PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tucker Smith (ranked 6512 p4p, 6068 weight class) and Alexander Sovotnikov (ranked 672 p4p, 642 weight class). The key to victory for Tucker Smith has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Smith
vs
Sovotnikov

183 cm
25
180
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
175
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tucker Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alexander Sovotnikov!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tests Sovotnikov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Sovotnikov moves out of range easily.
Sovotnikov throws a hook but Smith avoids it easily.
Smith throws a big counter combination but Sovotnikov scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Sovotnikov looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Sovotnikov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sovotnikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sovotnikov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Smith feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Sovotnikov throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
It looked like Smith was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Sovotnikov throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith lands a leg kick that knocks Sovotnikov off balance momentarily.
Smith throws a series of punches but Sovotnikov avoids them all with ease.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Sovotnikov moves out of range easily.
Sovotnikov misses with a double jab
and Smith counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sovotnikov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sovotnikov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Smith.
Sovotnikov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Sovotnikov tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Sovotnikov tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sovotnikov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smith lands a hook that snaps the head of Sovotnikov backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
Sovotnikov has Smith pressed against the cage, preventing Smith from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sovotnikov struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sovotnikov has him pressed against the cage.
Sovotnikov tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Sovotnikov is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sovotnikov has his back to the cage.
Sovotnikov swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sovotnikov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smith blocks an uppercut.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sovotnikov avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A low kick lands for Smith.
Smith tries to clinch but Sovotnikov moves out of range.
Sovotnikov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sovotnikov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smith seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Alexander Sovotnikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sovotnikov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sovotnikov throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
Sovotnikov misses with a looping right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sovotnikov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Smith.
Smith checks a low kick from Sovotnikov.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sovotnikov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Smith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sovotnikov.
Sovotnikov has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Sovotnikov throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.
Smith with the inside leg kick.
Smith throws a head kick but Sovotnikov moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sovotnikov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Smith tries to clinch up but Sovotnikov circles away and keeps his distance.
Sovotnikov just misses with a punch to the body.
Sovotnikov thows a leg kick but Smith checks it
and Sovotnikov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith missing with a left hand there. Sovotnikov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sovotnikov tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with a series of strikes. Sovotnikov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sovotnikov misses with a left hand
and Smith counters with a low kick, right behind Sovotnikov 's knee.
Sovotnikov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith delivers a nice body kick.
Sovotnikov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sovotnikov misses with a straight left.
Sovotnikov throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Sovotnikov shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sovotnikov looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Sovotnikov throws a wild body kick that Smith sees coming a mile off.
No joy there for Sovotnikov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a body kick that misses.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sovotnikov.
Sovotnikov misses with a looping right.
Sovotnikov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sovotnikov.
Smith jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Smith throws a combination. Sovotnikov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sovotnikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sovotnikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Smith throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sovotnikov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Sovotnikov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sovotnikov misses with a hook.
Smith cracks Sovotnikov with an open hand slap.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sovotnikov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith throws a big counter combination but Sovotnikov scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Sovotnikov is looking to land body kicks.
A quick step to the side and Smith tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sovotnikov lands a jab.
Sovotnikov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tucker Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith lands with a kick to the temple. Sovotnikov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Sovotnikov.
It looked like Smith was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
The fighters circling - Sovotnikov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Tucker Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith throws a head kick that half lands.
Sovotnikov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Sovotnikov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Smith tries to clinch up but Sovotnikov circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smith.
Sovotnikov tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith checks a low kick from Sovotnikov.
Sovotnikov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Sovotnikov is rocked!
A nice leg kick from Smith, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sovotnikov misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sovotnikov drops Smith with a beautiful combination! Smith stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Sovotnikov is looking for the KO!

Smith is rocked!
Sovotnikov throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Oh Smith is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sovotnikov throws a body shot but no joy.
Sovotnikov tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.
Sovotnikov fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith lands a nice hook to Sovotnikov's body. Sovotnikov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sovotnikov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sovotnikov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Sovotnikov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sovotnikov was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith lands a jab to Sovotnikov's midsection.
Sovotnikov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sovotnikov throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.
Smith throws a series of punches but Sovotnikov moves out of range.
Smith tries to clinch but Sovotnikov moves out of range.
Smith with the inside leg kick.
Smith throws a nice head kick!
A looping hook to the body misses from Sovotnikov. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sovotnikov misses with the combination.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sovotnikov.
As Sovotnikov looks to move away, Smith throws a big counter combo but Sovotnikov just gets out of the way.
Sovotnikov misses with a double jab.
Smith tries to bum rush Sovotnikov with a series of wild strikes but Sovotnikov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sovotnikov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sovotnikov throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Sovotnikov looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Sovotnikov throws the kick towards the body but Smith avoids it.
Sovotnikov looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Smith seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Sovotnikov throws a big shot that misses.
Smith is looking for a counter combo.
Sovotnikov misses with a left hand
and Smith counters with a series of strikes. Sovotnikov will be more careful next time no doubt.
A punch combination from Sovotnikov misses.
Sovotnikov misses with a hook
and Smith counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Sovotnikov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sovotnikov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sovotnikov loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Sovotnikov throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sovotnikov misses with a low kick.
Smith looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sovotnikov.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sovotnikov.
Smith tries to clinch but Sovotnikov is having none of it.
Sovotnikov scores with a punch to the head.
Sovotnikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Sovotnikov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Sovotnikov.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smith.
Sovotnikov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Sovotnikov looks for the body kick but Smith saw that one coming.
Smith is looking for a counter combo.
Sovotnikov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Sovotnikov.
Smith feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sovotnikov throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
Sovotnikov misses with a body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sovotnikov throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Smith tries to clinch there but Sovotnikov circles away.
Sovotnikov throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Sovotnikov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sloppy strikes from Sovotnikov. Those never looked like landing.
Sovotnikov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Smith is looking for a counter combo.
Sovotnikov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith tries to clinch up.
The fighters circling - Sovotnikov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A combination from Sovotnikov does no damage.
A big right from Sovotnikov misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Sovotnikov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sovotnikov looks for the body kick but Smith saw that one coming.
Smith went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Sovotnikov misses with a head kick.
Nice body kick there by Smith.
A swing and a miss from Sovotnikov.
Smith swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sovotnikov.
Sovotnikov throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sovotnikov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith checks the leg kick nicely there.
A slow jab from Sovotnikov misses its intended target.
Smith buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sovotnikov fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sovotnikov doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Sovotnikov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sovotnikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Sovotnikov pushes him off.
Smith plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sovotnikov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Sovotnikov misses.
Smith seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Sovotnikov looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Sovotnikov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sovotnikov keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sovotnikov misses with a punch to the body.
Sovotnikov working aggressively here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Smith.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Sovotnikov avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Sovotnikov circles away.
Sovotnikov fails to land with a series of punches.
Sovotnikov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sovotnikov throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Sovotnikov misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sovotnikov looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
Sovotnikov misses the shot to the body.
Smith moves out of range as Sovotnikov strikes.
Smith checks a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Sovotnikov.
Nice defenses there by Smith.
Sovotnikov just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSmith.
Sovotnikov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sovotnikov misses with a combination
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sovotnikov throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sovotnikov missing with a left hand there. Smith was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Sovotnikov rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sovotnikov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sovotnikov can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Smith prevents a body shot from Sovotnikov.
A head punch on the inside from Sovotnikov fails to land.
Smith working hard to break the clinch.

Sovotnikov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sovotnikov throws a big shot that misses.
Sovotnikov misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Sovotnikov looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Sovotnikov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fighters circling - Sovotnikov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Smith rushes Sovotnikov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Sovotnikov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith tries to clinch there but Sovotnikov circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sovotnikov misses with a few strikes there.
Sovotnikov tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Sovotnikov fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice defenses there by Smith.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sovotnikov.
Sovotnikov throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sovotnikov misses with a body shot.
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Smith.
Smith getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sovotnikov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith throws a series of punches but Sovotnikov avoids them all with ease.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sovotnikov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Sovotnikov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sovotnikov 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Sovotnikov!