PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jan Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashid Magomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rashid Magomedov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Kowalski
vs
Magomedov

180 cm
18
167 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
23
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jan Kowalski!
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, Rashid Magomedov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Kowalski does no damage.

Magomedov moves into the clinch.
Kowalski on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Magomedov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Jan Kowalski has been cut.

Magomedov pulls guard effortlessly.
Magomedov wants to stand and escape but Kowalski is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kowalski slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kowalski controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Kowalski crashes against the mat.
Kowalski throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Kowalski tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Magomedov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kowalski is trying to control. Magomedov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kowalski is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Magomedov is just riding it out for now. Kowalski eventually gives up the hold.
Kowalski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov pushes Kowalski off looking to stand but Kowalski dives back in and keeps control.
Magomedov trying to control from the bottom.
Kowalski not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kowalski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kowalski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kowalski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kowalski prevents Magomedov from standing back up.

Kowalski is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Magomedov to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Kowalski trying to control but Magomedov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Magomedov has managed to clinch.
Kowalski tries to pull guard but Magomedov won't allow it.

Magomedov manages to break the clinch.
Magomedov tries to clinch but Kowalski is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kowalski clinches.

Magomedov gets control of Kowalski's arms and successfully pulls guard. Magomedov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kowalski wants to stand but Magomedov is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jan Kowalski will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jan Kowalski's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Magomedov doesn't manage to clinch there - Kowalski circles away.
Kowalski swats away the attempt to clinch by Magomedov.
Magomedov fails with an attempt to clinch.

Magomedov clinches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Magomedov.

Kowalski breaks from the clinch.
Magomedov lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kowalski looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Magomedov doesn't manage to clinch there - Kowalski circles away.
Magomedov fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Magomedov moves away.
Magomedov is looking to clinch but Kowalski is avoiding it.
Kowalski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Magomedov tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Kowalski counters with a shoot takedown. Magomedov fights it but they end up in guard.
Magomedov keeping moving, preventing Kowalski from controlling successfully.
Kowalski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kowalski looking to sit in guard and control but Magomedov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kowalski keeping moving, preventing Magomedov from controlling successfully.
Jan Kowalski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kowalski looking for a guillotine here but Magomedov defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski wants to stand but Magomedov is controlling the position.

Magomedov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Magomedov wants to clinch up but Kowalski keeps it at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Magomedov doesn't manage to clinch there - Kowalski circles away.
Magomedov doesn't manage to clinch there - Kowalski circles away.
Magomedov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kowalski swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Magomedov tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kowalski counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kowalski prevents Magomedov from getting back to his feet.
Kowalski looking to sit in guard and control but Magomedov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kowalski had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Magomedov defends it easily.
Magomedov won't allow Kowalski to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Magomedov gets to his feet. Kowalski looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Magomedov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Magomedov tries to clinch

and Kowalski counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Magomedov is looking to escape.
Magomedov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kowalski is working away from the top position though.
Magomedov is trying to stand back up but Kowalski is controlling him
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kowalski throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Magomedov to regain full guard.
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 Jan Kowalski will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jan Kowalski's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Magomedov instigates a clinch.
Magomedov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kowalski tries for a takedown but Magomedov manages to get underhooks.
Kowalski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Magomedov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Magomedov lands a knee to the body.

Magomedov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Magomedov gets caught napping as Kowalski dives in and scores a takedown. Magomedov manages to retain guard.
Kowalski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Magomedov is keeping the position for now.
Kowalski throws an elbow that misses. Magomedov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kowalski's guard. Nice move by Magomedov!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kowalski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Magomedov stops Kowalski from standing up.

Magomedov stands and steps away. Kowalski gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Magomedov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kowalski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Magomedov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kowalski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Magomedov clinches with his opponent.
Magomedov working Kowalski over with knees to the body.
Magomedov lands a nice knee to the body.
Magomedov lands an elbow inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov lands a damaging elbow.
Magomedov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Magomedov obliges.
Magomedov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Magomedov scores a nice knee to the body.
Kowalski takes an elbow to the temple.
Magomedov landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Magomedov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Magomedov obliges.
Magomedov working Kowalski over with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Magomedov lands a knee to the body.
Magomedov scores with a hook to the body.

Magomedov pulls guard effortlessly.
Magomedov has his hands on Kowalski's head, controlling the position.
Kowalski stops Magomedov from standing up.

Magomedov uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov wants to clinch.
Magomedov is looking to clinch but Kowalski is avoiding it.
Magomedov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kowalski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Magomedov is looking to clinch but Kowalski is avoiding it.
Magomedov is looking to clinch.
Magomedov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kowalski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Magomedov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Magomedov moves in looking to clinch but Kowalski pushes him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashid Magomedov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kowalski has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!