PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mateusz Kowalewski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kowalewski's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Janusz Laskowski - Śnił mi się rodzinny dom. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Kowalewski
vs
Sanchez

187 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
176 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Hell's Balls Fightwear
Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mateusz Kowalewski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Thiago Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowalewski lands a jab-cross combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanchez.
Kowalewski throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Kowalewski works over Sanchez's head and body with a nice combination.

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
Sanchez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Kowalewski pushes Sanchez off and gets back to his feet.
Kowalewski stalks Sanchez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sanchez's face. Sanchez staggers backwards, shaken.
Thiago Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez shoots in and drives through. Kowalewski sprawls well.

Kowalewski darts in and clinches Sanchez up against the cage.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.
Kowalewski lands a body shot.
Kowalewski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kowalewski punishes Sanchez's body with a nice straight punch.
Sanchez has a takedown stuffed.
Mateusz Kowalewski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Sanchez.
Kowalewski looks to land a combination but Sanchez avoids it well.
Kowalewski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sanchez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kowalewski quickly recovers to half guard.
Sanchez looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalewski is trying to stand up here but Sanchez is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez looks to land a strike but Kowalewski avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sanchez trying to move into half guard but instead Kowalewski has managed to sweep!
Kowalewski tries to stand but Sanchez is controlling from the bottom.
Sanchez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sanchez striking off his back but it's not causing Kowalewski any problems.

Kowalewski decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sanchez, up you get!
Kowalewski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kowalewski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Kowalewski works over Sanchez's head and body with a nice combination.
Kowalewski works over Sanchez's head and body with a nice combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sanchez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kowalewski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanchez somewhat.
Kowalewski just misses with a punch to the body.
Kowalewski is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Sanchez tries to keep at a distance but Kowalewski has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kowalewski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sanchez content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sanchez tries to break the clinch but Kowalewski is controlling the position.
Kowalewski has had enough of the clinch but Sanchez keeps him there for the moment.
Kowalewski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kowalewski wants to get back to striking at distance but Sanchez won't allow it.
Sanchez can't break the clinch.
Kowalewski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sanchez has him pressed against the cage.
Kowalewski tries to circle away but Sanchez has him pinned against the cage.
Kowalewski working hard to break the clinch.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kowalewski just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalewski has had enough of the clinch but Sanchez keeps him there for the moment.
Kowalewski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kowalewski tries to bum rush Sanchez with a series of wild strikes but Sanchez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kowalewski enables Sanchez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kowalewski manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sanchez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sanchez won't allow Kowalewski to get back to his feet.
Sanchez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sanchez pushes down on Kowalewski's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sanchez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalewski wants to get back to his feet.
Kowalewski taking some punishment here, with Sanchez in his half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nice strikes from Sanchez there.
Kowalewski wants to get back to his feet.
Sanchez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sanchez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kowalewski wants to get back to his feet.
Sanchez slips a nice elbow through Kowalewski's hands, connecting with Kowalewski's forehead.
Nice strikes from Sanchez there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kowalewski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kowalewski is looking to escape.
Sanchez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kowalewski wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mateusz Kowalewski will probably get the nod.
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.

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Kowalewski shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kowalewski as he avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Kowalewski as Sanchez shoots in.
Mateusz Kowalewski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Sanchez.

Kowalewski rushes Sanchez and presses him up against the cage.
Kowalewski wants to get back to striking at distance but Sanchez won't allow it.
Kowalewski wants to break free but Sanchez has control.
Sanchez prevents Kowalewski from breaking the clinch.
Kowalewski is trying to force a seperation but Sanchez has the dominant position.
Kowalewski working hard to break the clinch.
Sanchez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kowalewski has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kowalewski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kowalewski works over Sanchez's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Thiago Sanchez has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A head kick misses from Kowalewski.
Mateusz Kowalewski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanchez looks for a takedown but Kowalewski sprawls well.
Kowalewski wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalewski throws a nice looking combination but Sanchez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kowalewski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sanchez takes one to the chin there.

Sanchez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kowalewski is looking to escape.
Sanchez passes the guard and advances to mount!
Sanchez scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kowalewski is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Sanchez breaks from Kowalewski's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Sanchez looking to finish Kowalewski with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kowalewski!
Sanchez with good strikes from the mount here!
Sanchez won't let Kowalewski get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kowalewski wants to get back to his feet.
Sanchez dominating with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez won't let Kowalewski get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Sanchez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sanchez cracks Kowalewski with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Thiago Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanchez lands a big elbow.
Kowalewski's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Sanchez unloading with bombs!
Sanchez unloading with bombs!
Sanchez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sanchez with the ground and pound from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sanchez lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Kowalewski bucks Sanchez off and manages to get back to his feet!

Sanchez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kowalewski is trying to defend but Sanchez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kowalewski looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sanchez working the head and body with strikes.
Kowalewski looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sanchez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sanchez prevents Kowalewski from standing back up.
Sanchez is nestled in close to Kowalewski, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sanchez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez passes to full mount!
Sanchez pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Sanchez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kowalewski's face.
Kowalewski really wants to buck Sanchez off and get back to his feet.
Sanchez fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kowalewski is trying to stand up.

Kowalewski bucks Sanchez off and manages to get back to his feet!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kowalewski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kowalewski misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thiago Sanchez's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Kowalewski misses with the combination.
Sanchez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kowalewski.

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
Sanchez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kowalewski looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sanchez trying to mount his opponent but Kowalewski defends it.
Sanchez is nestled in close to Kowalewski, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Kowalewski pushes Sanchez off and gets back to his feet.
No luck for Sanchez with that takedown attempt.
Sanchez dives in and grabs Kowalewski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kowalewski pushes down on Sanchez's head and hops out.
Kowalewski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Kowalewski.

Sanchez scores with a takedown into Kowalewski's guard.
Sanchez stops Kowalewski from standing up.
Sanchez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kowalewski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanchez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kowalewski's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanchez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Kowalewski kicks Sanchez off and gets to his feet.
A head kick from Kowalewski lands but Sanchez takes it in his stride.

Sanchez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kowalewski is trying to defend but Sanchez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Kowalewski manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Kowalewski looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kowalewski to the mat! Kowalewski manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kowalewski's guard.
Kowalewski is trying to stand up here but Sanchez is controlling him well.
Sanchez working Kowalewski over with strikes.
Sanchez prevents Kowalewski from standing back up.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sanchez working Kowalewski over with strikes.
Sanchez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sanchez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Kowalewski is defending well.
Sanchez passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kowalewski wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sanchez lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kowalewski's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Sanchez breaks from Kowalewski's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Sanchez lands a big shot there that rocks Kowalewski but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sanchez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kowalewski hang on?
Sanchez scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sanchez dominating with strikes here.
Sanchez is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kowalewski is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Sanchez punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalewski is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Sanchez lands a big shot there that rocks Kowalewski but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sanchez is landing with some decent strikes but Kowalewski is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Sanchez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kowalewski in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kowalewski is trying to stand.
Sanchez cracks Kowalewski with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sanchez pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
You get the feeling that Kowalewski really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Kowalewski trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
BOOM! Sanchez connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sanchez fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sanchez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Sanchez!