PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mariusz Kowalczyk (ranked 4772 p4p, 4764 weight class) and Brick Shithouse (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.

Kowalczyk
vs
Shithouse

187 cm
25
188
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
185
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mariusz Kowalczyk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brick Shithouse!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowalczyk takes a swing at Shithouse's ribcage but misses.
Kowalczyk shoots in but no luck this time.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kowalczyk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shithouse fails with the takedown.
Shithouse tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kowalczyk sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shithouse somewhat.
Shithouse keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shithouse lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kowalczyk avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kowalczyk bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kowalczyk moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Kowalczyk tries to keep at a distance but Shithouse has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalczyk tries to land knees in the clinch but Shithouse avoids the damage to the body.
Kowalczyk tries to circle away but Shithouse has him pinned against the cage.

Shithouse escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shithouse lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kowalczyk changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shithouse tries to avoid it but Kowalczyk manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shithouse to the ground. Shithouse escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mariusz Kowalczyk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kowalczyk keeps the fight on the outside.

Kowalczyk clinches.
Kowalczyk is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shithouse to keep the fight standing.
Shithouse is trying to pull guard but Kowalczyk has him pressed against the cage.
Kowalczyk is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shithouse to keep the fight standing.
Shithouse is trying to pull guard but Kowalczyk has him pressed against the cage.
Shithouse prevents Kowalczyk from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shithouse's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Shithouse clinches up against the cage.
Kowalczyk changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shithouse fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shithouse swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shithouse shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kowalczyk pinned against the cage. Kowalczyk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kowalczyk cracks Shithouse with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Shithouse moves in looking to clinch but Kowalczyk pushes him off.
Shithouse blocks a head kick by Kowalczyk.
Kowalczyk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shithouse avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shithouse tries for a takedown but Kowalczyk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kowalczyk attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Shithouse shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kowalczyk sprawls well. Kowalczyk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shithouse gets slowly back to his feet.
Shithouse shoots in for a double leg but Kowalczyk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kowalczyk has a takedown stuffed.

Kowalczyk darts in and clinches Shithouse up against the cage.

Shithouse jumps guard and drags Kowalczyk to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shithouse trying to keep a closed guard but Kowalczyk is proving a slippery customer.
Kowalczyk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shithouse swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kowalczyk's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kowalczyk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shithouse works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kowalczyk postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kowalczyk stopping the sweep attempt from Shithouse.
Kowalczyk slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Shithouse.
Kowalczyk sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kowalczyk fails with the takedown.
Kowalczyk dives in for a single leg takedown but Shithouse sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Shithouse stalling against the cage.
Shithouse looking to throw knees to the head but Kowalczyk is blocking nicely.
Shithouse has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kowalczyk after a bit of a struggle.
Kowalczyk has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Shithouse jumps into guard, dragging Kowalczyk to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shithouse doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kowalczyk sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shithouse's guard.
Kowalczyk tries to pass to full mount but Shithouse defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalczyk keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kowalczyk is stalling here. Shithouse is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kowalczyk seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Shithouse has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kowalczyk throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Kowalczyk tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kowalczyk pushes Shithouse away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Shithouse gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Kowalczyk is looking for a sweep.

Shithouse is trying to get an arm triangle but Kowalczyk is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowalczyk is looking to regain half guard here but Shithouse keeps moving and retains side control.
Kowalczyk is not content to let Shithouse control the position.
Kowalczyk gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Shithouse seems to be working for a kimura but Kowalczyk defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalczyk is pressing down on Shithouse's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kowalczyk is trying to control the position but Shithouse postures up.

Kowalczyk is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shithouse defends well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shithouse.
Kowalczyk tries to close the distance and clinch but Shithouse swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shithouse is trying to counter with his kicks.
Shithouse leaves Kowalczyk with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mariusz Kowalczyk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shithouse displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kowalczyk.
Shithouse darts in looking for a takedown but Kowalczyk gets double underhooks and turns Shithouse into the cage.
Kowalczyk appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kowalczyk tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shithouse defends well and Kowalczyk ends up having to push Shithouse into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kowalczyk tries for a takedown but Shithouse manages to get underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shithouse can't get the takedown.
Kowalczyk tries to pull guard but Shithouse holds him up against the cage and eventually Kowalczyk drops back down to his feet.
Kowalczyk tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shithouse smiles and moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shithouse fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kowalczyk, pushing him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brick Shithouse showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kowalczyk tries to clinch but Shithouse is having none of it.

Kowalczyk gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shithouse has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kowalczyk avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kowalczyk using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shithouse has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kowalczyk is trying to drag Shithouse to the mat but Shithouse just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Shithouse breaks the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shithouse.
Kowalczyk is looking to counter the offense by Shithouse and move into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shithouse throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kowalczyk's waist but Kowalczyk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shithouse off to one side.
Mariusz Kowalczyk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brick Shithouse.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shithouse.
Kowalczyk is looking to counter with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shithouse tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kowalczyk swivels and escapes.
Shithouse takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kowalczyk blocks a head kick by Shithouse.
Kowalczyk shoots in but Shithouse avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shithouse throws a counter combo.
Shithouse fails with the takedown
and Kowalczyk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kowalczyk fails with the takedown.
Kowalczyk throws a right and a left that Shithouse avoids nicely.
Shithouse fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Shithouse tries to clinch but Kowalczyk moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kowalczyk or perhaps it was just good defense by Shithouse, which made it look bad.
Kowalczyk cracks a nice hook into Shithouse's ribs.

Kowalczyk moves into the clinch.
Shithouse blocks an elbow strike.
Shithouse goes for a takedown attempt but Kowalczyk pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Kowalczyk fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shithouse, pushing him back against the cage.

Shithouse breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kowalczyk clinches with his opponent.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nice body punch from Kowalczyk.
Shithouse keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kowalczyk's efforts to push away.
Kowalczyk changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shithouse fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shithouse misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kowalczyk is looking to counter with head kicks.
Kowalczyk tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shithouse defends well and Kowalczyk ends up having to push Shithouse into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shithouse jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kowalczyk walks away with a smile on his face. Shithouse gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kowalczyk throws a head kick that misses.
Kowalczyk fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalczyk tries for a takedown but Shithouse sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kowalczyk shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shithouse as he avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Shithouse or perhaps it was just good defense by Kowalczyk, which made it look bad.
Kowalczyk uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Shithouse has time to react.
Shithouse takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kowalczyk displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shithouse.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kowalczyk shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shithouse as he avoids it easily.
Shithouse tries to move into range but Kowalczyk moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mariusz Kowalczyk showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kowalczyk 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mariusz Kowalczyk!