PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexsandr Kovrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Afro Ninja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ninja has chosen On To The Next One as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kovrov
vs
Ninja

183 cm
25
194 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

185 cm
27
190 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

•• Beast Mode ••

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 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexsandr Kovrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Afro Ninja!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ninja misses with a low kick as Kovrov jumps back.

Ninja has managed to clinch.
Ninja misses with a short punch on the inside.
Good body shot from Ninja.
Ninja swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovrov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ninja has Kovrov pressed against the cage, preventing Kovrov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kovrov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ninja has him pressed against the cage.
A short left from Ninja.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ninja just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kovrov's brow.
Ninja goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ninja scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kovrov leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kovrov working hard to break the clinch.
Ninja goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ninja lands an elbow just above Kovrov 's eye.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ninja tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninja lands a hook that snaps the head of Kovrov backwards.
Ninja lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kovrov backwards.
Ninja lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ninja lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ninja working aggressively here.
Ninja throws an elbow that misses.
Ninja has Kovrov pressed against the cage, preventing Kovrov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A short uppercut from Ninja.
Ninja has a couple of punches blocked by Kovrov.
Ninja gets through Kovrov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ninja tries to throw a body punch but Kovrov avoids it by throwing Ninja back against the cage.
Kovrov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kovrov is trying to break the clinch but Ninja has him pressed against the cage.
Ninja scores with a shot to the side of Kovrov's head.
Ninja taking a breather.
Kovrov blocking some punches.
Kovrov is trying to force a seperation but Ninja has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ninja.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kovrov as Ninja tries to tie him up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovrov.
Ninja working Kovrov over with knees to the body.
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!
Ninja tries to work over Kovrov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kovrov as Ninja tries to tie him up.
Ninja fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kovrov is trying to break the clinch but Ninja is controlling him.
Ninja is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kovrov tries to circle away but Ninja has him pinned against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Ninja.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kovrov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kovrov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ninja lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kovrov backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Kovrov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ninja fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovrov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ninja has him pressed against the cage.
Kovrov misses with the head strike.
Kovrov blocking some punches.
Ninja displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kovrov up against the cage.
Kovrov tries to break the clinch but Ninja is controlling the position.
Ninja lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kovrov is trying to push Ninja away but Ninja has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A head punch on the inside from Kovrov fails to land.
Kovrov is trying to force a seperation but Ninja has the dominant position.
Kovrov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ninja blocking some punches.
Kovrov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Kovrov manages to break the clinch.
Kovrov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Ninja drives through and clinches with Kovrov against the cage.
Ninja throws a head punch that misses.
A frustrated look appears on Kovrov's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ninja looking to throw knees to the head but Kovrov is blocking nicely.
Kovrov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ninja scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kovrov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ninja misses with the head strike.
Ninja can't find room to land a body shot as Kovrov controls the action.
Ninja throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kovrov blocks it with crossed arms.

Ninja pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ninja feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kovrov's calf.
Ninja throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kovrov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kovrov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alexsandr Kovrov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovrov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Kovrov tries to keep at a distance but Ninja has taken the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Kovrov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kovrov has had enough of the clinch but Ninja keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afro Ninja dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ninja moves into the clinch.
Kovrov takes a shot to the head.
Ninja working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kovrov working hard to break the clinch.
Ninja tries to work over Kovrov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kovrov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ninja lands a right hand.
Kovrov has had enough of the clinch but Ninja keeps him there for the moment.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Good body shot from Ninja.
Kovrov is trying to maintain a safe position but Ninja gets an underhook and turns Kovrov into the cage.
Kovrov is looking to break free of the clinch but Ninja has double underhooks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kovrov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ninja throws an overhand right that lands on Kovrov's shoulder, as Kovrov tries to avoid the shot.
Ninja digs a good body shot into Kovrov's ribs.

Ninja shoots in and bounces Kovrov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ninja throws a strike but Kovrov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninja tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ninja is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ninja wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A punch combination from Kovrov misses.
Kovrov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kovrov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ninja on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kovrov. Kovrov obviously looking to wear him down.
Kovrov throws a lazy head kick

and Ninja moves into the clinch.
Ninja works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ninja content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kovrov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kovrov looks to throw the jab but Ninja is out of range.
Nice defenses there by Ninja.
Ninja fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kovrov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kovrov misses with a body kick.
Kovrov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kovrov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Ninja.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ninja fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kovrov on the side of the head.
Kovrov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ninja tries a low kick but Kovrov avoids it.
Ninja with a nice cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovrov throws a sloppy head kick
and Ninja counters with an outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovrov misses with a low kick.
Ninja lands a leg kick that knocks Kovrov off balance momentarily.
Ninja lands with a kick to the temple. Kovrov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ninja closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kovrov circles away.
Kovrov throws out a leg kick but Ninja moves out of range and Kovrov only half commits.

Ninja has closed the distance and engaged Kovrov in a clinch.
Ninja misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ninja swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovrov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ninja's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kovrov is trying to break free.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kovrov tries to circle away but Ninja has him pinned against the cage.
Kovrov can't break the clinch.
Ninja lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A looping hook to the body misses from Kovrov. Ninja does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kovrov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Ninja lands a left and a right that send Kovrov crashing to the mat, dazed. Ninja thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Kovrov is rocked!
Afro Ninja seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ninja dives in and gets a big takedown. He lands in full mount and immediately unloads a series of heavy strikes! Kovrov has had enough and taps out.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Afro Ninja!
A determined Afro Ninja didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!