PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yoel Romero Palacio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piotr Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Romero Palacio might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to SOLDIER OF GOD' Yoel Romero . The key to victory for Yoel Romero Palacio has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Romero Palacio
vs
Kowalski

178 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

V-Mask Clothing (10%)
Conquer

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoel Romero Palacio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Piotr Kowalski!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowalski tries to clinch but Romero Palacio is having none of it.
Kowalski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Romero Palacio has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Kowalski wants to clinch up but Romero Palacio keeps it at a distance.
Romero Palacio is looking to counter with a body kick.

Kowalski clinches with his opponent.

Romero Palacio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kowalski moves into the clinch.
Romero Palacio tries to circle away but Kowalski has him pinned against the cage.
Kowalski changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Romero Palacio fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Romero Palacio tries to keep at a distance but Kowalski has taken the fight into the clinch.
Romero Palacio tries to pull guard but Kowalski won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero Palacio wants to get back to striking at distance but Kowalski won't allow it.
Romero Palacio is trying to pull guard but Kowalski turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Kowalski breaks the clinch.
Kowalski tries to clinch but Romero Palacio is having none of it.
Piotr Kowalski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kowalski rushes Romero Palacio and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Romero Palacio is trying to push Kowalski away but Kowalski has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Romero Palacio wants to get back to striking at distance but Kowalski won't allow it.
Kowalski has Romero Palacio pressed against the cage, preventing Romero Palacio from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Romero Palacio manages to break the clinch.
Kowalski tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Romero Palacio counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
No joy there for Romero Palacio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Romero Palacio lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kowalski circles away quickly and effectively.

Kowalski gets a clinch.

Kowalski breaks from the clinch.

Kowalski closes the distance and clinches.
Kowalski is pushing Romero Palacio up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Romero Palacio slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero Palacio tries to circle away but Kowalski has him pinned against the cage.
Romero Palacio is trying to break the clinch but Kowalski has him pressed against the cage.
Kowalski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Romero Palacio is defending well for now.

Romero Palacio breaks from the clinch.

Kowalski clinches up with Romero Palacio and pushes him back against the cage.

Kowalski gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kowalski is stalling in the full guard.
Kowalski passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Romero Palacio throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kowalski clinches up against the cage.
Romero Palacio wants to get back to striking at distance but Kowalski won't allow it.
Romero Palacio pushes off an throws an elbow but Kowalski leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Romero Palacio is trying to push Kowalski away but Kowalski has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

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

Kowalski clinches up against the cage.
Romero Palacio is trying to break the clinch but Kowalski has him pressed against the cage.
Romero Palacio taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Romero Palacio can't break the clinch.
Kowalski drops down looking for an ankle pick but Romero Palacio pulls his leg out and moves away.

Kowalski rushes Romero Palacio and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Romero Palacio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Kowalski breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kowalski forces Romero Palacio back against the cage and clinches.
Kowalski keeps control of Romero Palacio as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Kowalski has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Romero Palacio clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Romero Palacio wants to get back to his feet.
Kowalski landing with strikes.
Kowalski has good solid back control here.
Romero Palacio trying to get back to his feet but Kowalski is in full control for now.

Kowalski is looking for the choke from the back position but Romero Palacio is controlling his hands well.
Romero Palacio is trying to stand back up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kowalski clinches.
Romero Palacio is trying to break free.
Romero Palacio wants to break free but Kowalski has control.
Romero Palacio is trying to break free.
Kowalski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Romero Palacio is trying to break the clinch but Kowalski has him pressed against the cage.

Kowalski jumps guard.
Romero Palacio has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kowalski is proving hard to escape from.
Kowalski keeping moving, preventing Romero Palacio from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kowalski has a closed guard, preventing Romero Palacio from standing up.

Kowalski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero Palacio landing with the ground and pound.
Romero Palacio wants to stand and escape but instead Kowalski has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Romero Palacio wants to get back to his feet but Kowalski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kowalski lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Romero Palacio is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kowalski trying to control but Romero Palacio is working from the bottom.
Kowalski prevents Romero Palacio from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Romero Palacio has a closed guard, preventing Kowalski from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romero Palacio is wriggling around but Kowalski manages to pass to half guard.
Romero Palacio tries to roll over but Kowalski keeps him under control.
Kowalski 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.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kowalski connects with a nice short shot to Romero Palacio's temple.
Kowalski wants to stand up but Romero Palacio has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Romero Palacio punching from the bottom.
Well, if Kowalski is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kowalski working over Romero Palacio with some ground and pound. Romero Palacio looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero Palacio is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Kowalski jumps into side control!
Kowalski lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kowalski is looking to take a break and control but Romero Palacio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Romero Palacio wants to get back to his feet but Kowalski drags him back down.
Romero Palacio trying to control but Kowalski flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Kowalski lands with a hammerfist to the side of Romero Palacio's head.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Romero Palacio is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Romero Palacio is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Romero Palacio wants to control his opponent's hands but Kowalski gets his hands free.
Kowalski is trying to stick to Romero Palacio's back but Romero Palacio is turning into Kowalski. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kowalski's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Romero Palacio.
Kowalski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Romero Palacio manages to get himself to full guard.
Romero Palacio wants to stand and escape but Kowalski is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romero Palacio has a closed guard, preventing Kowalski from standing up.
Kowalski controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piotr Kowalski 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!

Romero Palacio gets tackled into the cage by Kowalski. Kowalski maintains the clinch.
Romero Palacio tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kowalski smiles and moves away.
Romero Palacio throws a sloppy head kick and Kowalski moves out of range easily.

Kowalski rushes Romero Palacio and presses him up against the cage.

Kowalski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kowalski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Romero Palacio is looking to break free of the clinch but Kowalski has double underhooks.

Kowalski breaks from the clinch.

Kowalski clinches up with Romero Palacio and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero Palacio tries to break the clinch but Kowalski is controlling the position.

Kowalski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kowalski darts in trying to clinch
and Romero Palacio counters with a three punch combo that has Kowalski backing up. Kowalski nods at Romero Palacio to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romero Palacio gets tackled into the cage by Kowalski. Kowalski maintains the clinch.
Kowalski tries to pull guard but Romero Palacio won't allow it.
Romero Palacio working hard to break the clinch.
Kowalski stalling in the clinch.
Kowalski is looking to control Romero Palacio's arms but Romero Palacio gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kowalski has his back to the cage.
Romero Palacio has had enough of the clinch but Kowalski keeps him there for the moment.
Kowalski dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kowalski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Romero Palacio to keep the fight standing.
Romero Palacio is trying to push Kowalski away but Kowalski has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kowalski has Romero Palacio pushed against the cage.
Piotr Kowalski seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Kowalski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Romero Palacio gets tackled into the cage by Kowalski. Kowalski maintains the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Romero Palacio's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kowalski is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Romero Palacio pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Yoel Romero Palacio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piotr Kowalski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero Palacio is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Romero Palacio is trying to force a seperation but Kowalski has the dominant position.
Kowalski tries to pull guard but Romero Palacio forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kowalski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Romero Palacio breaks the clinch.
Kowalski on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nice cross by Romero Palacio.
Romero Palacio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kowalski doesn't manage to clinch there - Romero Palacio circles away.
Yoel Romero Palacio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Romero Palacio pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kowalski is out of range and Romero Palacio settles back down.

Kowalski drives through and clinches with Romero Palacio against the cage.

Romero Palacio manages to pull guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kowalski prevents Romero Palacio from getting back to his feet.

Kowalski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Romero Palacio has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kowalski has managed to get both his arms back between Romero Palacio's legs - danger averted.

Romero Palacio has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kowalski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero Palacio has a closed guard, preventing Kowalski from standing up.

Romero Palacio has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kowalski is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Romero Palacio.
Romero Palacio is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kowalski asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Romero Palacio tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Romero Palacio flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Romero Palacio is trying to stand up.
Romero Palacio is trying to reverse the position but instead Kowalski has taken his back - oops!
Romero Palacio trying to get back to his feet but Kowalski is in full control for now.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Kowalski.
Romero Palacio is trying to remain composed but Kowalski is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Kowalski is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Yoel Romero Palacio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Romero Palacio fending off the submission attempt from Kowalski.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romero Palacio wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Piotr Kowalski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kowalski winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Piotr Kowalski!