PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dragan Kovach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anigilyator Usurpator (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kovach
vs
Usurpator

190 cm
25
130 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
130 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dragan Kovach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anigilyator Usurpator!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Usurpator fails with the takedown
and Kovach counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kovach tries to clinch

and Usurpator counters with a single leg into guard. Kovach didn't expect that.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kovach is looking to stand up but Usurpator isn't so interested in that idea.
Usurpator tries to free his leg and advance position but Kovach is retaining full guard.
Usurpator won't allow Kovach to get back to his feet.
Kovach really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dragan Kovach wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Usurpator looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Usurpator really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kovach. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Usurpator stops Kovach from standing up.
Kovach is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Usurpator dives into side control.
Kovach wants to get back to his feet.
The referee asks Usurpator politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Usurpator prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovach is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kovach pushes Usurpator away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Usurpator gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Usurpator is staying tight to Kovach's torso, preventing him from escaping.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Anigilyator Usurpator.

Usurpator shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kovach's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usurpator showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Usurpator with a poor takedown

and Kovach counters with a takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Usurpator is looking for a sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Usurpator can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kovach stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Kovach tries to sprawl but Usurpator drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kovach is breathing heavily.
Usurpator with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anigilyator Usurpator dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Usurpator closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kovach looks like he's trying to stand up.
Usurpator is looking to advance position but Kovach won't allow it.
Usurpator works his way into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovach is controlling an arm, preventing Usurpator from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Usurpator looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Usurpator's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kovach is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Anigilyator Usurpator.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kovach enables Usurpator to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kovach manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usurpator's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Usurpator stops Kovach from standing up.
Usurpator must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Usurpator closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Anigilyator Usurpator has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kovach wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Usurpator not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anigilyator Usurpator showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Usurpator gets the takedown into side control.
Usurpator avoids the strikes from the bottom by Kovach.
A lull in the action here.
Kovach pushes Usurpator away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Usurpator gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovach trying to remain calm as Usurpator controls from the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Anigilyator Usurpator wasn't active enough on the ground.

Usurpator shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Usurpator showed some decent athleticism there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kovach kicks off Usurpator and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usurpator shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kovach counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Usurpator looking for a sweep. Not yet Usurpator, not yet.
Kovach in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Usurpator tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kovach wanted to stand there but Usurpator had control of the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Usurpator holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Usurpator looking for a sweep. Not yet Usurpator, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dragan Kovach just wasn't active enough.

Usurpator throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kovach tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Usurpator is in Kovach's guard.
Usurpator slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Usurpator got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kovach has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Usurpator has managed to get both his arms back between Kovach's legs - danger averted.
Usurpator is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Dragan Kovach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Anigilyator Usurpator has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Usurpator shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kovach is trying to defend but Usurpator finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Still in half guard, Usurpator seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anigilyator Usurpator comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Usurpator winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anigilyator Usurpator!