PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Esa Notkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taisto Kovakanki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Notkonen
vs
Kovakanki

194 cm
21
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
20
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Valhalla War Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Esa Notkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taisto Kovakanki!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut lands for Notkonen. That snapped Kovakanki's head back.
Notkonen keeps the fight on the outside.
Notkonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kovakanki manages to avoid it.

Notkonen instigates a clinch.
Kovakanki is working for takedown but Notkonen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Notkonen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Notkonen wants to get back to striking at distance but Kovakanki won't allow it.
Kovakanki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Notkonen's face.

It looks like Esa Notkonen has been cut.

Kovakanki breaks the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kovakanki.

Kovakanki rushes Notkonen and presses him up against the ropes.
Kovakanki wants to get back to striking at distance but Notkonen won't allow it.

Kovakanki breaks the clinch.
Notkonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Notkonen lands a nice looking body shot.
Kovakanki tries to clinch up.
Kovakanki takes a kick to the side of the head.
Notkonen misses with a body kick.
Kovakanki checks a leg kick.
Notkonen throws a head kick but Kovakanki moves out of range.
Notkonen tries to clinch

and Kovakanki counters by moving into the clinch.
Kovakanki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Notkonen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Kovakanki has Notkonen pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kovakanki pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Notkonen tumbling to the mat - Kovakanki dives into Notkonen's guard.
Kovakanki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Notkonen is keeping the position for now.
Notkonen being controlled here, momentarily.
Kovakanki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Notkonen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kovakanki trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Notkonen manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovakanki is trying to keep Notkonen in close.
Kovakanki should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kovakanki wants to sweep but no luck.

Notkonen stands up from Kovakanki's guard - Notkonen perhaps looking for a knockout.
Notkonen is breathing heavily.
Kovakanki misses with a takedown attempt - Notkonen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Esa Notkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taisto Kovakanki.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Notkonen breaks the clinch.

Kovakanki takes the fight into the clinch.
Kovakanki prevents Notkonen from breaking the clinch.

Kovakanki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Notkonen throws out a leg kick but Kovakanki moves out of range and Notkonen only half commits.

Notkonen tries to keep at a distance but Kovakanki has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kovakanki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kovakanki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kovakanki darts in trying to clinch
and Notkonen counters with a low kick, right behind Kovakanki 's knee.
A head kick misses from Notkonen.
A big right from Notkonen misses.
Notkonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Kovakanki.
Kovakanki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kovakanki fails with the takedown
and Notkonen counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovakanki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Esa Notkonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Notkonen lands a head kick!

Kovakanki has managed to clinch.
Kovakanki tries to pull guard but Notkonen holds him up against the ropes and eventually Kovakanki drops back down to his feet.

Kovakanki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Kovakanki.

Kovakanki moves into range and clinches up with Notkonen.
Kovakanki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Notkonen's elbow.

Notkonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kovakanki misses with a wild combination.
Notkonen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kovakanki.
Notkonen misses with a head kick.
Notkonen lands a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kovakanki instigates a clinch.
Come on Kovakanki - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kovakanki is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Notkonen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Notkonen can't break the clinch.
Kovakanki drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Notkonen gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Notkonen manages to break the clinch.
Notkonen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kovakanki tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Notkonen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Notkonen tries a head kick but it misses.
Notkonen throws a head kick that Kovakanki semi-blocks.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kovakanki.
Notkonen misses with a head kick.
Notkonen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Kovakanki is rocked!
Notkonen takes a swing at Kovakanki's ribcage but misses.
Kovakanki is still on wobbly legs! Can Notkonen finish him?
Notkonen tries a head kick but it misses.
Kovakanki seems to have recovered his senses.
Kovakanki blocks a head kick by Notkonen.
Notkonen throws a head kick that misses.
Notkonen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kovakanki on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Notkonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Kovakanki.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kovakanki takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kovakanki tries to clinch there but Notkonen circles away.
A left and a right from Kovakanki both land. Nice combination.

Kovakanki gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Notkonen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kovakanki has him pressed against the ropes.
Kovakanki has Notkonen pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Notkonen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Notkonen can't break the clinch.
Notkonen wants to break free but Kovakanki has control.

Notkonen breaks from the clinch.
Notkonen falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kovakanki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Notkonen has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kovakanki off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Notkonen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Notkonen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Notkonen keeps Kovakanki at a distance using the push kick.
Notkonen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Notkonen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kovakanki stands and throws Notkonen's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kovakanki is looking to take a break and control but Notkonen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kovakanki taking a breather here.
Kovakanki fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's eight 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.
Notkonen is not content to let Kovakanki control the position.
Kovakanki throws a strike aimed at the side of Notkonen's head but Notkonen avoids it well.
Kovakanki misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Kovakanki lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Notkonen down.
Notkonen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kovakanki.
Kovakanki misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kovakanki trying to control the action but Notkonen is working from the bottom.

Kovakanki decides to stand back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovakanki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Notkonen.
Notkonen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Notkonen misses with a head kick.
Kovakanki tries to clinch but Notkonen moves away
and Notkonen counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Kovakanki is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Kovakanki lands with a thumping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Esa Notkonen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Esa Notkonen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kovakanki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Notkonen pinned against the cage. Notkonen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kovakanki misses with a takedown attempt
and Notkonen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Esa Notkonen is winning the standup battle so far.
Notkonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Kovakanki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Notkonen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kovakanki wants to clinch.
Kovakanki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Esa Notkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taisto Kovakanki.

Notkonen takes the fight into the clinch.
Notkonen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Notkonen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Notkonen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Notkonen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Notkonen is pressed up against the ropes. Kovakanki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Notkonen down to the mat. Notkonen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Notkonen throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kovakanki's head.

Kovakanki clinches with his opponent.
Kovakanki missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Notkonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kovakanki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A good leg kick by Notkonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovakanki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kovakanki avoids the head kick by Notkonen.
Kovakanki shoots for a takedown but Notkonen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Kovakanki fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Notkonen, pushing him back against the ropes.
Kovakanki wants a takedown.

Kovakanki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Notkonen wants to clinch but Kovakanki slips to the side

and Kovakanki counters with a single leg into guard. Notkonen didn't expect that.
Kovakanki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Kovakanki gets to his feet. Notkonen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Kovakanki misses with a takedown attempt
and Notkonen counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Kovakanki pushes Notkonen up against the ropes in a clinch.
Kovakanki prevents Notkonen from breaking the clinch.
Notkonen wants to break free but Kovakanki has control.
Kovakanki changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Notkonen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Notkonen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A big head kick from Notkonen and Kovakanki is sent sprawling to the canvas!
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!
Notkonen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kovakanki is proving hard to escape from.

Kovakanki working for submissions but it's allowed Notkonen to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Notkonen is thwarting Kovakanki's attempts to control the position.
Kovakanki wants to improve his position but Notkonen is controlling well.

Kovakanki is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Notkonen pulls his head out easily.
Kovakanki is doing well to control the position and prevent Notkonen from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovakanki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kovakanki trying to hold on to Notkonen's head to control him but Notkonen postures up.
Kovakanki tries to roll over but Notkonen keeps him under control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Notkonen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kovakanki. That's going to slow Notkonen down.
Kovakanki shoots in but Notkonen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Notkonen lands with a shot to the body.
Notkonen throws a head kick that misses

and Kovakanki counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Notkonen breaks from the clinch.
Notkonen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A head kick from Notkonen lands but Kovakanki takes it in his stride.
Notkonen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Notkonen takes a swing at Kovakanki's ribcage but misses.
Taisto Kovakanki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovakanki tries to clinch up but Notkonen circles away and keeps his distance.

Kovakanki scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Kovakanki has hold of Notkonen's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Notkonen tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Kovakanki cranks the arm and Notkonen screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Notkonen, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Taisto Kovakanki!