PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Travis Thompistone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirk Karwoski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Travis Thompistone has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Thompistone
vs
Karwoski

210 cm
27
275 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

210 cm
20
287 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS « SFL ↑ 5x160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Travis Thompistone!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kirk Karwoski!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompistone misses with a body shot.
Karwoski avoids a punch combination nicely.
Karwoski avoids a punch combination nicely.
Karwoski is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

It looks like Travis Thompistone has been cut.
Karwoski misses with a few strikes there.
Thompistone rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Karwoski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thompistone looks to land a combination but Karwoski avoids it well.
Thompistone shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Karwoski loads up on a big right hand but Thompistone slips the punch.

Thompistone rushes Karwoski and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Karwoski stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karwoski is looking for a takedown.
Karwoski keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thompistone's efforts to push away.

Karwoski lands a takedown into guard.
Karwoski looking to pass the guard.
Thompistone keeping moving, preventing Karwoski from controlling successfully.
Thompistone is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karwoski pushing down on Thompistone's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Karwoski is looking to take a break and control but Thompistone is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Karwoski is looking for a kimura here.

Karwoski is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thompistone defends it well.
Karwoski trying to control the pace.
Thompistone is refusing to be controlled, as Karwoski sits in half guard.
Karwoski stops Thompistone from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karwoski moves into full mount! Thompistone won't be happy about that!
Karwoski sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Thompistone sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Thompistone wants to control but Karwoski is keeping busy.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thompistone avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Karwoski.

Karwoski is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thompistone defends it well.
Thompistone is not content to let Karwoski control the position.
Karwoski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Karwoski is looking for a kimura here.
Karwoski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karwoski is working for a kimura but Thompistone is defending it quite comfortably.
Thompistone tries to roll over but Karwoski keeps him under control.
Thompistone wants to get back to his feet.
Karwoski uses his free foot to push down on Thompistone's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Thompistone.

Karwoski working for a submission but Thompistone is keeping him at bay.
Karwoski controlling from the full mount.
Thompistone really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karwoski misses with a head shot.
Thompistone is desperately trying to improve his position but Karwoski has a good base and remains in mount.
Karwoski trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Karwoski landing shots from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karwoski lands a big elbow.
Karwoski putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Karwoski lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Thompistone is desperately trying to improve his position but Karwoski has a good base and remains in mount.
Karwoski lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Karwoski dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Travis Thompistone'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.

Karwoski lands with a cross.
Karwoski with a hook.
Thompistone looks to land a combination but Karwoski avoids it well.
Thompistone misses with the combination.
Thompistone feints a jab promting Karwoski to slip. Thompistone then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Karwoski slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Kirk Karwoski has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Thompistone drops Karwoski with a beautiful combination! Karwoski stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Thompistone is looking for the KO!
Thompistone tries to bum rush Karwoski with a series of wild strikes but Karwoski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Travis Thompistone is winning the standup battle so far.
Thompistone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karwoski.

Karwoski clinches.
Thompistone tries to break the clinch but Karwoski is controlling the position.

Karwoski wants the takedown. Thompistone is fighting it off but Karwoski persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Thompistone's guard against the cage.

Thompistone is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Karwoski is aware though and is defending well.
Karwoski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karwoski trying to control but Thompistone is working from the bottom.
Thompistone throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karwoski looking to pass the guard.
Karwoski wants to control from the top but Thompistone keeps moving.
Karwoski forces his way into half guard.
Thompistone looks like he's trying to stand up.

Karwoski looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Karwoski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thompistone's head.

Karwoski is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karwoski is thwarting Thompistone's attempts to control the position.

Karwoski seems to be working for a kimura but Thompistone defends the submission attempt.

Karwoski is trying to work for a kimura but Thompistone is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompistone trying to control from the bottom.
Thompistone avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Karwoski.
Karwoski looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thompistone with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Karwoski uses his free foot to push down on Thompistone's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Thompistone.
Karwoski lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompistone is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thompistone slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Thompistone moves into full guard.
Karwoski looking to sit in guard and control but Thompistone gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Karwoski is looking for a triangle but Thompistone pushes his legs off easily.
Karwoski controls Thompistone momentarily but Thompistone frees himself.
Thompistone is looking to stand up but Karwoski won't let him.
Thompistone working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Karwoski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thompistone wanted to stand there but Karwoski had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompistone missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Karwoski is controlling Thompistone's posture.
Karwoski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thompistone's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karwoski passes into half guard.
Karwoski is trying to control. Thompistone wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Karwoski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thompistone's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Karwoski lands a nice short elbow.
Karwoski is trying to control the action in half guard but Thompistone is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kirk Karwoski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thompistone tries to kick Karwoski off but Karwoski keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thompistone manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karwoski lands a couple of elbows.
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 Travis Thompistone will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thompistone throws a right and a left that Karwoski avoids nicely.
Karwoski scores with a sloppy right hand. Thompistone should have avoided that one.
A combination from Thompistone does no damage.
Thompistone misses with a body shot.
Thompistone throws a hook but Karwoski blocks it.
Thompistone throws a one two combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
No joy there for Thompistone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thompistone lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Karwoski comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Travis Thompistone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompistone throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thompistone misses with a double jab.
Karwoski feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thompistones jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Thompistone throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Karwoski counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Karwoski manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Thompistone on his heels. He'll look to pass Thompistone's guard now, I'm sure.

Karwoski is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Karwoski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Karwoski trying to control but Thompistone is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karwoski pushing down on Thompistone's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Karwoski wants to work for an arm triangle but Thompistone is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Karwoski is trying to control. Thompistone wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Karwoski seems to be looking for submissions.

Karwoski is looking for a kimura here.
Karwoski seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thompistone does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Karwoski wants to pass the guard but Thompistone is defending well.
Karwoski passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Thompistone!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karwoski lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Thompistone is in all sorts of trouble here.
Karwoski is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Thompistone can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
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!

Karwoski is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Thompistone to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Thompistone shrugs it off.
Karwoski with good strikes from the mount here!

Travis Thompistone's cut is getting worse.
Thompistone wants to control but Karwoski is having none of it.

Karwoski goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Thompistone is on top in guard.

Karwoski has his foot on Thompistone's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thompistone works his way back into a safe position though.
Thompistone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karwoski lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thompistone!
Thompistone really wants to buck Karwoski off and get back to his feet.
Karwoski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thompistone is looking to escape.
Thompistone is trying to escape the mount.
Karwoski is landing with some decent strikes but Thompistone is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Travis Thompistone's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Travis Thompistone's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Kirk Karwoski!
Kirk Karwoski is the new heavyweight champion!
Kirk Karwoski decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.