PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rubin Levine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Kownacki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rubin Levine has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Levine
vs
Kownacki

207 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rubin Levine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jan Kownacki!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kownacki drives through and clinches with Levine against the cage.
Kownacki is struggling to control the position.
Kownacki tries to circle away but Levine has him pinned against the cage.
Kownacki stops a takedown attempt from Levine.

Levine breaks from the clinch.

Kownacki closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Levine has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kownacki is working away from the top position though.
Kownacki has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Levine works to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Levine is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kownacki tries to free his leg and advance position but Levine is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levine looking to control.
Kownacki controls from within his opponent's guard.
Levine looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kownacki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Levine. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kownacki controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Kownacki looking to score a takedown here. Levine is defending well but Kownacki drives through and ends up in Levine's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kownacki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Levine is on top in guard.

Kownacki has Levine pulled in close to control his posture.
Levine works over Kownacki with some ground and pound from guard.
Kownacki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kownacki is still trying to improve position.
Levine works over Kownacki with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levine with a flurry of punches that miss.
Levine stands up over Kownacki, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kownacki wants to get back to his feet but Levine is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Kownacki has his foot on Levine's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Levine works his way back into a safe position though.
Levine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Levine missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Levine 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.
Kownacki pulls Levine in close to prevent any damage.
Levine is looking to work some ground and pound but Kownacki has wrist control.
Levine working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kownacki is pulling down on Levine's head to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Levine really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Kownacki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kownacki looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Levine looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Levine is looking to land body kicks.

Kownacki shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Levine manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kownacki looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Levine will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Levine keeping moving, preventing Kownacki from controlling successfully.
Levine has his hands on Kownacki's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kownacki throwing strikes from guard but Levine blocks nicely.
Kownacki content to stall in guard here.
Levine is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kownacki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kownacki with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Kownacki darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Levine moves into full guard.
Levine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kownacki wants to control from the top but Levine keeps moving.
Levine keeping full guard, as Kownacki tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kownacki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kownacki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kownacki controlling from the top position.
Levine utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Kownacki decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kownacki is taking a breather. Levine says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Levine is trying to maintain the position but Kownacki is very close to passing his half guard.

Kownacki is working for a submission of some sort.
Kownacki seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Levine gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Kownacki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Levine has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kownacki after a bit of a struggle.
Levine is trying to break free.
Levine is trying to drag Kownacki to the mat but Kownacki just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kownacki is working for takedown but Levine is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Levine is looking to control Kownacki's arms but Kownacki gets an underhook and turns him. Now Levine has his back to the cage.
Kownacki wants a takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Levine fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levine displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kownacki up against the cage.
Kownacki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Levine walks away with a smile on his face. Kownacki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rubin Levine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Kownacki.
Levine tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It seemed like Kownacki was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Kownacki looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Levine controlling the position for now.
Levine slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kownacki is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kownacki wants to pass the guard but Levine is keeping the position.
Kownacki is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Levine trying to keep a closed guard but Kownacki is proving a slippery customer.
Kownacki wants to get up but he can't break Levine's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kownacki closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Levine is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kownacki scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kownacki is taking a breather. Levine says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kownacki trying to mount his opponent but Levine defends it.
Kownacki slows the pace down in half guard.
Kownacki is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Levine reverses the position - he's now on top in Kownacki's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kownacki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Levine is one step ahead there.
Kownacki throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Kownacki has a closed guard, preventing Levine from standing up.
Levine preventing the sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Levine throwing strikes from guard but Kownacki blocks nicely.
Rubin Levine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jan Kownacki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Levine is looking to work some ground and pound but Kownacki has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jan Kownacki.
I've got Kownacki 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jan Kownacki!