PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hrvoje Kovacevic (ranked 165 p4p, 940 weight class) and Raimo Kivi (ranked 26 p4p, 141 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Kovacevic
vs
Kivi

188 cm
27
205
11 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
209
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 11 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hrvoje Kovacevic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Raimo Kivi!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kivi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kivi thumps Kovacevic with a low kick.
Kivi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kovacevic just misses with a punch to the body.
Kivi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kovacevic lands with a nice body punch.
Kovacevic takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kovacevic misses with a body punch
and Kivi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kivi slips under a jab from Kovacevic.
Kivi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kivi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kovacevic.
Kovacevic throws a lazy uppercut
and Kivi counters with a thumping low 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!
Kivi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A slow jab from Kovacevic misses its intended target.
Kovacevic definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kivi misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kovacevic darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kovacevic gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kovacevic throws a hook to the side of Kivi's head but Kivi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kivi just misses with a punch to the body.
Kivi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kovacevic.
Kivi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kivi avoids the body shot from Kovacevic.
It seemed like Kivi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice defenses there by Kovacevic.
Kovacevic avoids the body shot from Kivi.
Kivi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kovacevic misses with a right hand
and Kivi counters with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovacevic scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big right from Kivi misses.
Kovacevic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kivi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kivi throws a wild body kick that Kovacevic sees coming a mile off.
Kovacevic throws an overhand right that lands on Kivi's shoulder, as Kivi tries to avoid the shot.
Kovacevic throws a jab when Kivi was well out of range.
Kivi appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kivi throws a poor cross that misses
letting Kovacevic counter with a right hand.
Kovacevic throws a right hand that misses
and Kivi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kovacevic's knee momentarily.
Kivi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kovacevic momentarily.
Kovacevic throws a shot from downtown. Kivi moves away and avoids it.
A little jabbing left from Kivi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kivi lands a nice looking body kick.
Kovacevic just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovacevic on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kovacevic takes a swing at Kivi's ribcage but misses.
It seemed like Kivi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kivi.
Kivi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kovacevic appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kivi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kivi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kivi throws a body kick that misses.
Kovacevic was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kovacevic scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kivi doesn't seem bothered though.
Kovacevic on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kivi. Kivi obviously looking to wear him down.
Kovacevic throws an overhand right that lands on Kivi's shoulder, as Kivi tries to avoid the shot.
Kivi looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
We've been informed that Kivi has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Raimo Kivi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kivi throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Kovacevic counter with a right hand.
Kovacevic is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kovacevic throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kovacevic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kivi staying out of range there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovacevic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kivi moves away.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kovacevic crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kivi - the referee stops the clock and Kovacevic gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kivi. Kovacevic manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kovacevic throws a hook to the side of Kivi's head but Kivi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kivi! But no joy.
Kovacevic takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kivi misses the shot to the body.
Kivi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Kovacevic counter with a right hand.
Kovacevic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kivi circles away quickly and effectively.
Kivi scores with a jab to the head.
Kivi scores with a leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Raimo Kivi will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kivi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kovacevic throws a looping overhand right but Kivi ducks down to avoid it.
Kivi throws out a counter right but Kovacevic avoids it with no problem.
Kivi looks to throw the jab but Kovacevic is out of range.
Kovacevic is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kivi misses with a right hand
and Kovacevic counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Raimo Kivi has been cut.
Kovacevic throws a right hand that misses
and Kovacevic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kovacevic throws a hook to the side of Kivi's head but Kivi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kovacevic just misses with a punch to the body.
Kivi avoids the body shot from Kovacevic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kovacevic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kivi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kivi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kivi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kovacevic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivi jabs Kovacevic right on the nose. Kovacevic blinks but takes it well.
Kovacevic throws a hook but Kivi blocks it.
Kovacevic's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kivi under the eye.
Kivi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kovacevic keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kivi.
Kovacevic misses with a jab to the body
and Kovacevic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice body kick there by Kivi.
Kivi ducks under a wild hook from Kovacevic.
Kovacevic takes a swing at Kivi's ribcage but misses.
Kivi feints a counter leg kick.
Kivi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A big right from Kovacevic misses.
Kivi throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovacevic sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kivi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kivi.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovacevic uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kivi has time to react.
Kovacevic throws an overhand right that lands on Kivi's shoulder, as Kivi tries to avoid the shot.
Kivi thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Kovacevic if he has to take too many more of those.
Nice cross by Kovacevic.
Kovacevic tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kovacevic throws a jab but it's blocked by Kivi.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kivi.
Kivi connects with a solid leg kick.
Kivi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovacevic scores with a sloppy right hand. Kivi should have avoided that one.
Kivi slips a straight right by Kovacevic.
Kivi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kovacevic has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kivi.
Kovacevic chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kivi can pounce on him.
Kovacevic misses with an uppercut.
Kivi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kovacevic.
Kivi scores with a jab. Kovacevic acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kovacevic throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kivi counters with a stiff right hand.
Jab by Kivi.
Kovacevic lands with an uppercut that bounces Kivi off the cage and back into range.
Kovacevic misses with an uppercut
and Kivi counters with a good low kick that Kovacevic was not able to check.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kovacevic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kivi was well out of range. Poor timing from Kovacevic.
Kovacevic takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kovacevic thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kivi lands a jab.
Kovacevic rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kivi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Raimo Kivi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Decent striking displayed by Kivi there.
A big right from Kovacevic misses.
Kovacevic throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kivi counters with a leg kick.
A low kick lands for Kivi.
Kivi jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kovacevic lands with a good body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Kivi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raimo Kivi's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kovacevic cracks Kivi with a right hand to the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Kovacevic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kivi.
Kivi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Kivi.
Kivi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kovacevic was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kovacevic lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kivi throws a quick inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovacevic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Decent striking displayed by Kovacevic there.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Kivi in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Kivi scores with a punch to the head.
Kivi looks to score with a jab to the body but Kovacevic is just out of range.
Kovacevic will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovacevic misses with a hook
and Kivi counters with a solid body kick.
Kivi throws a hook but Kovacevic avoids it easily.

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

Kivi is rocked!
Kovacevic throws a pinpoint strike between Kivi's hands that connects right on the jaw and sends Kivi crashing to the floor! He's out before he even hits the mat and Kovacevic scores a great knockout victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Hrvoje Kovacevic!
Our winner, Hrvoje Kovacevic, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.