PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mort Kovalev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Karpov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kovalev
vs
Karpov

175 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Beast Body

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mort Kovalev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Karpov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovalev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Karpov swivels and escapes.
Karpov looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Kovalev shoots in but no luck this time.
Kovalev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kovalev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Karpov avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mort Kovalev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karpov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Karpov throws a series of punches but Kovalev avoids them all with ease.
Kovalev shoots in and drives through. Karpov sprawls well.
Karpov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kovalev circles away quickly and effectively.
Kovalev walks into a straight right hand from Karpov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalev takes one to the side of the head.
Kovalev shoots in for a takedown but Karpov shows good takedown defense.
Karpov lands a two punch combo.
Kovalev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Karpov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kovalev to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev throws and elbow that misses. Karpov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kovalev's guard. Nice move by Karpov!

Karpov gets to his feet. Kovalev looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Karpov lands with a shot to the body.
Kovalev shoots for a takedown but Karpov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Karpov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kovalev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Karpov tries to avoid it but Kovalev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Karpov to the ground. Karpov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kovalev blocks a head kick by Karpov.
Some wild striking there from Karpov.

Karpov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karpov decides to stand and escape the position.
Kovalev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Karpov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Karpov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Karpov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kovalev's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karpov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kovalev working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karpov gets to his feet. Kovalev looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Kovalev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Karpov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kovalev is trying to stand up here but Karpov is controlling him well.
Karpov is taking a breather. Kovalev 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.
Karpov wants to control but Kovalev is keeping him busy.
Kovalev is looking to improve his position.
Kovalev wants to stand back up but Karpov manages to pass into side control.

Karpov decides to stand back up. Karpov steps back and let's Kovalev get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev darts in trying to clinch
and Karpov counters with a stiff right hand.
Kovalev takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kovalev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Karpov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Karpov postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Kovalev to stand up.
Karpov swinging wildly here.
Kovalev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Karpov counters by clinching up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karpov stops a takedown attempt from Kovalev.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Karpov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kovalev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Karpov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Karpov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Karpov decides to stand and escape the position.
Kovalev misses with a takedown attempt
and Karpov counters with a series of strikes. Kovalev will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kovalev with a poor takedown
and Karpov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mort Kovalev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karpov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kovalev closes the distance looking to clinch
and Karpov counters with a two punch combo.
Karpov displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kovalev darts in trying to clinch
and Karpov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kovalev feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kovalev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Karpov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kovalev distracts Karpov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kovalev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Karpov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kovalev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kovalev is looking to advance position but Karpov has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Karpov controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev is wriggling around trying to escape.
Karpov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mikhail Karpov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kovalev is looking to get to half guard.
Kovalev is working hard here to advance position.
Karpov controlling the pace for now.
Kovalev is squirming around, avoiding Karpov's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Kovalev trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Karpov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Karpov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kovalev is looking to escape.
Kovalev is desperately trying to improve his position but Karpov has a good base and remains in mount.
Karpov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kovalev is squirming around, avoiding Karpov's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Karpov 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kovalev drives through with a takedown into guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mikhail Karpov.
Kovalev has his takedown stuffed
and Karpov counters with a one-two to the body.
Kovalev tries to close the distance and clinch but Karpov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Karpov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kovalev has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kovalev and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kovalev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karpov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kovalev somewhat.
Kovalev tries to clinch but Karpov is having none of it.
Karpov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Karpov wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mort Kovalev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Karpov moves into the clinch.

Karpov manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev shoots and misses
and Karpov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Kovalev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kovalev lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kovalev throws a strike but Karpov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kovalev is working an open guard so Karpov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kovalev with a poor takedown
and Karpov counters with a two punch combo.
Karpov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kovalev with a poor takedown

and Karpov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kovalev looking for a takedown.
Mikhail Karpov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Karpov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kovalev is working for takedown but Karpov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kovalev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Karpov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Karpov is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Karpov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kovalev keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Karpov's efforts to push away.
Karpov is trying to break the clinch but Kovalev is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Karpov gets underhooks to prevent Kovalev's takedown attempt.
Karpov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kovalev is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Karpov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Karpov's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Mort Kovalev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karpov is trying to force a seperation but Kovalev has the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mikhail Karpov.
Well Karpov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikhail Karpov!