PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tony Stephens acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Kowalski
vs
Stephens

190 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Kowalski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tony Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens scores with a decent looking hook.
Kowalski dodges the punch combination from Stephens.
Stephens throws a right and a left that Kowalski avoids nicely.

Stephens feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Stephens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kowalski wants to sweep but no luck.
Stephens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kowalski controls Stephens momentarily but Stephens frees himself.
Kowalski manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Stephens tries to hold on but Kowalski pushes him away.
Stephens tries to reverse the position but Kowalski maintains control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stephens can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kowalski swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Stephens is now in Kowalski's guard. A big mistake from Kowalski there, giving up the dominant position!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kowalski wants to improve his position but instead Stephens has moved into half guard.
Kowalski slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens looking to sit in guard and control but Kowalski gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stephens wants to sweep but no luck.
Kowalski wanted to stand there but Stephens had control of the position.
Kowalski wants to control from the top but Stephens keeps moving.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kowalski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kowalski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stephens is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stephens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kowalski trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stephens trying to control the position here.
Kowalski trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephens working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Kowalski wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Stephens throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kowalski as he jumps to the side.
Kowalski misses with a takedown attempt - Stephens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stephens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Stephens closes the distance and pushes Kowalski back into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kowalski has Stephens pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kowalski pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Stephens tumbling to the mat - Kowalski dives into Stephens's guard.
Stephens is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kowalski is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tony Stephens will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A cross from Stephens lands.
Stephens scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like John Kowalski has been cut.
Kowalski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stephens sprawls well. Stephens wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kowalski gets slowly back to his feet.
Stephens swats away the attempt to clinch by Kowalski.
Stephens misses with a body kick.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kowalski tries to break the clinch but Stephens is controlling the position.
Stephens missing with knees to the body.
Stephens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kowalski.

Kowalski ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kowalski no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Stephens wants to stand but Kowalski is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kowalski being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tony Stephens was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Stephens feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kowalskis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Stephens throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Stephens has managed to clinch.
Kowalski is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Kowalski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stephens is trying to trip Kowalski. He has hold of a leg but Kowalski is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Stephens persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Stephens content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski trying to keep a closed guard but Stephens is proving a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stephens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kowalski pinned against the cage. Kowalski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stephens throws a sloppy head kick and Kowalski moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown but Kowalski shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Stephens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Kowalski's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stephens drives through and clinches with Kowalski against the cage.
Stephens gets underhooks to prevent Kowalski's takedown attempt.
Kowalski tries to score a body lock takedown but Stephens shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Kowalski has clasped his hands together around Stephens's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Kowalski looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Stephens gets back to half guard.
Kowalski is trying to control. Stephens wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stephens wants to control but Kowalski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stephens is controlling Kowalski's trapped leg to prevent Kowalski from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stephens manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kowalski wants to get up but he can't break Stephens's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kowalski won't allow Stephens to sweep him here.
Stephens keeping moving, preventing Kowalski from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Kowalski wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Stephens wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Kowalski misses.
Stephens tries to close the distance and clinch but Kowalski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kowalski fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Kowalski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kowalski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stephens.
Kowalski throws a low kick but Stephens moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski throws a head kick but Stephens moves out of range.
Kowalski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stephens manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Stephens clinches.

Stephens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
John Kowalski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kowalski fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stephens throws a series of strikes that have Kowalski backpedaling.

Stephens drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Stephens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens throws a strike but Kowalski rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kowalski stopping the sweep attempt from Stephens.
Stephens seems keen to control Kowalski's posture.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kowalski trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kowalski postures up in Stephens's guard and throws a big left but Stephens blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Stephens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stephens has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Stephens!