyk lands with a light punch inside.
Kemonito is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kowalczyk gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kowalczyk misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kowalczyk wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kowalczyk is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kowalczyk is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kowalczyk misses with a punch on the inside.
Kowalczyk misses with a punch on the inside.
Kowalczyk tries to throw a body punch but Kemonito avoids it by throwing Kowalczyk back against the cage.
Kowalczyk lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kowalczyk stops a takedown attempt from Kemonito.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kemonito decides to pull guard.
Kowalczyk tries to stand but Kemonito is controlling from the bottom.

Kemonito is working an open guard so Kowalczyk takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A jab from Kowalczyk finds it's way through Kemonito's defenses.
Kowalczyk misses with a hook to the body
and Kemonito makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kowalczyk lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kowalczyk throws a series of strikes that have Kemonito backpedaling.
Kowalczyk connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kemonito moves out of range of the strikes.
Kemonito feints the counter takedown.
Kowalczyk misses with a wild body shot.

Kowalczyk gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kemonito to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kowalczyk is looking to stand up but Kemonito isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kemonito keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kowalczyk's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kemonito distracts Kowalczyk with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kemonito throwing strikes from guard but Kowalczyk blocks nicely.
Kowalczyk is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kemonito is controlling him.

Kowalczyk has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kemonito off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Kemonito forces Kowalczyk back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kemonito goes for a takedown attempt but Kowalczyk pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mordechai Kowalczyk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Kemonito.
Kowalczyk throws a lazy uppercut
and Kemonito counters with a two punch combo.
Kemonito dives in for a single leg takedown but Kowalczyk sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kowalczyk jabs Kemonito right on the nose. Kemonito blinks but takes it well.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kemonito checks a leg kick.
Kemonito wants to counter the offense by Kowalczyk and move into the clinch position.
Kowalczyk looks to land a right hand but Kemonito moved out of range.
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!
Kowalczyk is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kemonito.
Kemonito is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kemonito keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kemonito feints the counter takedown.
Kemonito moves out of range as Kowalczyk strikes.

Kemonito looking to score a takedown here. Kowalczyk is defending well but Kemonito drives through and ends up in Kowalczyk's guard.

Kowalczyk pushes Kemonito off and scrambles back to his feet.
Kowalczyk connects with a right hand. Kemonito shakes it off.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mordechai Kowalczyk dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

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

Kowalczyk pushes Kemonito off and scrambles back to his feet.
Kowalczyk lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kemonito shoots in looking for a takedown. Kowalczyk tries to sprawl out of it but Kemonito keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kowalczyk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kowalczyk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kemonito uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kowalczyk.
Kemonito tries to clinch up but Kowalczyk circles away and keeps his distance.
Kowalczyk connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kemonito. Kemonito circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kowalczyk swats away the attempt to clinch by Kemonito.
Kowalczyk fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kemonito has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalczyk connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kemonito goes for a double leg but Kowalczyk avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kowalczyk continues to drive forward.
Kowalczyk throws a lazy right hand but Kemonito sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mordechai Kowalczyk is winning the standup battle so far.
Kowalczyk throws a right hand that misses
and Kemonito makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kowalczyk will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kemonito gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kowalczyk.
Kemonito slips a straight right by Kowalczyk.

Kemonito gets the takedown into side control.
Kemonito in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Kemonito tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kowalczyk is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kemonito working the ground and pound.

Kemonito thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kowalczyk is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Kowalczyk is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kemonito can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalczyk is not content to let Kemonito control the position.
Kemonito scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kowalczyk wants to get back to his feet.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Kemonito working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kowalczyk trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Kemonito is chipping away with strikes.
Kemonito looks up at the clock and then as Kowalczyk takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kemonito smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kemonito is working Kowalczyk over with some ground and pound from side control.

Kowalczyk explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Kowalczyk misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kemonito.
Kemonito let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
No luck for Kemonito with that takedown attempt.
Mordechai Kowalczyk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Kemonito.
A low kick from Kowalczyk misses
and Kemonito counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mordechai Kowalczyk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kowalczyk throws a hook but Kemonito blocks it.
Kowalczyk bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kemonito blocks a jab.
Kemonito keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kowalczyk.
Kowalczyk lands with a good body shot.
Kowalczyk wants to land a leg kick but Kemonito is out of range.

Kemonito fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kowalczyk to the ground. Kemonito is now in Kowalczyk's guard.

Kowalczyk has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Kemonito is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mordechai Kowalczyk dominated that second round.
That's time! Kowalczyk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kemonito keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kowalczyk.
Kowalczyk misses with a straight right.
Kemonito tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kowalczyk connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kemonito's hands.
The fighters circling - Kowalczyk throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fighters circling - Kowalczyk throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And Kemonito tries to counter it with a takedown but Kowalczyk pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Kowalczyk thumps Kemonito with a low kick.
Kowalczyk throws a big shot that misses.
Kowalczyk lands a glancing blow to the side of Kemonito's head.
Kowalczyk misses with a looping right.
And Kemonito tries to counter it with a takedown but Kowalczyk pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Kowalczyk tries to land a body kick
and Kemonito counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kowalczyk throws a lazy uppercut
and Kemonito counters with a three punch combo that has Kowalczyk backing up. Kowalczyk nods at Kemonito to acknowledge the strikes.
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!
Kowalczyk scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kowalczyk fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kemonito.
Kemonito wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalczyk rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Kemonito counters with a single leg into guard. Kowalczyk didn't expect that.
Kowalczyk is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kemonito is controlling him.
Kemonito working some strikes from top position.
Kemonito advances to half guard.
Kowalczyk pushes Kemonito off looking to stand but Kemonito dives back in and keeps control.
Kowalczyk has hold of Kemonito's hands but Kemonito slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kemonito lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kowalczyk is not content to let Kemonito control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kemonito stops Kowalczyk from getting back to his feet.
Kemonito lands with a punch from half guard.
Kowalczyk wants to get back to his feet.
Kowalczyk is not content to let Kemonito control the position.
Kemonito working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kemonito looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kowalczyk with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kemonito wants to free his trapped foot but Kowalczyk is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kemonito throws a strike but Kowalczyk avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kemonito is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kemonito trying to control but Kowalczyk is working from the bottom.
Kemonito won't allow Kowalczyk to get back to his feet.
Kemonito in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kemonito is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kemonito is working Kowalczyk over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kowalczyk will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kowalczyk wants to stand but Kemonito is controlling the position.
Kemonito trying to control the position from guard on top but Kowalczyk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Juan Kemonito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kowalczyk bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kemonito's head backwards.
Kowalczyk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kowalczyk pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kemonito! But no joy.
Kowalczyk throws a solid leg kick but Kemonito takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kowalczyk.
Kemonito wants to counter with a clinch but Kowalczyk pushes him away.
Kemonito shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kowalczyk defends it nicely.
Kowalczyk is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kemonito.
Kowalczyk loads up on a big right hand but Kemonito slips the punch.
Kemonito tries to move into range but Kowalczyk moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kowalczyk with a jab.
Mordechai Kowalczyk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kowalczyk throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And Kemonito tries to counter it with a takedown but Kowalczyk pushes his down on his head and steps out.

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 Mordechai Kowalczyk.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kowalczyk, 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mordechai Kowalczyk!
During a confident post fight interview, Mordechai Kowalczyk thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.