PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between kyle johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). johnson comes into the arena with Eminem - Lose Yourself blaring out of the sound system. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

johnson
vs
Kowalski

180 cm
23
161 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
160 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, kyle johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joseph Kowalski!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Kowalski misses.
johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kowalski tries to avoid it but johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kowalski to the ground. Kowalski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
kyle johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kowalski moves away.
johnson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kowalski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Kowalski counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for kyle johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
johnson misses with a double jab

and Kowalski holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
johnson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kowalski gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Kowalski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kowalski has closed the distance and engaged johnson in a clinch.

Kowalski is fighting off a takedown attempt but johnson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Kowalski to the mat. Kowalski regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Kowalski looking to hit a scissor sweep but johnson is one step ahead there.

Kowalski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Kowalski has wrist control.
johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kowalski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Kowalski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
johnson content to stall in guard here.

Kowalski is looking for a triangle here but johnson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

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.
johnson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
johnson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kowalski is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but johnson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kowalski looks gassed!
johnson landing strikes.
johnson lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kowalski can't do much from the bottom here.
Kowalski takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Kowalski is looking to reverse the position.
johnson trying to control the position but Kowalski is working away.
johnson controlling from side mount.
Kowalski is looking to regain half guard here but johnson keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
johnson wants to control but Kowalski is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
johnson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
johnson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
johnson is looking to take a break and control but Kowalski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
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 kyle johnson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

johnson scores with a takedown into Kowalski's guard.
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 working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from johnson.
johnson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kowalski is breathing heavily.

Kowalski is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kowalski looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but johnson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson is nestled in close to Kowalski, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
johnson lands with a punch from half guard.
johnson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Kowalski is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kowalski wants to get back to full guard.
Kowalski is trying to stand up here but johnson is controlling him well.
johnson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
johnson is keen to just control but Kowalski is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by johnson.
johnson trying to control the position but Kowalski is working away.
Kowalski is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but johnson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Kowalski taking punishment in the form of punches.

johnson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
kyle johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck for johnson with that takedown attempt.
johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Kowalski's shoulder, as Kowalski tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kowalski's waist but Kowalski gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing johnson off to one side.
Kowalski wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
johnson with a poor takedown
and Kowalski counters with a series of strikes. johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for kyle johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
johnson misses with a takedown
and Kowalski counters with a one-two to the body.
johnson wants to clinch.
johnson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kowalski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
johnson misses with a double jab
and Kowalski counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
johnson darts in trying to clinch
and Kowalski counters with a left and a right that stings johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
johnson looks to clinch
and Kowalski makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. johnson really felt that one!

johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kowalski is looking to improve his position.
Kowalski is looking to get back to is feet but johnson passes into side control.
The referee asks johnson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. johnson prefers to stall for the moment though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

kyle johnson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kowalski counters with a nice low kick that buckles johnson's knee momentarily.
Kowalski scores with the left hand. johnson knows he should have avoided that one.
johnson looks for a takedown but Kowalski sprawls well.
johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Kowalski counters with a solid body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for kyle johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kowalski scores with a takedown into johnson's guard.
Kowalski trying to stand up but can't free himself from johnson's guard.
johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kowalski trying to control the position from guard on top but johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski wanted to stand there but johnson had control of the position.
johnson lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Kowalski wants to stand and escape but instead johnson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
kyle johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kowalski trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kowalski throws a series of punches but johnson avoids them all with ease.
johnson misses with a body punch
and Kowalski counters with a left and a right that stings johnson.
johnson misses with a takedown attempt

and Kowalski counters with a shoot takedown. johnson fights it but they end up in guard.
Kowalski postures up.

Kowalski decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on johnson, up you get!
Kowalski connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
johnson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kowalski counters with a three punch combo that has johnson backing up. johnson nods at Kowalski to acknowledge the strikes.
Kowalski closes this distance looking for a takedown but johnson circles away.
johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kowalski counters with a two punch combo.
johnson misses with a takedown
and Kowalski counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps johnson thinking.
Kowalski ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kowalski has a takedown stuffed.
johnson fails to land the takedown.
johnson tries for a takedown but Kowalski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
johnson fails with the takedown
and Kowalski counters with a three punch combo that has johnson backing up. johnson nods at Kowalski to acknowledge the strikes.
johnson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kowalski counters with a left and a right that stings johnson.
kyle johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kowalski throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kowalski's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Kowalski duly obliges.
johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kowalski circles away.
johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kowalski moves into the clinch.

Kowalski breaks from the clinch.
Joseph Kowalski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kowalski!
johnson blocks Kowalski's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Kowalski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think johnson 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joseph Kowalski!