PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Bitonti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexsandr Kovrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bitonti
vs
Kovrov

182 cm
27
193 lbs
13 - 3 - 1

183 cm
24
194 lbs
15 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
PEGASUS FIGHT WEAR ( $ 7 and Laundering 90% )

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 13 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Anthony Bitonti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexsandr Kovrov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovrov misses with a head kick.
Kovrov throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Anthony Bitonti has been cut.

Bitonti feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bitonti trying to control but Kovrov is working from the bottom.
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 ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bitonti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kovrov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bitonti.
Bitonti stands up over Kovrov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bitonti working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bitonti is looking to work some ground and pound but Kovrov has wrist control.
Bitonti throwing strikes from guard but Kovrov blocks nicely.
Bitonti tries to free his leg and advance position but Kovrov is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovrov keeping moving, preventing Bitonti from controlling successfully.
Bitonti tries to free his leg and advance position but Kovrov is retaining full guard.
Kovrov wants to get back to his feet but Bitonti is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bitonti seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Bitonti trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bitonti has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kovrov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovrov throws a right hand that Bitonti ducks under and follows up with a left that Bitonti also avoids with ease.
Kovrov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kovrov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kovrov misses with a wild body shot.
Bitonti is looking to slow Kovrov down with leg kicks.
Bitonti throws a leg kick but Kovrov checks it.

Bitonti gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A frustrated look appears on Kovrov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bitonti drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kovrov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bitonti. Kovrov shrugs it off though.
Kovrov scores with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bitonti throws a leg kick which misses Kovrov's front leg but catches the back leg as Kovrov tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovrov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bitonti.
Bitonti throws a leg kick which misses Kovrov's front leg but catches the back leg as Kovrov tries to avoid it.
Bitonti fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kovrov throws a lazy head kick
and Bitonti counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Kovrov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Bitonti scores with a nice body kick.
Kovrov misses with a kick to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Bitonti has taken the fight to the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short left from Bitonti.
Bitonti lands with a left to the head.
Bitonti is looking to take this one to the mat.
Bitonti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kovrov is trying to break free.
Bitonti misses with a punch to the body.
Bitonti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bitonti lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kovrov is trying to push Bitonti away but Bitonti has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kovrov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bitonti has Kovrov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kovrov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Bitonti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kovrov is trying to break the clinch but Bitonti has him pressed against the cage.
Kovrov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bitonti drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kovrov blocks a body shot from Bitonti.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bitonti tries to score a body lock takedown but Kovrov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bitonti tries to work over Kovrov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Bitonti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Bitonti's cut.
That's time! Bitonti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kovrov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A bone on bone clash there as Kovrov blocks the leg kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kovrov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Bitonti - the referee stops the clock and Kovrov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Bitonti. Kovrov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kovrov tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kovrov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Bitonti drives through and clinches with Kovrov against the cage.
Kovrov wants to break free but Bitonti has control.
Bitonti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bitonti has a couple of punches blocked by Kovrov.
Bitonti working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Bitonti struggles to land a body shot inside as Kovrov controls his hands.
Kovrov blocking some punches.
Bitonti throws a head punch that misses.
Bitonti working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bitonti scores with a hook to the body.
Bitonti is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bitonti gets through Kovrov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kovrov tries to circle away but Bitonti has him pinned against the cage.
Bitonti is working Kovrov over against the cage.
Bitonti misses with the head strike.
Bitonti stalls.
Kovrov is trying to break free.
Bitonti will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kovrov up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bitonti has a couple of punches blocked by Kovrov.
Bitonti goes for a takedown attempt but Kovrov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kovrov connects with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovrov connects with a body shot that sends Bitonti's belly button to the back.
Kovrov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bitonti blocks a head kick by Kovrov.
Bitonti avoids the head kick by Kovrov.
Kovrov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bitonti.
A nice leg kick lands there from Bitonti.
Kovrov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bitonti is out of range.
A clash of legs there as Bitonti blocks the low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bitonti closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kovrov quickly recovers to half guard.
Bitonti uses his free foot to push down on Kovrov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kovrov.
Bitonti landing strikes from the mount and Kovrov is in trouble!

Bitonti goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kovrov is on top in guard.

Bitonti looking for a guillotine here but Kovrov defends easily.
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!
Bitonti tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bitonti is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Bitonti escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kovrov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kovrov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bitonti's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kovrov won't allow Bitonti to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Bitonti dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Bitonti's cut.
That's time! Bitonti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kovrov throws a series of strikes that have Bitonti backpedaling.
Bitonti ducks under a wild hook from Kovrov.
Bitonti takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Anthony Bitonti's cut is getting worse.
Kovrov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bitonti misses with a kick to the body.
Kovrov moves away from the strike by Bitonti.
Bitonti fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bitonti dodges the punch combination from Kovrov.
Kovrov throws a nice head kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bitonti dodges the punch combination from Kovrov.
Kovrov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Bitonti fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kovrov sprawls well initially but Bitonti persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Bitonti is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bitonti is pressing down on Kovrov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kovrov is holding on for now.
Kovrov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bitonti.
Bitonti working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Bitonti is looking to advance position but Kovrov won't allow it.
Bitonti is trying to control the action in half guard but Kovrov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Anthony Bitonti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bitonti sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kovrov pushes Bitonti off looking to stand but Bitonti dives back in and keeps control.
Bitonti content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Anthony Bitonti.
Kovrov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bitonti connects with a jab.
Bitonti feints and then cracks Kovrov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kovrov down.
Bitonti throws a good cross that connects.
Bitonti dives in and grabs Kovrov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kovrov pushes down on Bitonti's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bitonti throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Bitonti moves in looking to clinch but Kovrov pushes him off.
Kovrov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Bitonti slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kovrov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Alexsandr Kovrov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bitonti blocks a head kick by Kovrov.
Kovrov takes a swing at Bitonti's ribcage but misses.
Kovrov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bitonti circles away quickly and effectively.

Bitonti closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kovrov prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Bitonti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bitonti keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kovrov's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bitonti drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kovrov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bitonti scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bitonti swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kovrov.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bitonti clinches with his opponent.
Bitonti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Bitonti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bitonti, 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Bitonti!
During a confident post fight interview, Anthony Bitonti thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.