PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hans Gruber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Kovalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gruber kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Irwin Goodman - St. Pauli Ja Reeperbahn. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gruber
vs
Kovalov

180 cm
28
187 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

170 cm
31
196 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hans Gruber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Kovalov!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gruber checks a low kick from Kovalov.
Kovalov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gruber can pounce on him.
Kovalov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gruber misses the body punch
and Kovalov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gruber tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gruber tries to land a front kick but Kovalov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gruber jabs Kovalov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gruber goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kovalov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gruber lands a glancing blow to the side of Kovalov's head.
Kovalov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gruber.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gruber digs a good body shot into Kovalov's ribs.
Gruber throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Antonio Kovalov has been cut.

Kovalov gets tackled into the cage by Gruber. Gruber maintains the clinch.
Gruber stalling.
Kovalov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gruber throws an elbow that misses.
Gruber working Kovalov over with knees to the body.
Kovalov misses with a body punch.
Knees to the body from Gruber.
Gruber working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gruber tries to work over Kovalov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Kovalov is trying to trip Gruber. He has hold of a leg but Gruber is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kovalov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Kovalov trying to control the position from guard on top but Gruber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gruber preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gruber tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gruber keeping moving, preventing Kovalov from controlling successfully.
Kovalov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gruber keeping moving, preventing Kovalov from controlling successfully.
Gruber wants to sweep but no luck.
Kovalov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Kovalov stands and steps away. Gruber gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gruber tries a head kick but it misses.
Gruber tries a head kick but it misses.
Gruber misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gruber throws a lazy head kick
and Kovalov counters with a one-two to the body.
A swing and a miss from Gruber.
Gruber misses with a few strikes there.
Kovalov looks to land a left hand but Gruber moved out of range nicely.
Kovalov defending well as Gruber loads up on a big left hand.
Gruber keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kovalov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gruber - the referee stops the clock and Kovalov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gruber. Kovalov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kovalov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Gruber thows a body shot but no joy.
Gruber swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kovalov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hans Gruber is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Gruber has closed the distance and engaged Kovalov in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gruber misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kovalov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gruber misses with a knee strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kovalov prevents a body shot from Gruber.
Gruber tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kovalov's elbow.
Kovalov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovalov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gruber working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gruber goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kovalov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gruber.
Kovalov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gruber gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hans Gruber dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Antonio Kovalov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kovalov slips under a jab.
Kovalov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gruber's head backwards.
Gruber throws a jab but it's blocked by Kovalov.
Gruber scores with a punch to the head.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kovalov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gruber has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gruber and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A telegraphed right hand from Gruber misses the target.
Gruber throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kovalov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hans Gruber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gruber throws a sloppy head kick and Kovalov moves out of range easily.
Kovalov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gruber. Gruber obviously looking to wear him down.
Kovalov defending well as Gruber loads up on a big left hand.
Kovalov ducks under a wild hook from Gruber.
Gruber is looking to clinch but Kovalov is avoiding it.
Kovalov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gruber throws a leg kick
and Kovalov counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalov blocks a head kick by Gruber.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Gruber swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gruber lands a jab-cross combination.
Gruber buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gruber pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kovalov staying out of range there.
Gruber throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kovalov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gruber.
Gruber looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gruber changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gruber throws a jab but it's blocked by Kovalov.

Kovalov moves into range and clinches up with Gruber.
Gruber doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gruber has a couple of punches blocked by Kovalov.
Kovalov blocks a body shot from Gruber.
Gruber misses with a body punch.
Kovalov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gruber tries a body shot but Kovalov blocks it.
Gruber connects with a knee to the head.
Kovalov scores with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovalov.
Gruber tries a body shot but Kovalov blocks it.
Kovalov blocks an uppercut.
Kovalov takes a knee right on the jaw!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Gruber misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov blocks an uppercut.
Kovalov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gruber slowing the pace effectively.
Kovalov tries to score a body lock takedown but Gruber shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gruber swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovalov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gruber throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Gruber lands a nice knee to the body.
Gruber avoiding damage as Kovalov throws knees to the body.
Hans Gruber has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gruber tries a body shot but Kovalov blocks it.
Gruber misses with a short punch on the inside.
The referee calls for Gruber to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov blocks a body shot from Gruber.
Kovalov is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Gruber doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kovalov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gruber managing to block the knees to the body from Kovalov.
Kovalov avoiding damage as Gruber throws knees to the body.
Gruber lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kovalov prevents a body shot from Gruber.
Kovalov wants to take the fight to the mat but Gruber manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gruber looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hans Gruber dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Antonio Kovalov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gruber moves into the clinch.
Gruber tries to land knees in the clinch but Kovalov avoids the damage to the body.
Gruber struggles to land a body shot inside as Kovalov controls his hands.
Kovalov managing to block the knees to the body from Gruber.
Kovalov managing to block the knees to the body from Gruber.
Kovalov jumps guard but Gruber turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kovalov managing to block the knees to the body from Gruber.
Gruber goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kovalov goes for a takedown attempt but Gruber pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gruber lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kovalov circles away quickly and effectively.
Kovalov connects with a body shot that sends Gruber's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Gruber there.
That kick from Kovalov tenderised Gruber's leg. Gruber is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kovalov throws a front kick that sends Gruber stumbling back into the cage.
Gruber misses with a low kick.
Gruber throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gruber with a nice cross.
Antonio Kovalov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kovalov dives in and scores a takedown into Gruber's guard.
Gruber controlling Kovalov's posture.
Kovalov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gruber working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kovalov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kovalov trying to control the position from guard on top but Gruber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovalov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kovalov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kovalov looking to sit in guard and control but Gruber gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gruber throwing strikes but missing.
Gruber throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gruber won't allow Kovalov to sweep him here.
Gruber throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kovalov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kovalov looking for a sweep. Not yet Kovalov, not yet.
Gruber trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovalov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gruber throwing strikes but missing.
Hans Gruber is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gruber trying to control but Kovalov is working from the bottom.
Antonio Kovalov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hans Gruber wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kovalov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kovalov slips under a jab.
Gruber throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gruber throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gruber comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kovalov throws a right and a left that Gruber avoids nicely.
Kovalov scores with a kick to the midsection.

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 Hans Gruber.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gruber, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hans Gruber!
Hans Gruber took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Undead clothing. All items 10$ for their support in the buildup to the fight.