PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oleg Kovnir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emelyanenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kovnir might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to National Anthem of Ukraine. This should be fireworks!

Kovnir
vs
Emelyanenko

195 cm
20
280 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
21
250 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Oleg Kovnir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fedor Emelyanenko!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelyanenko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kovnir, right into the meat.
Kovnir connects with a right hand. Emelyanenko shakes it off.
Kovnir misses with a wild combination.
An inside leg kick lands from Kovnir.
A nice combination there by Kovnir.
No joy there for Kovnir, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kovnir could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Emelyanenko takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kovnir misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovnir throws a series of punches but Emelyanenko avoids them all with ease.
Kovnir looks to land a body kick but Emelyanenko moved away.
Kovnir throws a series of punches but Emelyanenko moves out of range.
Kovnir fails to land with a series of punches.
Kovnir works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Emelyanenko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kovnir.
No joy there for Kovnir, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kovnir is looking to slow Emelyanenko down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Kovnir does it's job there.
Nice sprawl there from Kovnir as Emelyanenko shoots in.
Emelyanenko has a takedown stuffed.
Oleg Kovnir has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelyanenko.
Kovnir misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kovnir misses with a combination

and Emelyanenko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Emelyanenko.
Emelyanenko looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Emelyanenko passes Kovnir's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovnir is looking to escape.

Kovnir manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Kovnir throws a series of punches but Emelyanenko moves out of range.
Kovnir fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A head kick by Kovnir misses

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Emelyanenko is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kovnir is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Emelyanenko looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Emelyanenko looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fedor Emelyanenko will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kovnir moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kovnir scores with a jab to the body.
No luck for Emelyanenko with that takedown attempt.
Kovnir lands with an overhand left.
Kovnir scores with a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovnir throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Emelyanenko.
Kovnir throws a head kick that half lands.
Emelyanenko shoots for a takedown but Kovnir saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Emelyanenko is breathing heavily.
Emelyanenko misses with a takedown attempt - Kovnir sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Oleg Kovnir has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelyanenko.
Kovnir lands a nice shot to the body.
Emelyanenko takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Emelyanenko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovnir throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Emelyanenko.
Emelyanenko walks into a jab.
Kovnir scores with a hook to the body. Emelyanenko takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kovnir!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovnir paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Emelyanenko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kovnir tries to bum rush Emelyanenko with a series of wild strikes but Emelyanenko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kovnir misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovnir lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Kovnir lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Emelyanenko backs up against the cage.
Emelyanenko has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Emelyanenko there as he acknowledges the shot.
Oleg Kovnir is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovnir lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Emelyanenko at a distance.
Kovnir goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Emelyanenko avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovnir throws a series of punches but Emelyanenko moves out of range.
Kovnir looks to land a combination. Emelyanenko sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kovnir jabs Emelyanenko to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kovnir looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovnir works Emelyanenko's body with a nice hook.
Kovnir throws a combination that misses

and Emelyanenko counters with a shoot takedown. Kovnir fights it but they end up in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Kovnir dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kovnir will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kovnir lands a nice shot to the body.
Kovnir misses with a few strikes there.
Some wild striking there from Kovnir.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelyanenko has a takedown stuffed.
Emelyanenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Oleg Kovnir is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Emelyanenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovnir's corner calls for a 1-2. Kovnir obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kovnir throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kovnir misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Kovnir.
Kovnir misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovnir throws a combination. Emelyanenko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Oleg Kovnir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Kovnir. Those never looked like landing.
Kovnir lands a head kick. Emelyanenko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A head kick by Kovnir misses

and Emelyanenko decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kovnir's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kovnir is looking to stand up but Emelyanenko isn't so interested in that idea.
Kovnir is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Emelyanenko dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovnir is pushing Emelyanenko's head away, looking to escape. Emelyanenko manages to hold on to the position though.

Emelyanenko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Emelyanenko prevents Kovnir from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kovnir bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Kovnir misses with a two punch combination.
Oleg Kovnir is winning the standup battle so far.
Kovnir lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Emelyanenko circles away quickly and effectively.
Emelyanenko shoots in looking for a takedown but Kovnir manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Emelyanenko's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Oleg Kovnir has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelyanenko.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovnir scores with a shot to the body.
Kovnir works Emelyanenko's body with a nice hook.

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 Oleg Kovnir.
I think Kovnir has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oleg Kovnir!