PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Barkley (ranked 70 p4p, 85 weight class) and Michał Kowalkiewicz (ranked 11 p4p, 13 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Barkley
vs
Kowalkiewicz

185 cm
33
186
25 - 13 - 0

195 cm
37
188
35 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Conquer

UNSTOPPABLE NUTRITION
30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Barkley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michał Kowalkiewicz!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowalkiewicz misses with a looping left.
A cross from Barkley lands.
Barkley has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Primal Concrete Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Barkley throws an overhand right that lands on Kowalkiewicz's shoulder, as Kowalkiewicz tries to avoid the shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kowalkiewicz! But no joy.
Barkley missing with a left hand there. Kowalkiewicz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kowalkiewicz connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barkley. Barkley circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Barkley throws a hook but Kowalkiewicz blocks it.
Kowalkiewicz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Barkley waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kowalkiewicz.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barkley.
Jab, jab by Barkley - just one landing.
Barkley fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kowalkiewicz has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Barkley is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The crowd cheers as Barkley lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kowalkiewicz doesn't seem phased though.
Barkley connects with a right hand. Kowalkiewicz shakes it off.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barkley looks to score with a jab to the body but Kowalkiewicz is just out of range.
Barkley thuds a left hand into Kowalkiewicz's body.
Barkley works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalkiewicz with a jab.
Kowalkiewicz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barkley cracks Kowalkiewicz with a good jab.
Barkley misses with a low kick.
Kowalkiewicz is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Kowalkiewicz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barkley misses with a left hand
and Kowalkiewicz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kowalkiewicz slips a jab from Barkley.
Kowalkiewicz wants to clinch.
Barkley misses with a body kick.
Barkley stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nice uppercut lands for Barkley. That snapped Kowalkiewicz's head back.
Kowalkiewicz blocks a jab.
Barkley throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalkiewicz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barkley ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barkley lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Barkley is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barkley. That's going to slow Kowalkiewicz down.
Kowalkiewicz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nick Barkley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barkley cracks a nice hook into Kowalkiewicz's ribs.

Kowalkiewicz drops Barkley with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Barkley looks back up at him and smiles so Kowalkiewicz waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Barkley throws the left hand but Kowalkiewicz avoids the punch easily.
Kowalkiewicz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barkley with the inside leg kick.
Kowalkiewicz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barkley.
Barkley scores with a kick to the body.

Barkley closes the distance and clinches.
Barkley is working Kowalkiewicz over against the cage.
Barkley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kowalkiewicz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kowalkiewicz tries to throw a body punch but Barkley avoids it by throwing Kowalkiewicz back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalkiewicz struggles to land a body shot inside as Barkley controls his hands.
Barkley doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Barkley on the inside.
Kowalkiewicz takes a shot to the head.
Kowalkiewicz misses with a punch to the body.
Barkley working aggressively here.
Kowalkiewicz misses with some punches.
Kowalkiewicz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kowalkiewicz prevents a body shot from Barkley.
Barkley lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kowalkiewicz backwards.
Kowalkiewicz working aggressively here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kowalkiewicz.
Kowalkiewicz tries to work over Barkley's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kowalkiewicz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kowalkiewicz lands with a short shot to the head.
Barkley with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kowalkiewicz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kowalkiewicz can't find room to land a body shot as Barkley controls the action.
Kowalkiewicz working aggressively here.
Kowalkiewicz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kowalkiewicz has had enough of the clinch but Barkley keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalkiewicz tries to throw a body punch but Barkley avoids it by throwing Kowalkiewicz back against the cage.
Barkley lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kowalkiewicz backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kowalkiewicz swings wildly with an uppercut but Barkley uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Barkley.
Kowalkiewicz swings wildly with an uppercut but Barkley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barkley lands with a light punch inside.
Good body shot from Barkley.
A short uppercut from Barkley.
Barkley lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kowalkiewicz backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Barkley creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Barkley cracks Kowalkiewicz with a nice body shot.
Barkley working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right from Kowalkiewicz.
Kowalkiewicz lands a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kowalkiewicz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barkley tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kowalkiewicz's elbow.
Kowalkiewicz working aggressively here.
Kowalkiewicz lands a body punch in the clinch.
Barkley misses with a punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Barkley dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Barkley is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kowalkiewicz.
Barkley takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A clash of legs there as Kowalkiewicz blocks the low kick.
An inside leg kick from Barkley misses.
Barkley connects with a solid leg kick.
Barkley ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kowalkiewicz moves away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Barkley darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nick Barkley is winning the standup battle so far.
Kowalkiewicz tries to clinch but Barkley moves away
and Barkley cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barkley swings widly with a right hand
enabling Kowalkiewicz to counter with a crisp jab.
Barkley tries to score with a low kick but Kowalkiewicz moves his leg out of the way.
Kowalkiewicz has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kowalkiewicz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barkley.
A nice leg kick from Barkley, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kowalkiewicz might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Barkley connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kowalkiewicz moves forwards but Barkley connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kowalkiewicz fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley misses with the body kick

and Kowalkiewicz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kowalkiewicz tries to stall but Barkley uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Kowalkiewicz in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
A left hand lands to the body for Barkley.
Barkley throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kowalkiewiczs head.
Kowalkiewicz blocks an uppercut.
Barkley pushes Kowalkiewicz back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kowalkiewicz is breathing heavily.
Kowalkiewicz struggles to land a body shot inside as Barkley controls his hands.
Barkley doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barkley stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kowalkiewicz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barkley is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Barkley lands a nice uppercut.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Barkley lands with a left to the head.
A short right from Barkley.
Barkley struggles to land a body shot inside as Kowalkiewicz controls his hands.
Barkley lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barkley.
A right hook to the body lands for Barkley.
Kowalkiewicz's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kowalkiewicz tries to work over Barkley's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kowalkiewicz blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalkiewicz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Barkley swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Barkley on the inside.
Kowalkiewicz has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Barkley seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Kowalkiewicz can turn it around.
A short left from Barkley.
Barkley blocks an uppercut.
Kowalkiewicz's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Barkley.
Kowalkiewicz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barkley is leaning against Kowalkiewicz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Barkley with a knee to the head.
Barkley lands a knee to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Barkley.
Kowalkiewicz tries a body shot but Barkley blocks it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Barkley.
Barkley lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kowalkiewicz backwards.
Barkley lands a right hand.
Kowalkiewicz blocks a body shot from Barkley.
Kowalkiewicz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kowalkiewicz misses with the head strike.
Nice body punch from Barkley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Barkley scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kowalkiewicz tries to work over Barkley's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kowalkiewicz misses with a punch to the body.
Barkley lands a body shot.
Knees in the clinch landing for Barkley.
A nice left hand lands by Barkley.
Barkley working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Barkley works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Barkley lands with a right to the head.
Barkley working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Barkley presses Kowalkiewicz against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A body shot lands from Barkley.
Barkley throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kowalkiewiczs head.
Barkley gets through Kowalkiewicz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Kowalkiewicz is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barkley swings wildly with an uppercut but Kowalkiewicz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kowalkiewicz is still on wobbly legs! Can Barkley finish him?
A short uppercut from Barkley.
Barkley scores with a shot to the side of Kowalkiewicz's head.
Barkley doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barkley working Kowalkiewicz over with knees to the body.
Barkley stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkley working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Barkley creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Kowalkiewicz's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Kowalkiewicz drops to his knees and Barkley pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:12 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nick Barkley!
Nick Barkley thanked the fans post fight for their support.