PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Michał Kowalkiewicz (ranked 2477 p4p, 7099 weight class) and Vlad Putin (ranked 339 p4p, 746 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Putin's choice of entrance music: Rasputin Vladimir Putin Love The Way You Move. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kowalkiewicz
vs
Putin

195 cm
25
188
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
42
175
33 - 36 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michał Kowalkiewicz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 36 - 1, fighting out of New York, Vlad Putin!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Putin throws a body kick that misses.
Kowalkiewicz throwing a counter right hand but Putin manages to avoid it.
Putin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kowalkiewicz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kowalkiewicz is looking to slow Putin down with leg kicks.
Kowalkiewicz lands the left hand.
Putin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Putin looks to score with a jab to the body but Kowalkiewicz is just out of range.
Kowalkiewicz lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kowalkiewicz turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice jab there from Putin.
Kowalkiewicz lunges at Putin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Putin's hand.

Putin moves into the clinch successfully.
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!
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Putin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kowalkiewicz's brow.
Putin misses with a knee strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kowalkiewicz.

Kowalkiewicz breaks from the clinch.
Putin throws a lazy right hand but Kowalkiewicz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kowalkiewicz lands with an uppercut that bounces Putin off the ropes and back into range.
Kowalkiewicz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Putin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Putin darts in and clinches Kowalkiewicz up against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putin tries a knee to the head but Kowalkiewicz blocks it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Putin.
Kowalkiewicz misses with some punches.
Putin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kowalkiewicz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
I was talking to Kowalkiewicz's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kowalkiewicz lands a hook that snaps the head of Putin backwards.
Putin misses with a knee strike.
Putin prevents a body shot from Kowalkiewicz.
Kowalkiewicz dodges an elbow strike from Putin.

Kowalkiewicz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kowalkiewicz lands with a cross.
Putin needs to keep his hands up - Kowalkiewicz had a free shot at his head there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kowalkiewicz lands a high kick!
Putin blocks a jab.
Kowalkiewicz slips under a jab.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Putin jabs at Kowalkiewicz's body.
Putin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Putin punishes Kowalkiewicz's body with a nice straight punch.
Putin throws a jab but it's blocked by Kowalkiewicz.
Putin lands a jab to the head.
Kowalkiewicz is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kowalkiewicz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalkiewicz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Putin's sensitive parts.
Kowalkiewicz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Putin throws a low kick, looking for Kowalkiewicz's leg but Kowalkiewicz calmly moves out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kowalkiewicz.
Kowalkiewicz swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Putin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Putin misses with a kick to the body.
Putin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kowalkiewicz lands with a good body shot.
Putin misses with a head kick.
Kowalkiewicz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kowalkiewicz clobbers Putin with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kowalkiewicz is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Kowalkiewicz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Putin drops his hands momentarily and Kowalkiewicz takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Putin slips under a jab from Kowalkiewicz.
Decent striking displayed by Kowalkiewicz there.
That kick from Kowalkiewicz tenderised Putin's leg. Putin is trying to keep his angry face on.
Putin punishes Kowalkiewicz's body with a nice straight punch.
Putin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kowalkiewicz misses with a straight left.
Putin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalkiewicz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Putin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kowalkiewicz misses with a low kick.
Kowalkiewicz lands a leg kick that knocks Putin off balance momentarily.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a shot to the body.
Kowalkiewicz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kowalkiewicz lands with a right hand.
Kowalkiewicz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kowalkiewicz walks forward, straight into a front kick from Putin.
Putin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kowalkiewicz tries to score with a low kick but Putin moves his leg out of the way.

Putin closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kowalkiewicz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Putin throws an elbow but it misses.
Kowalkiewicz blocks an uppercut.
Putin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kowalkiewicz.
Putin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kowalkiewicz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Putin misses with a knee to the head.
Kowalkiewicz lands a body punch in the clinch.
Putin misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Putin scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Kowalkiewicz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Putin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kowalkiewicz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Putin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kowalkiewicz.
Putin lands with a nice body punch.
Kowalkiewicz is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a body shot.
Nice shot lands for Kowalkiewicz.
Putin throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kowalkiewicz.

Putin clinches with his opponent.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kowalkiewicz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kowalkiewicz avoids the elbow strike from Putin, against the ropes.
A right handed body shot lands from Kowalkiewicz.
Putin trying to land knees to the body.
Kowalkiewicz lands a body punch.
Putin looks winded!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kowalkiewicz blocks an uppercut.
Putin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kowalkiewicz has Putin pushed against the ropes.
Putin misses with a knee strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michał Kowalkiewicz dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Putin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kowalkiewicz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Putin doesn't manage to clinch there - Kowalkiewicz circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Kowalkiewicz misses the target.
Kowalkiewicz lands a leg kick that knocks Putin off balance momentarily.
Kowalkiewicz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Putin.
Kowalkiewicz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kowalkiewicz takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A big left from Putin misses.
Kowalkiewicz lands a jab to the nose.
Kowalkiewicz lands with a hook. Putin tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kowalkiewicz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Putin is looking to clinch but Kowalkiewicz is avoiding it.
Kowalkiewicz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Putin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kowalkiewicz ducks under a wild hook from Putin.
Vlad Putin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kowalkiewicz is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kowalkiewicz misses with a low kick.
Putin moves out of range of the strikes.
Kowalkiewicz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kowalkiewicz will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Putin shapes to counter with a head kick.
A punch combination from Kowalkiewicz misses.
Putin throws a lazy uppercut
and Kowalkiewicz counters with a stiff right hand.
Kowalkiewicz misses with a head kick.
Putin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Putin throws a hook to the side of Kowalkiewicz's head but Kowalkiewicz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Putin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kowalkiewicz tests Putin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Putin misses with a straight left.
Putin looks to land a right hand but Kowalkiewicz moved out of range.
Kowalkiewicz appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kowalkiewicz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nice straight punches there by Kowalkiewicz. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kowalkiewicz.
Putin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Putin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kowalkiewicz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Putin misses with a body shot.
Kowalkiewicz is looking to counter with head kicks.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a jab.
Kowalkiewicz plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kowalkiewicz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Putin can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalkiewicz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Putin looks to land a left hand but Kowalkiewicz moved out of range nicely.
Kowalkiewicz's corner calls for a 1-2. Kowalkiewicz obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kowalkiewicz connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Putin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Putin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kowalkiewicz lands a slapping body shot.
A left lands for Kowalkiewicz.
Putin tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kowalkiewicz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kowalkiewicz tried to counter with a leg kick but Putin avoided it.
Putin walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Putin is rocked!
Putin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Kowalkiewicz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Putin lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Putin rushes Kowalkiewicz and presses him up against the ropes.
Putin trying to land knees to the body.
Putin tries a knee to the head but Kowalkiewicz blocks it.
Putin misses with a body punch.

Kowalkiewicz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kowalkiewicz throws a body shot but no joy.
Kowalkiewicz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Putin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Putin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kowalkiewicz is looking to counter punch.
Putin walks into a stiff left hand from Kowalkiewicz.
Putin misses with a head kick.
A nice leg kick from Kowalkiewicz, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a nice right hand.
Kowalkiewicz with a jab.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Putin is still on wobbly legs! Can Kowalkiewicz finish him?
Kowalkiewicz dips to his left and cracks Putin with an uppercut!
Kowalkiewicz lands a two punch combo.
Putin takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Putin throws a jab but it's blocked by Kowalkiewicz.
Putin tries to clinch but Kowalkiewicz moves out of range.
Putin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kowalkiewiczs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Putin tries to clinch but Kowalkiewicz moves out of range.
Kowalkiewicz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Putin lands with a nice body punch.
Putin throws a hook but Kowalkiewicz blocks it.
Kowalkiewicz lands with a hook. Putin tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kowalkiewicz lands a glancing blow to the side of Putin's head.
An inside leg kick lands from Kowalkiewicz.
Kowalkiewicz throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Michał Kowalkiewicz is winning the standup battle so far.
Kowalkiewicz lands a nice hook to Putin's body. Putin takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kowalkiewicz throws a good cross that connects.
Kowalkiewicz chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Putin can pounce on him.
A nice leg kick from Kowalkiewicz, right into the meat of the thigh.
A looping hook to the body misses from Putin. Kowalkiewicz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kowalkiewicz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Putin.
Kowalkiewicz throws a quick inside leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Putin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Putin is looking to clinch but Kowalkiewicz is avoiding it.
Putin wants to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Putin tries to clinch up but Kowalkiewicz circles away and keeps his distance.
Putin seems to have recovered his senses.
Putin is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kowalkiewicz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Putin takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kowalkiewicz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michał Kowalkiewicz dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Putin is looking to clinch.
Putin misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Kowalkiewicz to counter with a crisp jab.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a nice strike.
Putin misses with a wild body shot.
Putin misses the jab.
Kowalkiewicz avoids the body shot from Putin.
Kowalkiewicz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Putin lands a jab.
Putin takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kowalkiewicz throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kowalkiewicz fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Putin is out of range.
Putin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Putin throws a hook but Kowalkiewicz avoids it easily.
Kowalkiewicz swats away the attempt to clinch by Putin.
Kowalkiewicz feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Putins jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Putin takes the fight into the clinch.
Putin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kowalkiewicz lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putin tries to work over Kowalkiewicz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kowalkiewicz.
Putin working Kowalkiewicz over with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kowalkiewicz misses with some punches.
Putin prevents a body shot from Kowalkiewicz.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a shot to the side of Putin's head.
Putin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Putin.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Putin.
Putin misses with an elbow strike.
Putin prevents a body shot from Kowalkiewicz.

Kowalkiewicz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kowalkiewicz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Putin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Putin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Putin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kowalkiewicz digs a good body shot into Putin's ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Putin gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Putin working aggressively here.
Vlad Putin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kowalkiewicz's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Kowalkiewicz breaks the clinch.
Putin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Putin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a jab. Putin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Putin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kowalkiewicz can pounce on him.

Putin gets a clinch.
Putin scores a nice knee to the body.
Kowalkiewicz struggles to land a body shot inside as Putin controls his hands.
Putin tries a knee to the head but Kowalkiewicz blocks it.

Kowalkiewicz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Putin tries to clinch but Kowalkiewicz moves out of range.
Kowalkiewicz slips under a jab.
A big right from Putin misses.
Kowalkiewicz fires out a quick counter leg kick but Putin just manages to avoid it.
Kowalkiewicz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kowalkiewicz. That's going to slow Putin down.

Putin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Putin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Kowalkiewicz.

Kowalkiewicz breaks from the clinch.
Good shot there by Kowalkiewicz.
Putin lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Putin misses with a low kick as Kowalkiewicz jumps back.
Vlad Putin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Putin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Putin with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kowalkiewicz to score with a decent uppercut.
Putin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kowalkiewicz can pounce on him.
Kowalkiewicz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Putin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kowalkiewicz counters with a straight right hand.
Putin on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kowalkiewicz cracks Putin with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Putin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kowalkiewicz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Putin.
The fighters circling - Putin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Putin ducks right into an uppercut from Kowalkiewicz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalkiewicz lands with a nice body punch.
Kowalkiewicz ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kowalkiewicz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kowalkiewicz ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Putin on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Putin swings for the body but Kowalkiewicz moves out of range.
Kowalkiewicz feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A lazy left from Kowalkiewicz finds it's target.
Kowalkiewicz scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Putin doesn't seem bothered though.
Kowalkiewicz tries to move into range but Putin moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kowalkiewicz connects with a nice looking jab.
Putin blocks the body kick.
Putin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Putin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kowalkiewicz. Kowalkiewicz obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Putin's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kowalkiewicz connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Putin scrambles back to his feet.
Kowalkiewicz stuns Putin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Putin takes one to the side of the head.
Michał Kowalkiewicz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Putin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kowalkiewicz throws out the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michał Kowalkiewicz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kowalkiewicz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michał Kowalkiewicz!