PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tomasz Kownacki (ranked 2526 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tsyuoshi Taranaki (ranked 2500 p4p, 0 weight class). Tomasz Kownacki could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tsyuoshi Taranaki's chin.

Kownacki
vs
Taranaki

175 cm
25
155 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tomasz Kownacki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tsyuoshi Taranaki!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Winston Alpacca and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taranaki dives in for a single leg takedown but Kownacki sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Taranaki closes the distance and clinches.

Taranaki breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kownacki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kownacki shoots in looking for a takedown. Taranaki tries to sprawl out of it but Kownacki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taranaki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Kownacki gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kownacki misses with a knee strike.
Kownacki tries to pull guard but Taranaki won't allow it.
Taranaki tries to pull guard but Kownacki won't allow it.
Taranaki is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kownacki to keep the fight standing.
Tomasz Kownacki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tsyuoshi Taranaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kownacki manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taranaki controls from within his opponent's guard.
Taranaki preventing the sweep.

Kownacki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Taranaki defends it easily.
Kownacki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kownacki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taranaki is one step ahead there.
Kownacki is working hard here to advance position.
Taranaki slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kownacki wants to control the position but Taranaki says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
It looks like Taranaki is going to stand back up.
Kownacki is trying to stand up here but Taranaki is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki controlling the action here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kownacki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Taranaki throws a looping overhand right but Kownacki ducks down to avoid it.
Kownacki tries a low kick but Taranaki avoids it.
Kownacki shoots for a takedown but Taranaki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kownacki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taranaki swivels and escapes.

Kownacki has managed to clinch.

Taranaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kownacki dodges the punch combination from Taranaki.
Kownacki throws a lazy head kick

and Taranaki counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Taranaki.

Taranaki pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kownacki trying to control the position from guard on top but Taranaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taranaki working a defensive guard here.
Kownacki trying to control the position from guard on top but Taranaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kownacki postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taranaki misses with an uppercut.
Taranaki dives in and grabs Kownacki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kownacki pushes down on Taranaki's head and hops out.
Nice jab there from Taranaki.
Kownacki throws a front kick aimed at Taranaki's knee but Taranaki avoids it well.
Despite the aggression on Taranaki's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kownacki tries to clinch but Taranaki is having none of it.
Taranaki is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Taranaki throws a combination that misses
and Kownacki counters with a one-two to the body.
Taranaki blocks a head kick by Kownacki.
Taranaki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kownacki fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kownacki throws a head kick but Taranaki moves out of range.
Kownacki stalks Taranaki and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Taranaki's face. Taranaki staggers backwards, shaken.
Taranaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
And Taranaki tries to counter it with a takedown but Kownacki pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Kownacki shoots in and gets a takedown into Taranaki's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kownacki is one step ahead there.
Kownacki controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kownacki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taranaki is keeping the position for now.
Taranaki looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kownacki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kownacki wants to control from the top but Taranaki keeps moving.

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.
Kownacki preventing the sweep.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Taranaki keeping full guard, as Kownacki tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kownacki tries to close the distance and clinch but Taranaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taranaki throws a fast counter high kick but Kownacki manages to duck under it in time.
Taranaki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kownacki on the side of the head.
Taranaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Kownacki.

Kownacki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kownacki prevents Taranaki from getting back to his feet.
Kownacki throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki trying to control the position.
Taranaki wants to stand and escape but Kownacki is having none of it.
Kownacki trying to control the position from guard on top but Taranaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kownacki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taranaki trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kownacki wants to control from the top but Taranaki keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tomasz Kownacki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Taranaki instigates a clinch.

Taranaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

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.
Kownacki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kownacki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taranaki circles away quickly and effectively.
Kownacki lands with a nice body punch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Taranaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kownacki wants to clinch up but Taranaki keeps it at a distance.
Taranaki throws a series of strikes that have Kownacki backpedaling.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kownacki is defended easily by Taranaki.
Kownacki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taranaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taranaki is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomasz Kownacki dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Taranaki defending well as Kownacki loads up on a big left hand.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kownacki as he avoids it easily.

Taranaki closes the distance and clinches.
Taranaki being controlled against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Kownacki.
Taranaki tries to pull guard but Kownacki won't allow it.
Kownacki is looking to control Taranaki's arms but Taranaki gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kownacki has his back to the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kownacki gets control of Taranaki's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kownacki will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kownacki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taranaki.
Kownacki throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Kownacki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranaki throwing strikes but missing.
Kownacki working a defensive guard here.
Taranaki won't allow Kownacki to sweep him here.
Taranaki is stalling in the full guard.
Taranaki's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kownacki connects with a single shot there.
Kownacki throws a head kick but Taranaki moves out of range.
Kownacki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taranaki.
Tomasz Kownacki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tsyuoshi Taranaki.
Taranaki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kownacki swivels and escapes.
It looked like Kownacki wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kownacki fails with the takedown.

Taranaki fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kownacki, pushing him back against the cage.
Taranaki goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kownacki prevents it.

Taranaki breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kownacki has Taranaki up against the cage in a clinch.

Taranaki breaks the clinch.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kownacki as he jumps to the side.
Kownacki looks for a takedown but Taranaki sprawls well.
As Kownacki backs off Taranaki throws a huge counter combo but Kownacki manages to avoid it all.
Taranaki connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kownacki's hands.
Tsyuoshi Taranaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kownacki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taranaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kownacki punishes Taranaki's body with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Taranaki.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kownacki or perhaps it was just good defense by Taranaki, which made it look bad.
Kownacki cracks a nice hook into Taranaki's ribs.
Kownacki tries to clinch up.
Nice sprawl there from Kownacki as Taranaki shoots in.

Kownacki gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kownacki wants to take a breather but Taranaki is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in half guard, Kownacki seems content to control.

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 Tomasz Kownacki.
I think Kownacki 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomasz Kownacki!