PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ivgeny Chumakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Runfor Cover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chumakov comes to the cage accompanied by Little Wing - SRV. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Chumakov
vs
Cover

170 cm
20
160 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivgeny Chumakov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Runfor Cover!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Cover does no damage.
Chumakov looks to land a left hand but Cover moved out of range nicely.
Cover throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cover misses with a combination

and Chumakov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cover won't be happy with that.

Chumakov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Cover throws a right hand that Chumakov ducks under and follows up with a left that Chumakov also avoids with ease.
Cover moves out of range of the body kick from Chumakov.
Cover throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cover misses with a double jab

and Chumakov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cover won't be happy with that.

Chumakov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cover knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Chumakov in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Chumakov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cover knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Chumakov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Chumakov tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Cover is looking for a sweep.
Cover can't do much from the bottom here.

Chumakov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cover has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cover tries to bench press Chumakov off him but Chumakov keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Chumakov is trying to get an arm triangle but Cover is defending well.
Cover is not content to let Chumakov control the position.
Cover struggling a bit here.
What's Cover going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Chumakov is trying to get an arm triangle but Cover is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cover tries to bench press Chumakov off him but Chumakov keeps the position.
Cover avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Chumakov.

Chumakov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Chumakov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cover tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Chumakov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cover struggling a bit here.

Chumakov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Cover has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Chumakov but great work by Cover.
Cover controls the position.
Cover throws an elbow but Chumakov slips to the side and avoids it well.
Cover trying to control the position but Chumakov is working away.
Cover is staying tight to Chumakov's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Cover decides to stand back up.
Chumakov tries to bum rush Cover with a series of wild strikes but Cover uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from Cover does no damage.
Cover misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivgeny Chumakov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cover misses with a double jab.
No joy there for Cover, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
No joy there for Cover, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cover falls off balance throwing a combination
and Chumakov counters with a one-two to the body.

Chumakov gets a clinch.
Cover has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cover tries to break the clinch but Chumakov is controlling the position.

Chumakov pulls guard successfully.
Cover won't allow Chumakov to sweep him here.
Cover stops Chumakov from standing up.
Cover pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chumakov is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cover won't allow Chumakov to get back to his feet.

Chumakov has his foot on Cover's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cover works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Chumakov has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Cover is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Chumakov.

Cover decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cover lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Chumakov circles away quickly and effectively.
Cover misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Cover.
Chumakov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cover moves away.
Cover falls off balance throwing a combination

and Chumakov counters with a takedown into side control.
Chumakov is looking to take a break and control but Cover is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cover dodges the ground and pound from Chumakov.
Cover tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cover really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Chumakov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chumakov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cover can do anything to dispel that myth.
Chumakov trying to control the action but Cover is working from the bottom.
Cover is trying to improve his position.
Cover keeps Chumakov under control for a moment.

Chumakov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cover knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ivgeny Chumakov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Cover tries to bench press Chumakov off him but Chumakov keeps the position.
Cover can't do much from the bottom here.
Cover tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Chumakov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ground and pound from Chumakov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's four 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.
Chumakov working the ground and pound but Cover is defending the strikes.

Chumakov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cover, who protects the arm well.
Cover can't do much from the bottom here.
Cover is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Chumakov off and has taken his back!
Cover biding his time, looking for the opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivgeny Chumakov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cover looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cover throws a left and a right that both miss

and Chumakov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Chumakov looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chumakov trying to control the position from guard on top but Cover is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cover manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cover takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chumakov is looking to improve his position but Cover isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cover sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Runfor Cover has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Cover swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cover throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cover lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Chumakov circles away quickly and effectively.

Cover gets caught flat footed, as Chumakov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Chumakov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cover is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Chumakov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cover swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Chumakov stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cover throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cover misses with a wild combination.
Cover throws a left and a right that both miss
and Chumakov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Chumakov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cover as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cover lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Chumakov circles away quickly and effectively.
Cover avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cover tries to bum rush Chumakov with a series of wild strikes but Chumakov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Some wild striking there from Chumakov.
Cover misses with a two punch combination.
Chumakov shoots for a double leg takedown but Cover sprawls well. He's pushed Chumakov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cover throws a series of punches but Chumakov moves out of range.
A punch combination from Cover misses.
Chumakov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Runfor Cover seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Chumakov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Chumakov showed some decent athleticism there.
Cover regains full guard. Nicely done.
Runfor Cover has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chumakov wants to control from the top but Cover keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cover is on top in guard.

Cover gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cover lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cover misses with a wild combination.
Chumakov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cover doesn't seem bothered though.
Ivgeny Chumakov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Chumakov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivgeny Chumakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chumakov avoids a punch combination nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ivgeny Chumakov.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Chumakov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivgeny Chumakov!