PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joji Poppa (ranked 6741 p4p, 5943 weight class) and Eberhard Kovac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joji Poppa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Poppa
vs
Kovac

179 cm
25
180
1 - 3 - 0

186 cm
24
190
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joji Poppa!
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, Eberhard Kovac!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poppa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kovac.
Poppa looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kovac.
Poppa seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Poppa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kovac counters by clinching up.
Kovac lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Poppa is trying to push Kovac away but Kovac has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Kovac breaks from the clinch.
Poppa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kovac is looking for the big counter here.
Kovac dives in for a single leg takedown but Poppa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Joji Poppa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eberhard Kovac.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Poppa. Those never looked like landing.
Kovac darts in looking for a takedown but Poppa gets double underhooks and turns Kovac into the cage.
Poppa misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poppa blocks a head kick by Kovac.
Kovac blocks a head kick by Poppa.

Kovac takes the fight into the clinch.
Poppa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kovac.
Poppa prevents the takedown attempt.

Kovac breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kovac misses with a two punch combination.
It looked like Poppa was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Kovac shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Poppa to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Kovac does no damage.
Poppa looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Poppa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kovac counters by moving into the clinch.
Kovac tries to pull guard but Poppa forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Poppa tries to land knees in the clinch but Kovac avoids the damage to the body.
Poppa tries to stall but Kovac uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Kovac manages to break the clinch.
Poppa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kovac.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kovac is defended easily by Poppa.
Poppa misses with a body kick.
Kovac fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Poppa avoids it really well and circles away.
As Kovac tries to get set, Poppa tries to push him back and clinch up but Kovac manages to avoid the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovac looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Kovac has Poppa up against the cage in a clinch.

Kovac manages to pull guard.

Kovac is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Poppa throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kovac has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Poppa is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Kovac is stalling here.
Kovac tries for a takedown but Poppa manages to get underhooks.
Kovac wants to take the fight to the mat but Poppa manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Poppa is trying to break free.

Poppa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kovac shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
It looked like Poppa was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Kovac looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eberhard Kovac will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Kovac.
Kovac tries for a takedown but Poppa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Poppa tries to keep at a distance but Kovac has taken the fight into the clinch.
Poppa is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Joji Poppa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eberhard Kovac.
Poppa can't break the clinch.

Kovac breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovac throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Poppa's waist but Poppa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kovac off to one side.
Kovac has a takedown stuffed.
Poppa appears to be looking for a big counter.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kovac swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poppa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Poppa throws a head kick that misses.
Joji Poppa is winning the standup battle so far.
Poppa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kovac shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Poppa as he avoids it easily.
Poppa throws a head kick that Kovac semi-blocks.
Kovac takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kovac with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kovac takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Poppa lands a jab to Kovac's midsection.
Kovac throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Poppa's waist but Poppa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kovac off to one side.
Joji Poppa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovac shoots for a takedown but Poppa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poppa tries to clinch but Kovac is having none of it.
Nice jab there from Poppa.
Poppa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Poppa wants it to stay on the feet.

Kovac moves into range and clinches up with Poppa.
Kovac is working for takedown but Poppa is calmly controlling the position for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Poppa manages to break the clinch.
Poppa avoids the head kick by Kovac.
Kovac takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kovac shoots in and drives through. Poppa sprawls well.
Kovac shoots for a double leg takedown but Poppa sprawls well. He's pushed Kovac's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poppa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Poppa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kovac.
Poppa throws a sloppy head kick and Kovac moves out of range easily.

Kovac moves into range and clinches up with Poppa.
Poppa is trying to break the clinch but Kovac has him pressed against the cage.

Kovac pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kovac 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.

Kovac has his foot on Poppa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Poppa works his way back into a safe position though.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Poppa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kovac seems keen to control Poppa's posture.
Poppa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poppa wants to control from the top but Kovac keeps moving.

Kovac pushes Poppa off and gets back to his feet.
Kovac shoots in but Poppa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Poppa looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Poppa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A little jabbing left from Kovac on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Kovac gets a clinch.
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!
Kovac goes for a takedown attempt but Poppa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kovac takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joji Poppa dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kovac closes the distance and clinches.
Kovac wants a takedown but no success here.
A frustrated look appears on Poppa's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Poppa looking to stall.
Kovac tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Poppa's elbow.
Kovac landing knees to the body.

Kovac manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kovac closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Poppa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kovac.
Kovac jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Poppa walks away with a smile on his face. Kovac gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Joji Poppa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eberhard Kovac.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poppa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kovac.
Poppa tries a head kick but it misses.
Kovac steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Poppa.

Kovac moves into the clinch.
Kovac misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Poppa.
Kovac tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Poppa's elbow.
Kovac is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Poppa to keep the fight standing.
Kovac stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kovac avoiding damage.
Eberhard Kovac seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Kovac moves into range and clinches up with Poppa.
Poppa can't break the clinch.
Kovac stalling against the cage.
Kovac keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Poppa's efforts to push away.
Kovac tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Poppa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Poppa tries to circle away but Kovac has him pinned against the cage.
Poppa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kovac.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kovac jumps guard.

Kovac is looking for a triangle but Poppa pushes his legs off easily.
Poppa is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Kovac is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Poppa is aware though and is defending well.
Poppa trying to control but Kovac is working from the bottom.
Poppa wants to stand but Kovac has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four 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.
Kovac manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Poppa manages to get himself to full guard.

Poppa keeping full guard, as Kovac tries to pass.
Kovac sitting in guard, not really doing much.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eberhard Kovac comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kovac 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eberhard Kovac!