PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gronk Kowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kowski comes to the cage accompanied by Skillet - Monster. 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?

Kowski
vs
King

201 cm
26
287 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

200 cm
32
281 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gronk Kowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Don King!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Joseph Jones and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kowski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kowski wants to control from the top but King keeps moving.
Kowski controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kowski distracts King with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kowski wants to control from the top but King keeps moving.
King preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kowski throws a big elbow that misses.

Kowski drops back looking for a leg! King is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and King manages to kick Kowski off! Kowski jumps back into King's guard.
Kowski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kowski won't allow King to sweep him here.

King has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kowski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kowski distracts King with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King is trying to keep Kowski in close.
Kowski tries to free his leg and advance position but King is retaining full guard.
King looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kowski trying to control but King is working from the bottom.

Kowski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kowski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
King 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.
Kowski works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kowski lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kowski landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kowski takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kowski is looking to stall here but King recovers full guard.

Kowski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
King looking to control.
Kowski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as King works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
King keeping moving, preventing Kowski from controlling successfully.
Kowski is really struggling to control King but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Kowski trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kowski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as King works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kowski stands up over King, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
King is trying to control the position but Kowski postures up.
King wants to sweep but no luck.
Kowski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowski lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kowski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kowski tries to free his leg and advance position but King is retaining full guard.
Kowski lands a couple of digs.
Kowski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
King avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
King keeping full guard, as Kowski tries to pass.
Kowski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kowski is in close to King's body, working some short punches and elbows.
King tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kowski is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kowski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've been hearing good reports from Kowski's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
King avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

King is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kowski makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King can't keep his opponent in guard - Kowski advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Kowski is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so King is just riding it out for now. Kowski eventually gives up the hold.
Kowski keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
King is pressing down on Kowski's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kowski stopping the sweep attempt from King.
Kowski stands and throws King's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kowski 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.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Kowski looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kowski laying and praying for a moment but King takes advantage and regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gronk Kowski dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kowski moves into the clinch.

Kowski manages to pull guard.
King won't allow Kowski to sweep him here.
King wants to control from the top but Kowski keeps moving.
Kowski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kowski keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.

Don King has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kowski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kowski tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowski tries to close the distance and clinch up but King swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kowski looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

King is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kowski is aware though and is defending well.
King not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kowski cracks King with a solid left hand.
King manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kowski manages to get himself to full guard.
Kowski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in King's guard.
Kowski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kowski trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
King is trying to keep Kowski in close.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kowski looking to pass the guard.
Kowski sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed King's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kowski is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and King defends it well.
Kowski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed King's head.
Kowski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kowski is thwarting King's attempts to control the position.

Kowski is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kowski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Kowski is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kowski is trying to control. King wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King is trying to get back to full guard.
Kowski is trying to control the action in half guard but King is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Kowski is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Kowski is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, King has managed to free his arm - good work.
King taking some punishment here, with Kowski in his half guard.
King avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kowski.
Kowski trying to control the action but King is working from the bottom.
King tries to get to full guard but Kowski has control of the leg.

Kowski is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowski takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
King is controlling Kowski's position as best he can from this difficult position.
King trying to control but Kowski postures up.
King wants to improve his position but Kowski is controlling well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kowski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Kowski is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
King looks like he's trying to stand up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kowski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gronk Kowski dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kowski tries to clinch but King is having none of it.
A punch combination from Kowski misses.
Kowski misses with a kick to the body.
Kowski tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but King defends well and Kowski ends up having to push King into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
King can't break the clinch.
Kowski tries to pull guard but King holds him up against the cage and eventually Kowski drops back down to his feet.
Good body shot from King.
A quick uppercut on the inside from King.
King lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kowski or not.
King lands with a light punch inside.
Kowski jumps guard but King turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gronk Kowski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kowski tries to pull guard but King won't allow it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
King lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kowski backwards.

Kowski pulls guard effortlessly.
King is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
King trying to control but Kowski is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King advances position into side control!
Kowski tries to bench press King off him but King keeps the position.
King trying to control the position but Kowski is working away.
Kowski is looking for a sweep.

King stands up.
Kowski tries to close the distance and clinch but King swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Don King is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowski shoots in for a double leg but King sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice sprawl there from King as Kowski shoots in.
King circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kowski will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
King fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kowski shoots for a takedown but King saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kowski shoots in looking for a takedown but King manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kowski's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kowski doesn't manage to clinch there - King circles away.
King swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kowski.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right-left combo lands from King.
King has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
King thuds a left hand into Kowski's body.

Kowski looking to score a takedown here. King is defending well but Kowski drives through and ends up in King's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King looking to control.
King has Kowski pulled in close to control his posture.
Kowski tries to free his leg and advance position but King is retaining full guard.
King working a defensive guard here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Kowski got a little sloppy there for a moment and King has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kowski has managed to get both his arms back between King's legs - danger averted.
Kowski postures up and lands a big shot to King's brow.
Kowski prevents King from getting back to his feet.
Kowski is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
King looking for a sweep. Not yet King, not yet.
Kowski is in close to King's body, working some short punches and elbows.
King has his hands on Kowski's head, controlling the position.
Kowski looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowski sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed King's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kowski wants to control but King is keeping him busy.
Gronk Kowski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
King tries to roll over but Kowski keeps him under control.
King on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
King is not content to let Kowski control the position.
King tries to get to full guard but Kowski has control of the leg.
King is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kowski scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
King is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kowski's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kowski's back!
King is hanging on to Kowski's back as he tries to escape.
Don King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Don King comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kowski 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gronk Kowski!
An out of breath Gronk Kowski thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.