PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Victor Kovas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rap Reiplinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kovas might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Bankrobber by The Clash . Rap Reiplinger has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kovas
vs
Reiplinger

190 cm
24
252 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

199 cm
24
247 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Kovas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rap Reiplinger!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reiplinger will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kovas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Reiplinger.
Kovas loads up on a big right hand but Reiplinger slips the punch.
Kovas thumps Reiplinger with a low kick.
Reiplinger avoids the body shot from Kovas.
Kovas takes a swing at Reiplinger's ribcage but misses.
Kovas misses with a shot to the body
and Reiplinger counters with a body kick that stops Kovas in his tracks momentarily.
Kovas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kovas feints and then cracks Reiplinger's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Reiplinger down.
Kovas throws a looping overhand right but Reiplinger ducks down to avoid it.
Kovas throws an off balance right hand
and Reiplinger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kovas throws a low kick but Reiplinger avoids it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Reiplinger checks a leg kick.
Kovas tries a low kick but Reiplinger avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reiplinger doesn't manage to clinch there - Kovas circles away.
Reiplinger changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kovas tries to avoid it but Reiplinger manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kovas to the ground. Kovas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Reiplinger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kovas manages to avoid it.
Kovas throws a front kick aimed at Reiplinger's knee but Reiplinger avoids it well.
Kovas throws a poor cross that misses
and Reiplinger counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Reiplinger lands with a shot to the body.
Kovas stuns Reiplinger with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kovas throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kovas throws an off balance right hand
and Reiplinger counters with a good low kick that Kovas was not able to check.
Reiplinger throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Victor Kovas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Reiplinger scores with a push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reiplinger throws a leg kick which misses Kovas's front leg but catches the back leg as Kovas tries to avoid it.
Kovas looks to throw the jab but Reiplinger is out of range.
Reiplinger lands the left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovas cracks Reiplinger with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kovas misses with a shot to the body
letting Reiplinger counter with a right hand.
Reiplinger feints and then cracks Kovas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kovas down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Reiplinger looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Victor Kovas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reiplinger is looking to clinch.
Reiplinger delivers a nice body kick.
Kovas throws a lazy uppercut
and Reiplinger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reiplinger takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kovas misses with a left hand
and Reiplinger counters with a nice body kick.
Kovas is breathing heavily.
Reiplinger fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kovas has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Reiplinger.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovas avoids a kick to the body.

Reiplinger closes the distance and pushes Kovas back into the cage.
A knee to the head by Reiplinger.

It looks like Victor Kovas has been cut.
Kovas takes an elbow to the temple.
Nice elbow from Reiplinger.
Kovas can't break the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Reiplinger takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kovas takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kovas tries to break the clinch but Reiplinger is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Kovas's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Reiplinger scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovas wants to break free but Reiplinger has control.
A frustrated look appears on Kovas's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kovas is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Reiplinger's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Kovas managing to block the knees to the body from Reiplinger.
Reiplinger lands an elbow inside.
Reiplinger pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Reiplinger tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kovas avoids it.
Reiplinger stalling.
Kovas is trying to break free.
Reiplinger content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Reiplinger drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kovas gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Victor Kovas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rap Reiplinger.
Kovas wants to get back to striking at distance but Reiplinger won't allow it.
Reiplinger drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kovas gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Reiplinger tries to land knees in the clinch but Kovas avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Reiplinger missing with knees to the body.
Reiplinger with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Reiplinger tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kovas's elbow.
Kovas tries to circle away but Reiplinger has him pinned against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rap Reiplinger dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Victor Kovas's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Reiplinger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kovas connects with a nice looking jab.
Rap Reiplinger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovas misses with an uppercut
and Reiplinger counters with a head kick. That will keep Kovas thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Kovas moves out of range of the body kick.
Reiplinger misses with a body kick.
Reiplinger looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kovas throws a leg kick
and Reiplinger counters with a low kick, right behind Kovas 's knee.
Kovas thows a leg kick but Reiplinger checks it
and Reiplinger counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Kovas blocks the body kick.
Rap Reiplinger seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kovas misses the body punch
and Reiplinger counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Reiplinger tries a head kick but it misses.
Reiplinger lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kovas's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reiplinger is looking to clinch but Kovas is avoiding it.

Reiplinger moves into the clinch.
Kovas is trying to break free.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kovas will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Reiplinger keeps control of Kovas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Reiplinger has Kovas pressed against the cage, preventing Kovas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Reiplinger lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Reiplinger has Kovas pressed against the cage, preventing Kovas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Reiplinger lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reiplinger lands a nice elbow.
A bit of stalling here from Reiplinger.
Kovas is trying to push Reiplinger away but Reiplinger has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Reiplinger comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kovas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Reiplinger tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Reiplinger is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Reiplinger landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovas avoids the elbow strike from Reiplinger, against the cage.

Kovas breaks the clinch.

Reiplinger has closed the distance and engaged Kovas in a clinch.
Reiplinger misses with a knee to the head.
Reiplinger is struggling to control the position.
Kovas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kovas looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Reiplinger manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Reiplinger continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Reiplinger tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kovas avoids it.

Kovas manages to break the clinch.
Kovas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Reiplinger's calf.
Kovas thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Reiplinger circles away quickly and effectively.
Reiplinger misses with a body kick.
Reiplinger does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kovas throws a leg kick
and Reiplinger counters with a right hand to the body.
Reiplinger tries to clinch but Kovas is having none of it.
Kovas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reiplinger.
Kovas misses with an uppercut
and Reiplinger counters with a body kick.
Kovas thows a leg kick but Reiplinger checks it
and Reiplinger counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kovas lands a right hook to the body.
Reiplinger pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reiplinger steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kovas.
Kovas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Reiplinger counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Reiplinger works his way into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovas takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Kovas is trying to control Reiplinger's posture but Reiplinger avoids it.
Kovas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kovas avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Reiplinger.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kovas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Reiplinger wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Reiplinger working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rap Reiplinger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Victor Kovas's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Reiplinger moves into the clinch.
Reiplinger misses with a knee to the head.
Reiplinger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kovas.
Reiplinger drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kovas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kovas looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kovas wants to break free but Reiplinger has control.

Kovas breaks the clinch.
Reiplinger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice shot lands for Kovas.
Kovas throws a low kick, looking for Reiplinger's leg but Reiplinger calmly moves out of range.
Reiplinger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kovas fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Reiplinger misses.
Kovas misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reiplinger tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kovas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kovas throws a right hand that misses
and Reiplinger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kovas cracks Reiplinger with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Reiplinger tries to clinch there but Kovas circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kovas. Reiplinger does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kovas misses with a body shot

and Reiplinger moves into the clinch.
Kovas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Kovas breaks the clinch.
Reiplinger throws a leg kick
and Kovas counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kovas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Reiplinger.
Kovas walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reiplinger blocks a low kick nicely.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kovas crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Reiplinger - the referee stops the clock and Kovas gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Reiplinger. Kovas manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kovas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Reiplinger was well out of range. Poor timing from Kovas.
Reiplinger tries to clinch but Kovas moves out of range.
Reiplinger doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kovas scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Reiplinger doesn't seem bothered though.
Reiplinger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovas connects with a solid leg kick.
Reiplinger needs to keep his hands up - Kovas had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like Rap Reiplinger has been cut.
Kovas throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Reiplinger bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kovas throws a hook but Reiplinger avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reiplinger checks a leg kick.
Reiplinger slips a jab and a cross from Kovas.
Kovas misses with an uppercut
and Reiplinger counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Kovas misses with a shot to the body
and Reiplinger counters with a nice uppercut.
Reiplinger drops his hands momentarily and Kovas takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kovas is looking to chop away at Reiplinger's legs.
Kovas misses with a leg kick
and Reiplinger counters with a straight right hand.
Kovas just misses with a punch to the body.
Reiplinger tries to clinch but Kovas moves out of range.
Kovas throws a leg kick but Reiplinger moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reiplinger showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovas.

Reiplinger closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Reiplinger is struggling to control the position.
Reiplinger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kovas.
A frustrated look appears on Kovas's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Reiplinger lands a nice knee to the body.
Kovas blocks an elbow strike from Reiplinger.
Reiplinger lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kovas wants to break free but Reiplinger has control.
Victor Kovas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Reiplinger works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reiplinger slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Reiplinger tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

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 Victor Kovas.
Well Reiplinger 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rap Reiplinger!