PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Franco Colombo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hessu Kovaluu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hessu Kovaluu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Colombo
vs
Kovaluu

181 cm
28
201 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

180 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent MT
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Franco Colombo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hessu Kovaluu!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Colombo is looking to clinch.
Colombo avoids the body shot from Kovaluu.

Colombo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kovaluu has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Colombo regains guard immediately.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kovaluu throws a big right hand that misses.
Kovaluu postures up in Colombo's guard and throws a big left but Colombo blocks it.
Kovaluu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kovaluu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Colombo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kovaluu throws a strike but Colombo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kovaluu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kovaluu manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Colombo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovaluu is landing with some decent strikes but Colombo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Poor strikes thrown by Kovaluu there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Colombo holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kovaluu tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Colombo wants to control but Kovaluu is having none of it.
BOOM! Kovaluu connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Colombo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Colombo tries to get out of the position.
Kovaluu putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Poor strikes thrown by Kovaluu there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Kovaluu punching from mount but Colombo doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kovaluu thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Colombo blocking the ground and pound.
Kovaluu punishing his opponent with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kovaluu pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kovaluu landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kovaluu lands a big shot there that rocks Colombo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kovaluu punching from mount but Colombo doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Colombo holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kovaluu tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Colombo wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kovaluu.
Kovaluu throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Colombo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kovaluu on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colombo holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kovaluu tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Colombo takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kovaluu lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Colombo hang on?
Colombo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Colombo is squirming around, avoiding Kovaluu's attempts to control the action.
Kovaluu putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kovaluu sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Kovaluu looking to finish Colombo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Colombo!

Kovaluu working for a guillotine from mount but Colombo is in no mood to give up.
Kovaluu working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovaluu punching from mount but Colombo doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kovaluu with good strikes from the mount here!
Kovaluu misses with a head shot.
Colombo is trying desperately to improve position.
Kovaluu throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kovaluu lands a big shot there that rocks Colombo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kovaluu lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kovaluu throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hessu Kovaluu dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Colombo darts in trying to clinch
and Kovaluu counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kovaluu throws the left hand but Colombo avoids the punch easily.
Colombo is looking to clinch.
Kovaluu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Colombo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Hessu Kovaluu has been cut.
Colombo throws a sloppy head kick and Kovaluu moves out of range easily.
Colombo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Colombo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kovaluu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Colombo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Colombo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kovaluu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kovaluu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kovaluu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovaluu shoots in but Colombo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kovaluu swats away the attempt to clinch by Colombo.
Colombo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kovaluu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kovaluu throws a hook to the side of Colombo's head but Colombo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kovaluu takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kovaluu takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kovaluu looks to land a combination but Colombo avoids it well.
Kovaluu avoids the head kick by Colombo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Colombo takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Colombo has managed to clinch.
Colombo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kovaluu pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Colombo is trying to drag Kovaluu to the mat but Kovaluu just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovaluu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kovaluu is trying to drag Colombo to the mat but Colombo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Colombo is looking to control Kovaluu's arms but Kovaluu gets an underhook and turns him. Now Colombo has his back to the cage.
Colombo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kovaluu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franco Colombo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kovaluu works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Kovaluu throws a big right hand that misses.
Kovaluu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovaluu throws a big elbow that misses.
Colombo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kovaluu trying to control the position from guard on top but Colombo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovaluu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kovaluu preventing the sweep.
Colombo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kovaluu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hessu Kovaluu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kovaluu advances position into side control!
Kovaluu advances nicely into full mount.
Colombo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovaluu thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
BOOM! Kovaluu connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kovaluu thowing shots but they're missing.
Colombo is in a horrible position here. Kovaluu smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
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!
The referee warns Colombo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kovaluu misses with a head shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Colombo is bucking up trying to escape but Kovaluu cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kovaluu looking to finish Colombo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Colombo!
Colombo avoids a strike by Kovaluu and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Kovaluu's guard! Fantastic escape!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hessu Kovaluu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hessu Kovaluu's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Colombo wants to clinch.
Colombo tries to clinch but Kovaluu moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Colombo.
Colombo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Colombo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kovaluu scores with a hook to the body. Colombo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A head kick misses from Colombo.
Colombo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Colombo tries to clinch
and Kovaluu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kovaluu avoids the head kick by Colombo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kovaluu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Colombo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovaluu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Colombo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Colombo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kovaluu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Colombo stuffs the takedown attempt from Kovaluu. Kovaluu gets slowly back to his feet.
Colombo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kovaluu.
Colombo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kovaluu lands a nice shot that snaps Colombo's head back.

Kovaluu bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Colombo managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kovaluu.
You can see the frustration on Colombo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Colombo takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovaluu in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kovaluu working the body and head with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes there by Kovaluu.
Sloppy strikes there by Kovaluu.
Kovaluu is looking to take a break and control but Colombo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kovaluu lands an elbow.
Kovaluu misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kovaluu looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Colombo is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovaluu creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Kovaluu throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Kovaluu wants to control but Colombo is keeping him busy.
Kovaluu in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kovaluu lands a nice forearm strike.
Kovaluu is looking to take a break and control but Colombo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Colombo struggling a bit here.

Kovaluu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovaluu sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Colombo is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Kovaluu tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Kovaluu throwing shots but missing, from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kovaluu cracks Colombo with a big elbow.
Kovaluu tries to advance to mount but Colombo denies him.
Franco Colombo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hessu Kovaluu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Colombo takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hessu Kovaluu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kovaluu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hessu Kovaluu!