PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andrzej Tarnowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jhogo Ko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tarnowski comes to the cage accompanied by Bad to the bone. Ko has chosen Indestructible as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tarnowski
vs
Ko

155 cm
23
151 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

173 cm
23
157 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andrzej Tarnowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jhogo Ko!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarnowski lands with a shot to the body.

Ko gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tarnowski to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Tarnowski has gone for a leg lock! Ko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tarnowski's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ko looking to sit in guard and control but Tarnowski gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ko lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tarnowski!
Tarnowski has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Ko is hanging on to Tarnowski's back as he tries to escape.

Tarnowski fending off the submission attempt from Ko.
Ko trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarnowski rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Ko uses his free foot to push down on Tarnowski's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Tarnowski.

Ko with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Tarnowski is looking to improve his position but Ko isn't that keen on the idea.
Tarnowski is working hard here to advance position.
Ko looking to control but Tarnowski is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ko prevents Tarnowski from getting the reversal.
Ko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tarnowski is looking to escape.
Tarnowski can't escape the position.
Tarnowski is trying to reverse the position but instead Ko has taken his back - oops!
Tarnowski tries to escape but Ko has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Ko looking for the choke but no joy.
Tarnowski turns into Ko and is now in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tarnowski has gone for a leg lock! Ko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tarnowski's guard.
Tarnowski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ko manages to get himself to full guard.
Tarnowski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ko is keeping the position for now.

Tarnowski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ko controlling Tarnowski's posture.
Tarnowski trying to control but Ko is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tarnowski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ko seems keen to control Tarnowski's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tarnowski is looking to advance position but Ko has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Tarnowski slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Tarnowski looking for a kimura from the bottom but Ko passes into side control!
Tarnowski is breathing heavily.

Ko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tarnowski, who protects the arm well.

Ko looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jhogo Ko dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tarnowski tries for a takedown but Ko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Tarnowski decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Tarnowski wants to free his trapped foot but Ko is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ko keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Tarnowski wants to work for an arm triangle but Ko is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Tarnowski 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.
Ko moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarnowski tries to free his leg and advance position but Ko is retaining full guard.
Ko is trying to keep Tarnowski in close.
Ko lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tarnowski!
Tarnowski looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Tarnowski breaks Ko's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Tarnowski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Tarnowski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tarnowski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ko has control of Tarnowski's left arm, preventing Tarnowski from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ko keeping full guard, as Tarnowski tries to pass.
Ko pulls Tarnowski in close to prevent any damage.
Ko trying to control the position.
Ko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ko keeping moving, preventing Tarnowski from controlling successfully.
Tarnowski looking to sit in guard and control but Ko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tarnowski had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ko defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tarnowski's guard.

Ko wants to work for an arm triangle but Tarnowski is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tarnowski is looking to improve his position.

Tarnowski is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ko pulls his head out easily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ko trying to control from half guard but Tarnowski is working away.

Tarnowski is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ko pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ko wants to take a breather but Tarnowski is having none of it.

Tarnowski actively working from the bottom here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ko fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tarnowski sprawls well initially but Ko persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ko passes to full mount!

Ko looking to secure an arm triangle but Tarnowski defends it well.
Tarnowski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ko sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tarnowski is desperately trying to improve his position but Ko has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jhogo Ko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tarnowski fails with an attempt to clinch.

Tarnowski gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tarnowski is trying to drag Ko to the mat but Ko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ko stalling in the clinch but Tarnowski improves position.

Tarnowski has picked Ko up - he's going for a ride! Tarnowski dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Tarnowski trying to pass the guard but Ko defending well.
Ko is trying to maintain the position but Tarnowski is very close to passing his half guard.
Ko has his hands clasped together around Tarnowski's back. He's all about the action.
Tarnowski is looking to pass Ko's guard but actually Ko recovers to full guard.

Ko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tarnowski 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.
Ko pulls Tarnowski in to control the position.
Tarnowski wants to pass the guard but Ko is keeping the position.
Jhogo Ko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tarnowski wants to control from the top but Ko keeps moving.
Ko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Tarnowski tries to roll over but Ko keeps him under control.

That's two 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.
Tarnowski regains full guard. Nicely done.

Tarnowski is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tarnowski keeping moving, preventing Ko from controlling successfully.

Tarnowski escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Tarnowski looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ko passes into side control.
Tarnowski is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Ko trying to control the action but Tarnowski is working from the bottom.
Andrzej Tarnowski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ko in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Ko swings around for an armbar but Tarnowski sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ko's guard.
Jhogo Ko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Ko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tarnowski.
Tarnowski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Tarnowski drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ko!
A lull in the action here as Ko stalls from top position.
Tarnowski is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tarnowski looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ko content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Andrzej Tarnowski.
I think Ko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jhogo Ko!