PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marco Kowal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and vrach ginekolog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kowal comes to the cage accompanied by Czas na Walke. 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.

Kowal
vs
ginekolog

179 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

210 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marco Kowal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, vrach ginekolog!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kowal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kowal looking to finish ginekolog with some ground and pound. This is bad for ginekolog!
Kowal 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.
Kowal with shots to the head and body - ginekolog looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kowal working away from the top, dropping strikes.

It looks like vrach ginekolog has been cut.
ginekolog wants to control but Kowal is having none of it.
ginekolog regains half guard.
Kowal scoring with strikes to the body and head.
ginekolog is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kowal takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
ginekolog works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kowal looking to pass the guard.
ginekolog looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

ginekolog looking for a guillotine here but Kowal defends easily.
Kowal could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
ginekolog looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
ginekolog working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kowal sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed ginekolog's guard.
Kowal winds up and cracks ginekolog with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kowal seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Kowal is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, ginekolog has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kowal looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks ginekolog with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowal slips a nice elbow through ginekolog's hands, connecting with ginekolog's forehead.

Kowal looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kowal lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
ginekolog wants to control but Kowal is keeping busy and won't allow it.
ginekolog is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ginekolog is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
ginekolog works his way to full guard. Good work.
ginekolog wants to sweep but no luck.
Kowal passes into half guard.
ginekolog tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kowal looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
ginekolog avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kowal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kowal gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Kowal lands a two punch combo.
Kowal tries to clinch up but ginekolog circles away and keeps his distance.
Kowal stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kowal wants it to stay on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kowal.
ginekolog shoots in for a takedown but Kowal shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
ginekolog lands with a shot to the body.
Kowal dives in and grabs ginekolog's left leg, looking for a takedown. ginekolog pushes down on Kowal's head and hops out.

ginekolog instigates a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kowal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
ginekolog is working for takedown but Kowal is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Kowal dominated that round.
The cut man is working on vrach ginekolog's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kowal takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
ginekolog tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kowal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
ginekolog gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kowal counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
ginekolog is trying to control the position but Kowal postures up.
Kowal prevents ginekolog from getting back to his feet.
ginekolog trying to keep a closed guard but Kowal is proving a slippery customer.
Kowal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as ginekolog works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Kowal drops back looking for a leg! ginekolog is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and ginekolog manages to kick Kowal off! Kowal jumps back into ginekolog's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kowal works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ginekolog tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Kowal is working for a submission of some sort.
Kowal thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed ginekolog's head.

ginekolog looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kowal stops ginekolog from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kowal lands a nice short elbow.

Kowal is trying to work for a kimura but ginekolog is defending well.
ginekolog makes his way to full guard. A much better position for ginekolog.
ginekolog is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kowal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. ginekolog swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kowal won't allow ginekolog to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowal tries to free his leg and advance position but ginekolog is retaining full guard.
ginekolog trying to strike off his back.
Kowal lands a couple of elbows.
ginekolog utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
ginekolog fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kowal avoids it really well and circles away.
ginekolog keeps the fight on the outside.
ginekolog lands a head kick!
ginekolog tries to clinch but Kowal moves out of range.

ginekolog clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
ginekolog is stalling here.
ginekolog is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kowal pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Marco Kowal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of vrach ginekolog.
ginekolog is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kowal gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
ginekolog is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kowal is trying to maintain a safe position but ginekolog gets an underhook and turns Kowal into the cage.
ginekolog taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
ginekolog tries to pull guard but Kowal won't allow it.
Kowal avoids a wild elbow strike from ginekolog.
Kowal keeps control of ginekolog as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
ginekolog working Kowal over with knees to the body.
ginekolog tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kowal just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Kowal dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on vrach ginekolog's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

ginekolog throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kowal counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for ginekolog!

Kowal working for a guillotine from mount but ginekolog is in no mood to give up.
ginekolog tries to get back to half guard but can't.
ginekolog sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kowal thows a huge punch but ginekolog dodges it nicely.
Kowal is thwarting ginekolog's attempts to control the position.
ginekolog wants to improve his position but Kowal is controlling well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kowal prevents ginekolog from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Kowal.
ginekolog works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kowal won't allow ginekolog to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kowal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kowal is trying hard to land a takedown here. ginekolog sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kowal ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kowal no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
ginekolog pushing down on Kowal's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kowal is looking to control ginekolog's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kowal avoid being mounted?

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

ginekolog is trying to work for a kimura but Kowal is defending well.
ginekolog trying to control from half guard but Kowal is working away.

Kowal is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but ginekolog pulls his head out easily.
ginekolog thows a huge punch but Kowal dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

ginekolog decides to stand up.
ginekolog doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kowal counters with a takedown into side control.
Kowal working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Kowal has hold of ginekolog's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! ginekolog tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Kowal cranks the arm and ginekolog screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from ginekolog, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Marco Kowal!