PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mor Onfollow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Povetkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Onfollow
vs
Povetkin

185 cm
27
178 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

185 cm
25
187 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mor Onfollow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Alexander Povetkin!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Onfollow has a takedown stuffed.
Povetkin misses the jab.
Povetkin lands an overhand right.
Onfollow swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Onfollow misses with a hook. Povetkin ducked under it nicely.
Onfollow has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Onfollow there as he acknowledges the shot.
Onfollow looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Povetkin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Povetkin misses the jab.
Onfollow moves away from the strike by Povetkin.
Onfollow pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Onfollow ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Onfollow.
Onfollow fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Povetkin avoids it really well and circles away.
Povetkin takes a kick to the side of the head.
Povetkin looks to throw the jab but Onfollow is out of range.
Onfollow shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mor Onfollow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Onfollow misses with a low kick as Povetkin jumps back.
Onfollow fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Onfollow closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Onfollow lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Onfollow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Povetkin is keeping the position for now.
Povetkin looking for a sweep. Not yet Povetkin, not yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Povetkin keeping moving, preventing Onfollow from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mor Onfollow wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Onfollow shoots for a double leg takedown but Povetkin sprawls well. He's pushed Onfollow's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Povetkin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Onfollow misses with the combination.
Onfollow misses with the combination.
Onfollow avoids the head kick by Povetkin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Povetkin stuffs the takedown.
Povetkin is looking to land body kicks.
Povetkin connects with a jab.
Povetkin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Onfollow looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Povetkin loads up on a big right hand but Onfollow slips the punch.
Onfollow defending well as Povetkin loads up on a big left hand.
Onfollow misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Povetkin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Onfollow throws a sloppy head kick and Povetkin moves out of range easily.
Povetkin throws a head kick but Onfollow moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Povetkin will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Onfollow looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Onfollow looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Onfollow is trying hard to land a takedown here. Povetkin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mor Onfollow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Onfollow shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Povetkin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Onfollow misses with a head kick.
Povetkin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Onfollow at a distance.
Onfollow tries to score a power double leg takedown but Povetkin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Onfollow somewhat.
Povetkin lands a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Onfollow misses with a series of wild punches.
Povetkin scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Good work by Onfollow as he checks the leg kick.
Povetkin misses with a wild body shot.
Onfollow throws a right and a left that Povetkin avoids nicely.
Onfollow shoots in but Povetkin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Povetkin swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Onfollow listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Povetkin slaps away a takedown attempt from Onfollow, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Onfollow uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Povetkin.
Alexander Povetkin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Povetkin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Onfollow uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Povetkin.
Povetkin stuffs the takedown attempt from Onfollow. Onfollow gets slowly back to his feet.
Povetkin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Onfollow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Onfollow drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Onfollow wants to lay and pray for a moment but Povetkin keeps working.
Povetkin keeping his opponent close.
Onfollow creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Povetkin sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Onfollow taking a breather here.
Onfollow wants to lay and pray for a moment but Povetkin keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexander Povetkin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Povetkin cracks the inside of Onfollow's front leg.
Povetkin loads up on a big right hand but Onfollow slips the punch.
Onfollow avoids the head kick by Povetkin.
A chopping leg kick lands by Onfollow.
Povetkin misses with an uppercut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Onfollow.
Good work by Povetkin as he checks the leg kick.
Onfollow misses with a takedown attempt - Povetkin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Povetkin lands with an uppercut that bounces Onfollow off the cage and back into range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Povetkin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Onfollow's head.
A clash of legs there as Onfollow blocks the low kick.
Povetkin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Onfollow.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mor Onfollow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Povetkin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Onfollow slips a jab from Povetkin.

Onfollow drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Onfollow is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Mor Onfollow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexander Povetkin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mor Onfollow.
Onfollow is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Povetkin.
Onfollow looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Onfollow closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Povetkin to the mat! Povetkin manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Onfollow wants to control from the top but Povetkin keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Onfollow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Povetkin is keeping the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Onfollow throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Mor Onfollow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Povetkin avoids the head kick by Onfollow.
Onfollow shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Onfollow fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Povetkin avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin scores with a head kick.
Onfollow shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Povetkin as he avoids it easily.
Sloppy strikes from Onfollow. Those never looked like landing.
Onfollow misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Povetkin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Povetkin digs a good body shot into Onfollow's ribs.

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 Mor Onfollow.
I think Povetkin 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Povetkin!
Alexander Povetkin thanked the fans post fight for their support.