PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Kovacs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Rogowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Kovacs
vs
Rogowski

166 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
163 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Kovacs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Rogowski!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Russell Pearce and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovacs tries to close the distance and clinch but Rogowski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rogowski lands a jab-cross combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rogowski keeps the fight on the outside.
Rogowski stalks Kovacs and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kovacs's face. Kovacs staggers backwards, shaken.
Rogowski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rogowski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kovacs misses with a wild combination.
Kovacs tries to clinch there but Rogowski circles away.
Kovacs takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kovacs throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rogowski cracks Kovacs with an open hand slap.

Rogowski feints and as Kovacs raises his hands in defense, Rogowski changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rogowski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kovacs. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Kovacs escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rogowski gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rogowski postures up in Kovacs's guard and throws a big left but Kovacs blocks it.
Rogowski working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kovacs's head.
Kovacs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kovacs working a defensive guard here.
Rogowski is looking to stand up but Kovacs won't let him.
Rogowski is working Kovacs over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kovacs working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogowski chips away with some ground and pound.
Kovacs trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Kovacs might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kovacs is trying to keep Rogowski in close.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kovacs is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jab by Rogowski.

Rogowski clinches with his opponent.
Rogowski changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kovacs fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rogowski throws a one two combo.
Rogowski lands a jab-cross combination.
Kovacs moves in looking to clinch but Rogowski pushes him off.
Rogowski scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rogowski keeps the fight on the outside.
Kovacs is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kovacs takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Rogowski feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rogowski postures up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kovacs has his foot on Rogowski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rogowski works his way back into a safe position though.
Kovacs working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rogowski.
Rogowski lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rogowski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rogowski won't allow Kovacs to sweep him here.
Rogowski scoring with some ground and pound.
Kovacs is trying to keep Rogowski in close.

Kovacs is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Rogowski looking to pass the guard.

Kovacs looking for a guillotine here but Rogowski defends easily.
Kovacs is breathing heavily.
Rogowski landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs trying to control the position.
Kovacs bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rogowski's guard.
Kovacs is pushing down on Rogowski's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rogowski is fighting to maintain full guard but Kovacs has managed to sneak the leg through.

Kovacs seems to be looking for submissions.
Rogowski tries to roll over but Kovacs keeps him under control.
Rogowski strikes from the bottom but Kovacs passes into mount!
Kovacs is landing with some decent strikes but Rogowski is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rogowski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kovacs mounts Rogowski! Really nice guard pass there!

Kovacs has control of Rogowski's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rogowski regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rogowski is looking to improve his position but Kovacs isn't that keen on the idea.
Kovacs lands a big elbow.

Kovacs has control of Rogowski's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rogowski regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kovacs wants to take his opponent's back but Rogowski doesn't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rogowski is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Kovacs has taken his back.

Kovacs is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Rogowski with him. Rogowski is trying to defend but Kovacs has an arm under the chin now! Rogowski grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Michael Kovacs!