PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ladislav Kovarik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vincent Escargesa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Escargesa has chosen Just click it and listen already as his entrance music. Vincent Escargesa acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Kovarik
vs
Escargesa

187 cm
19
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

189 cm
21
197 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ladislav Kovarik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vincent Escargesa!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovarik finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Kovarik gets the takedown into side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Kovarik tries for a kimura but Escargesa is defending well.

Kovarik working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Escargesa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kovarik trying to control the action but Escargesa is working from the bottom.

Kovarik wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Escargesa, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kovarik fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escargesa is looking for a sweep.
Escargesa parries the strikes from Kovarik easily there. Kovarik is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Escargesa to escape.
Escargesa is looking to regain half guard here but Kovarik keeps moving and retains side control.
Kovarik tries to advance to mount but can't.
Escargesa is letting Kovarik control him for a moment.
Kovarik advances nicely into full mount.
Kovarik thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Escargesa is looking to improve his position but Kovarik isn't that keen on the idea.
Kovarik thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Escargesa is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kovarik with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kovarik looking to control but Escargesa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kovarik has control of Escargesa's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Escargesa regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Escargesa sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kovarik sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Escargesa defending well though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Escargesa gets back to full guard.
Escargesa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Escargesa wants to stand up but Kovarik is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escargesa trying to control the position.
Escargesa being controlled here, momentarily.
Escargesa is trying to control the position but Kovarik postures up.
Escargesa keeping moving, preventing Kovarik from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kovarik moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kovarik.
Escargesa struggling a bit here.
Escargesa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kovarik wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Kovarik is trying to get an arm triangle but Escargesa is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escargesa tries to improve position but can't.
Kovarik misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ground and pound from Kovarik seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Escargesa is looking for a sweep.
Kovarik is looking to take a break and control but Escargesa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Escargesa wants to get back to his feet but Kovarik is dominant here and he's now got Escargesa's back!
Escargesa breaks Kovarik's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Escargesa stopping the sweep attempt from Kovarik.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Escargesa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kovarik is keeping the position for now.
Escargesa content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ladislav Kovarik dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kovarik gets a double leg takedown into Escargesa's guard.
Kovarik sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Escargesa's guard.
Escargesa holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Kovarik seems to be working for a kimura but Escargesa defends the submission attempt.
Kovarik sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Escargesa defending well though.

Kovarik is looking for a kimura but Escargesa is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kovarik to get the leverage.
Kovarik is trying to control. Escargesa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kovarik wants to pass the guard but Escargesa is defending well.
Escargesa wants to control the action here but instead Kovarik manages to pass to full mount!
Escargesa keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kovarik working Escargesa over with strikes here.
Escargesa is looking to get to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escargesa wants to control but Kovarik is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovarik tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Escargesa tries to hold on but Kovarik postures up.
Escargesa bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kovarik manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Escargesa manages to get himself to full guard.
Kovarik wants to control from the top but Escargesa keeps moving.
Kovarik won't allow Escargesa to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovarik postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kovarik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kovarik looking to sit in guard and control but Escargesa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Escargesa preventing the sweep.

Kovarik is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Escargesa defends well.
Escargesa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Escargesa lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escargesa trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovarik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Escargesa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Escargesa throws an elbow that misses. Kovarik uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Escargesa's guard. Nice move by Kovarik!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escargesa is trying to control the position but Kovarik postures up.
Escargesa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Escargesa keeping moving, preventing Kovarik from controlling successfully.
Kovarik pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Escargesa is keeping the position for now.
Kovarik wants to control from the top but Escargesa keeps moving.
Escargesa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kovarik has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Escargesa is working away from the top position though.
Escargesa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ladislav Kovarik overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escargesa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Escargesa is working for a submission of some sort.
Escargesa is just content to waste time from the top position. Kovarik takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Escargesa won't allow Kovarik to sweep him here.
Escargesa trying to control but Kovarik is working from the bottom.
Kovarik working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Escargesa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Escargesa content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Escargesa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ladislav Kovarik will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Escargesa moves out of range as Kovarik strikes.
Escargesa scores with a jab.

Kovarik drives through with a takedown into Escargesa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Escargesa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kovarik not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kovarik postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kovarik sitting in guard here, content to control.
Escargesa trying to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kovarik stopping the sweep attempt from Escargesa.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Escargesa throws a series of punches but Kovarik moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovarik throws a low kick, looking for Escargesa's leg but Escargesa calmly moves out of range.
Kovarik tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Escargesa was well out of range. Poor timing from Kovarik.
Kovarik misses the shot to the body.
No joy there for Escargesa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kovarik takes a swing at Escargesa's ribcage but misses.
Escargesa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kovarik paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kovarik dives in and scores a takedown into Escargesa's guard.
Kovarik trying to control the position from guard on top but Escargesa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovarik trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kovarik slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Ladislav Kovarik wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Kovarik drives through with a takedown into Escargesa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kovarik preventing the sweep.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovarik wants to control from the top but Escargesa keeps moving.
Kovarik preventing the sweep.
Kovarik wants to control from the top but Escargesa keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ladislav Kovarik wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Escargesa misses with a double jab.
Escargesa moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ladislav Kovarik is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escargesa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kovarik throws the left hand but Escargesa avoids the punch easily.
Escargesa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kovarik paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vincent Escargesa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovarik throws an overhand right that lands on Escargesa's shoulder, as Escargesa tries to avoid the shot.
Escargesa cracks Kovarik with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Escargesa lands a jab to the nose.

Kovarik drives through with a takedown into Escargesa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kovarik has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kovarik postures up.
Vincent Escargesa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kovarik thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kovarik in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Escargesa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kovarik defends it easily.
Kovarik wants to control from the top but Escargesa keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovarik's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Escargesa managing to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Escargesa is looking for a triangle but Kovarik pushes his legs off easily.

Kovarik avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kovarik stopping the sweep attempt from Escargesa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Escargesa has an active guard here but Kovarik has managed to pass into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ladislav Kovarik showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kovarik, 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ladislav Kovarik!
Ladislav Kovarik decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.