PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Tate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greg Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tate
vs
Kowalski

192 cm
22
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

BioPharm Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ethan Tate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Greg Kowalski!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Roberts and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kowalski scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Tate on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kowalski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tate is looking to improve his position.
Kowalski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kowalski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kowalski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tate defending well though.
Tate has hold of Kowalski's hands but Kowalski slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tate blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kowalski.
Kowalski is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Kowalski prevents Tate from improving his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kowalski changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tate tries to avoid it but Kowalski manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tate to the ground. Tate escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kowalski tries to clinch but Tate moves out of range.
Kowalski looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tate is fending him off so far but Kowalski persists. Nope, Tate circles away and we're back to standing.
Kowalski connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Tate gets the takedown into side control.
Kowalski looks gassed!
Tate landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Tate working the head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate scores with punches from side control.

Kowalski is rocked!
Tate working the ground and pound from side control.
Kowalski is still in real trouble! Can Tate finish him?
Tate will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tate grinds an elbow into Kowalski's temple.
Kowalski taking a bit of punishment here - Tate scoring with strikes.
Tate wants to take a breather but Kowalski manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Tate.
Kowalski manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Tate tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kowalski seems to have recovered his senses.
Tate sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kowalski missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kowalski prevents Tate from improving his position.
Tate slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tate looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kowalski is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tate is on top in guard.
Kowalski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tate is one step ahead there.
Kowalski should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Tate stands and throws Kowalski's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tate lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tate landing a few strikes.
Tate cracks Kowalski with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate just content to control the position.
Kowalski pushes Tate away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Tate gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Tate scoring with punches from side control.
Kowalski gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kowalski tries to roll over but Tate keeps him under control.
Kowalski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kowalski is trying to stand back up but Tate is controlling him
Kowalski wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tate wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kowalski keeps working.
Tate wants to pass the guard but Kowalski is defending well.

That's four 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.
Kowalski slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kowalski throws a couple of heel strikes.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kowalski showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tate.
Kowalski doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Tate counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ethan Tate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greg Kowalski.
Kowalski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tate's guard.

Kowalski drops back looking for a leg! Tate is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tate manages to kick Kowalski off! Kowalski jumps back into Tate's guard.
Tate working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kowalski.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kowalski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kowalski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tate manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kowalski manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Tate dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice cross by Tate.

Tate closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tate scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kowalski to see if he's OK.
Kowalski on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Tate lands a few punches from side control.
Kowalski is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tate lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kowalski on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kowalski takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Tate lands an elbow.
Tate connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kowalski some visible discomfort.
Kowalski is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate landing a few strikes.
Kowalski takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Tate cracks Kowalski with a big elbow.
Kowalski is looking for a sweep.
Tate in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Tate scores with punches from side control.
Kowalski tries to improve position but can't.
Tate lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kowalski is looking to reverse the position.
Tate working the ground and pound.
Kowalski is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Kowalski is trying to get back to full guard.
Kowalski missing with punches from the bottom.
Kowalski is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tate's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tate's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Tate right now.
Kowalski misses with a punch to the head.
Tate takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Kowalski connects with a big shot to the side of Tate's head.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Kowalski.

Tate is rocked!
Kowalski not allowing Tate to control his hands.

Kowalski is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Tate defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Kowalski connects with a big shot to the side of Tate's head.
Kowalski is not going to allow Tate to sit and survive in this position.
Kowalski has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Tate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski is landing with strikes from the back.

Kowalski is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Tate knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Tate for a finish.
Kowalski gets his hands free as Tate looks to control.
Kowalski doesn't have the hooks in and Tate manages to turn into his guard.
Tate is working Kowalski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kowalski lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tate!
Kowalski postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Tate looks a forlorn figure.
Tate is in a horrible position here. Kowalski smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kowalski landing punches.
Oh Tate is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tate defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kowalski.
Tate seems to have got his legs back now.
Tate is trying desperately to improve position.
Kowalski connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Tate regains half guard.
Kowalski lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tate striking from the bottom.
Ethan Tate overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tate looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kowalski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tate strikes from the bottom but Kowalski uses the opportunity to move to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Greg Kowalski will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tate looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kowalski is fending him off so far but Tate persists. Nope, Kowalski circles away and we're back to standing.
Kowalski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tate counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kowalski's guard now.

Kowalski is looking for a triangle but Tate pushes his legs off easily.
Tate lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tate prevents Kowalski from getting back to his feet.
Tate pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kowalski is keeping the position for now.
Tate preventing the sweep.
Kowalski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tate's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kowalski wants to stand but Tate has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kowalski scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kowalski throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate wants to sweep but no luck.
Kowalski wanted to stand there but Tate had control of the position.
Kowalski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kowalski working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tate is on top in guard.
Kowalski wants to sweep here but Tate controlling him for the moment.
Tate lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kowalski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kowalski is looking to stand back up but Tate counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Kowalski.

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.
Kowalski tries to bench press Tate off him but Tate keeps the position.
Kowalski is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kowalski manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Kowalski is working for a submission of some sort.
Tate tries to roll over but Kowalski keeps him under control.
Tate gets back to full guard.
Kowalski looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kowalski's guard.
Tate lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tate scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Kowalski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tate looking to pass the guard.
Kowalski looking for a sweep. Not yet Kowalski, not yet.
Tate has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kowalski thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Tate stopping the sweep attempt from Kowalski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Tate content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kowalski swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice defenses there by Kowalski.
Greg Kowalski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tate will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A jab from Kowalski does it's job there.
Nice body kick from Kowalski.

Tate fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kowalski sprawls well initially but Tate persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tate takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tate wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kowalski keeps working.
Kowalski throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Kowalski has hold of Tate's hands but Tate slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kowalski gets back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ethan Tate showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tate 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ethan Tate!