PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Piotr Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Naidoo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kowalski
vs
Naidoo

190 cm
22
187 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

189 cm
23
192 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
Powerful

Convicted

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Piotr Kowalski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xavier Naidoo!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Naidoo moves into the clinch successfully.
A bit of stalling here from Naidoo.
Kowalski has Naidoo pressed against the cage.
Kowalski managing to block the knees to the body from Naidoo.
Kowalski wants to stall.
Kowalski leaning against his opponent.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Naidoo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kowalski's brow.
Naidoo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Naidoo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Naidoo effectively controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kowalski is pushing Naidoo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Piotr Kowalski.

Kowalski closes the distance and clinches.
Naidoo struggles to land a body shot inside as Kowalski controls his hands.
Naidoo goes for a takedown attempt but Kowalski pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kowalski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Naidoo looks to clinch

and Kowalski counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kowalski.
Kowalski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Naidoo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naidoo wants to sweep but no luck.
Kowalski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Naidoo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Naidoo has his hands on Kowalski's head, controlling the position.
Naidoo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Kowalski slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kowalski preventing the sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Naidoo as Kowalski shoots in.
Naidoo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kowalski counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Piotr Kowalski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Naidoo.
Kowalski manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Naidoo taking a breather.
Naidoo misses with a punch to the body.
Naidoo trying to control the position but instead, Kowalski has worked for underhooks and has pushed Naidoo into the cage.
Kowalski is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Naidoo has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kowalski regains guard immediately.
Naidoo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Naidoo tries to free his leg and advance position but Kowalski is retaining full guard.
Naidoo preventing the sweep.
Naidoo is in close to Kowalski's body, working some short punches and elbows.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kowalski is on top in guard.
Kowalski passes Naidoo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Naidoo striking from the bottom.
Kowalski wants to pass to mount but Naidoo is defending the position.
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.
Naidoo is looking to control Kowalski's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Naidoo avoid being mounted?
Naidoo manages to get to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Naidoo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Naidoo is striking from the bottom but Kowalski uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Naidoo wants to get back to full guard.
Kowalski trying to control from half guard but Naidoo is working away.
Naidoo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kowalski preventing the sweep.

Naidoo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kowalski doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kowalski manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Naidoo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kowalski is one step ahead there.
Naidoo keeping moving, preventing Kowalski from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Kowalski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kowalski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kowalski throws a big right hand that misses.
Naidoo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kowalski is one step ahead there.

Naidoo had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Kowalski is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Naidoo Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Kowalski's back instead.
Naidoo lands shots from the back.
Kowalski holding on to Naidoo's left wrist, preventing the choke.
You can see the frustration on Kowalski's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Naidoo has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Kowalski.
Kowalski turns into Naidoo and is now in his 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 Piotr Kowalski will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kowalski moves into range and clinches up with Naidoo.
Kowalski stalling.
Naidoo scores with a shot to the side of Kowalski's head.
Naidoo stalls.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Naidoo is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Kowalski has denied him.
Come on Kowalski - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Naidoo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Kowalski trying to keep a closed guard but Naidoo is proving a slippery customer.
Kowalski manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Kowalski looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Naidoo is squirming around, avoiding Kowalski's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kowalski has control of Naidoo's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Naidoo regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Naidoo manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kowalski prevents Naidoo from improving his position.

Kowalski is trying to work for a kimura but Naidoo is defending well.
Naidoo misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kowalski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Naidoo keeps working.
Naidoo striking from the bottom.
Naidoo works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naidoo wants to sweep here but Kowalski controlling him for the moment.
Naidoo controls Kowalski momentarily but Kowalski frees himself.
Naidoo trying to strike off his back.
Naidoo strikes from his own guard.
Naidoo throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Kowalski wants to pass the guard but Naidoo is keeping the position.

Naidoo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kowalski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Naidoo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Naidoo is breathing heavily.
Kowalski works his way to full guard. Good work.
Naidoo trying to control but Kowalski is working from the bottom.

Kowalski working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Naidoo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Naidoo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kowalski is looking for a triangle but Naidoo pushes his legs off easily.
Kowalski wants to sweep but no luck.
Naidoo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Naidoo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Naidoo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kowalski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Naidoo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Kowalski is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Naidoo tries to free his leg and advance position but Kowalski is retaining full guard.

Kowalski is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Naidoo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naidoo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kowalski's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Naidoo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Naidoo slips nicely into half guard.
Kowalski is not content to let Naidoo control the position.
Naidoo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kowalski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Naidoo connects with a nice short shot to Kowalski's temple.
Kowalski moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kowalski is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kowalski keeping moving, preventing Naidoo from controlling successfully.
Naidoo postures up.
Kowalski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Naidoo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kowalski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kowalski swats away the attempt to clinch by Naidoo.
Kowalski tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Naidoo moves into the clinch.

Naidoo gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Naidoo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Naidoo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Naidoo winds up and cracks Kowalski with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kowalski is looking to improve his position.
Kowalski trying to control here.
Kowalski on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kowalski is looking to control Naidoo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kowalski avoid being mounted?
Naidoo is tying to control. Kowalski wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kowalski taking some punishment here, with Naidoo in his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Naidoo lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naidoo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kowalski tries to get to full guard but Naidoo has control of the leg.
Naidoo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Xavier Naidoo has got the better of the ground game so far.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kowalski manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kowalski keeping moving, preventing Naidoo from controlling successfully.
Naidoo throws a big right hand that misses.
Naidoo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kowalski keeping moving, preventing Naidoo from controlling successfully.
Kowalski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kowalski lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Naidoo!
Naidoo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.
Kowalski unloading with bombs!
Naidoo is looking to improve his position but Kowalski isn't that keen on the idea.
Kowalski throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Kowalski thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Kowalski wants to control the pace but Naidoo is squirming around nicely.
Naidoo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kowalski throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Naidoo tries to reverse the position but Kowalski maintains control.
Kowalski wants to control the pace but Naidoo is squirming around nicely.
Naidoo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Naidoo working to try and regain half guard.
Naidoo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Kowalski swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Piotr Kowalski!