PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Kroon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gniewomir Kowalek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Kroon
vs
Kowalek

183 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

182 cm
21
188 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Kroon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gniewomir Kowalek!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowalek tries for a takedown but Kroon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kowalek shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kroon defends it nicely.
Kowalek connects with a solid leg kick.
Kowalek tries for a takedown but Kroon circles away easily

and Kroon holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mike Kroon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gniewomir Kowalek.

Kroon works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kroon won't allow Kowalek to sweep him here.
Kroon is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kowalek pushes Kroon off and scrambles back to his feet.
Kowalek shoots in and drives through. Kroon sprawls well.
Kowalek shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kroon as he jumps to the side.

Kowalek has taken the fight to the clinch.

Kroon has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kowalek is trying to keep an underhook but Kroon manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Kroon 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.
Kroon working Kowalek over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kroon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kroon controlling the action here.
Kroon works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kroon wants to control the pace but Kowalek is squirming around nicely.
Kroon cracks Kowalek with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kroon controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kroon moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Kowalek has worked his arm free - good work by Kowalek!
Kowalek pushes Kroon away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kroon gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Kroon lands a few punches from side control.

Kroon looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Kowalek's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kroon moves into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalek takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kowalek is bucking up trying to escape but Kroon cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kroon controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kroon looking to control but Kowalek is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kowalek misses with a takedown attempt - Kroon sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kroon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kowalek fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kowalek stuffs the takedown attempt from Kroon. Kroon gets slowly back to his feet.

Kroon gets tackled into the cage by Kowalek. Kowalek maintains the clinch.

Kroon gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Kowalek manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kroon manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kroon keeping moving, preventing Kowalek from controlling successfully.

Kroon pushes Kowalek off and scrambles back to his feet.
Kowalek looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mike Kroon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gniewomir Kowalek.
Kowalek shoots and misses

and Kroon decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kowalek's guard.
Kowalek is breathing heavily.
Kroon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kroon wants to control from the top but Kowalek keeps moving.
Kroon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kowalek is keeping the position for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kroon stays in close to Kowalek's body and controls the position.
Kroon slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kroon lands some shots froms side control.
Kowalek stops Kroon from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kroon is looking to take a break and control but Kowalek is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kroon is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kowalek is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kroon trying to control the action but Kowalek is working from the bottom.

Kroon wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kowalek, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kroon swings around for an armbar but Kowalek sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kroon's guard.
Kroon keeping moving, preventing Kowalek from controlling successfully.
Kowalek won't allow Kroon to get back to his feet.
Kowalek would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kowalek trying to control the position from guard on top but Kroon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Kroon dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kroon looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kroon thows a huge punch but Kowalek dodges it nicely.
Kroon trying to mount his opponent but Kowalek defends it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kroon lands a nice short elbow.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kowalek wants to control but Kroon is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kroon is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kroon trying to advance position but Kowalek counters by regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalek being controlled here, momentarily.
Kroon slips nicely into half guard.
Kowalek is looking to control Kroon's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kowalek avoid being mounted?

Kroon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kowalek is just riding it out for now. Kroon eventually gives up the hold.
Kroon controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kroon is working for a kimura but Kowalek is defending it quite comfortably.
Kowalek trying to control from the bottom.
Kroon not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalek is staying active underneath Kroon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kroon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kowalek can do to turn this around?
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Kroon is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Kowalek to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Kowalek can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kroon controls the pace.
Kroon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kroon tries to free his leg and advance position but Kowalek is retaining full guard.
Kroon controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Mike Kroon wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kowalek shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kroon sprawls well. Kroon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kowalek gets slowly back to his feet.
Gniewomir Kowalek has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kowalek takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kroon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kowalek's waist but Kowalek gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kroon off to one side.
Kroon takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kroon slips a straight right by Kowalek.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kowalek moves into range and clinches up with Kroon.
Mike Kroon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kroon has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Kowalek clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Kroon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kroon, 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight for Mike Kroon!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Mike Kroon!
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight for Mike Kroon!

Mike Kroon wins by unanimous decision!