PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Runfor Cover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Deki Stankovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stankovic has chosen Kosovo-Vidovdan as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Cover
vs
Stankovic

180 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

173 cm
25
163 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Runfor Cover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Deki Stankovic!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cover swinging wildly here.
Cover throws a left and a right that both miss
and Stankovic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stankovic throws a body punch but Cover moves out of range.
Cover misses with a combination
and Stankovic counters with a right hand to the body.
Cover uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stankovic.
Cover throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Stankovic counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cover!

Stankovic moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Cover has worked his arm free - good work by Cover!

Stankovic tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stankovic has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cover wants to control but Stankovic postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stankovic wants to control but Cover is keeping him busy.
Stankovic is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Cover can't do much from the bottom here.
Stankovic wants to control but Cover is keeping him busy.
Cover on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cover tries to get out of the position.
Cover is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stankovic tries to score with some ground and pound. Cover controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stankovic 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 Stankovic.
Stankovic throws a strike aimed at the side of Cover's head but Cover avoids it well.
Cover defending against the ground and pound.
Stankovic cracks Cover with a big elbow.

Stankovic thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Stankovic thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cover is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stankovic looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stankovic wants to control but Cover is keeping him busy.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stankovic is thwarting Cover's attempts to control the position.
Stankovic is just content to waste time from the top position. Cover takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Stankovic prevents Cover from getting back to his feet.
Cover utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stankovic wants to control from the top but Cover keeps moving.
Stankovic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stankovic working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cover looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stankovic is one step ahead there.
Stankovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Cover is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cover working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stankovic.
Cover can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stankovic controls the pace.
Stankovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Cover is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deki Stankovic dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cover slips a straight right by Stankovic.
Sloppy strikes from Cover. Those never looked like landing.
Cover throws a right hand that Stankovic ducks under and follows up with a left that Stankovic also avoids with ease.
Cover throws a combination that misses

and Stankovic counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cover won't be happy with that.
Stankovic working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Stankovic in side control, throwing shots but Cover defends.
Stankovic trying to control the position but Cover is working away.
Stankovic scores with a couple of short elbows.
Cover on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Cover tries to bench press Stankovic off him but Stankovic keeps the position.
Cover regains half guard, as Stankovic was trying to land strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stankovic is looking to take a break and control but Cover is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stankovic not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stankovic thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cover's head.
Stankovic is trying to control. Cover wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cover tries to roll over but Stankovic keeps him under control.
Cover pushes Stankovic off looking to stand but Stankovic dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stankovic missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cover avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stankovic.
Stankovic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cover defending well though.
Stankovic tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cover knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Stankovic is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cover doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Stankovic.
Cover controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stankovic works his way into full mount!
Cover wants to hold on but Stankovic pushes him away.
Stankovic throws some wild stikes that Cover manages to avoid easily.
Cover knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stankovic on the ground.
Stankovic connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Cover wants to hold on but Stankovic pushes him away.
Stankovic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cover is looking to escape.

Cover defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Stankovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stankovic connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Stankovic unloads with some shots from mount but Cover bucks and avoids them well.
Stankovic wants to control the pace but Cover is squirming around nicely.
Stankovic won't let Cover get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Cover is looking to improve his position but Stankovic isn't that keen on the idea.
Cover sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deki Stankovic 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. This is the final round!

Stankovic fails with an attempt to clinch.
A slow jab from Stankovic misses its intended target.
Cover throws a combination that misses
and Stankovic counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cover thinking.
Stankovic dodges the punch combination from Cover.
Stankovic throws the left hand but Cover avoids the punch easily.
Cover tries to bum rush Stankovic with a series of wild strikes but Stankovic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stankovic throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cover looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Runfor Cover is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stankovic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cover moves away.
Cover misses with a few strikes there.
Stankovic moves to clinch but Cover breaks away
and Cover counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Cover.
Stankovic shoots in for a takedown but Cover shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stankovic just misses with a punch to the body.
Stankovic slips a jab and a cross from Cover.
Stankovic moves in looking to clinch but Cover pushes him off.
Cover falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Stankovic counter with a right hand.
Stankovic misses with a hook
and Cover counters with a left and a right that stings Stankovic.
Stankovic misses with an uppercut
and Cover counters with a three punch combo that has Stankovic backing up. Stankovic nods at Cover to acknowledge the strikes.
Cover swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stankovic with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cover counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cover misses with a wild combination.
Stankovic misses with a body shot
and Cover counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cover misses with a combination

and Stankovic counters by moving into the clinch.
Stankovic tries to pull guard but Cover holds him up against the cage and eventually Stankovic drops back down to his feet.
Runfor Cover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Deki Stankovic.
Cover lands with a left to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cover.
Stankovic tries a body shot but Cover blocks it.
Stankovic tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stankovic is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cover pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stankovic fails to pull guard.

Cover breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cover falls off balance throwing a combination

and Stankovic moves into the clinch.

Cover breaks the clinch.
Cover fails to land with a series of punches.
Cover will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cover misses with a double jab
and Stankovic counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cover swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cover takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Runfor Cover is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cover throws a left and a right that both miss
and Stankovic counters with a straight right hand.
Cover misses with a double jab.
Cover misses with a two punch combination.
Cover throws a combination that misses
and Stankovic counters with a nice body shot.
Cover misses with a two punch combination.
Cover fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stankovic takes a swing at Cover's ribcage but misses.
Stankovic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cover.
Stankovic tries to clinch but Cover is having none of it.
Cover swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Stankovic counters with a nice uppercut.
Runfor Cover has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stankovic tries to clinch up
and Cover counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Stankovic throws a shot to the body.
Cover throws a combination that misses
and Stankovic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cover misses with a combination
and Stankovic counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cover thinking.
Cover throws a left and a right that both miss
and Stankovic counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cover misses with a double jab
and Stankovic counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A combination from Cover does no damage.
Stankovic tries to clinch but Cover is having none of it.
Deki Stankovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stankovic misses with a body shot.

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 Runfor Cover.
I think Stankovic has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Deki Stankovic!