PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Povetkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter Lord (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Povetkin
vs
Lord

185 cm
32
185 lbs
20 - 9 - 1

185 cm
24
180 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Alexander Povetkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Peter Lord!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Povetkin keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lord tries a low kick but Povetkin avoids it.
Lord tries to clinch but Povetkin moves out of range.
Lord throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lord thows a leg kick but Povetkin checks it
letting Povetkin counter with a right hand.
Lord blocks a jab.
Lord wants to clinch up but Povetkin keeps it at a distance.
A punch combination from Lord misses.
Lord misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Povetkin.
Lord takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lord throws a big shot that misses.
Lord throws a low kick but it's checked well by Povetkin.
Lord throws a hook to the side of Povetkin's head but Povetkin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lord tries to clinch up
and Povetkin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lord throws a low kick but it's checked well by Povetkin.
Lord takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Povetkin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lord throws a poor cross that misses
and Povetkin counters with a series of strikes. Lord will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lord misses with a left hand
enabling Povetkin to counter with a crisp jab.
Lord pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Povetkin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lord throws a right hand that misses
and Povetkin counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Lord clinches up against the cage.

Lord manages to break the clinch.
Peter Lord seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick by Lord misses
and Povetkin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lord defending well as Povetkin loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lord throws an off balance right hand
and Povetkin counters with a low kick, right behind Lord 's knee.
Povetkin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lord throws a leg kick
letting Povetkin counter with a right hand.
Lord misses with a low kick.
Lord tries to clinch but Povetkin moves out of range.
Lord throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Povetkin blocks a leg kick.
Povetkin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Povetkin lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Lord moves into the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin is trying to break the clinch but Lord is controlling him.
Lord lands a good knee to the midsection. Povetkin won't want to take too many of those.
Lord tries to stall but Povetkin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Lord breaks the clinch.
A jab from Lord finds it's way through Povetkin's defenses.
A big left from Povetkin misses.
Povetkin throws a big shot that misses.
Lord looks to clinch
and Povetkin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lord thinking.
Povetkin throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lord looks to clinch
and Povetkin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lord misses the shot to the body.
Lord waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Povetkin.
Lord fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lord fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lord.
Lord closes the distance but Povetkin moves to the side
and Povetkin counters with a nice kick to the body.
Povetkin pushes Lord away with a front kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lord throws a hook but Povetkin avoids it easily.
Lord lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Povetkin circles away quickly and effectively.
Povetkin is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Lord cracks Povetkin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Lord throws a solid leg kick but Povetkin takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Lord.
Lord looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Povetkin swats away the attempt to clinch by Lord.
Povetkin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lord.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Peter Lord will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Povetkin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lord fails to land with a series of punches.
Lord uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Povetkin.
Lord shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Povetkin throws the kick towards the body but Lord avoids it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lord.
Lord misses with a right hand
and Lord takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lord looks to throw the jab but Povetkin is out of range.
Povetkin misses with an uppercut.
Lord throws a leg kick that is checked
and Povetkin counters with a nice uppercut.
Lord throws out a powerful jab.
Povetkin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A jab from Lord does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lord looks to land a combination but Povetkin avoids it well.

Lord clinches up against the cage.
Povetkin avoids the elbow strike from Lord, against the cage.
Povetkin can't break the clinch.
Lord makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Povetkin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lord avoids a kick to the body.
Povetkin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lord.
A swing and a miss from Lord.
A slow jab from Lord misses its intended target.
Peter Lord seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Povetkin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lord connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A combination from Lord does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lord throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Povetkin pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lord throws a right hand that misses
and Povetkin counters with a nice body kick.
Lord misses with a lunging right hand
and Povetkin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Povetkin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lord.
Lord tries to close the distance and clinch but Povetkin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lord.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lord tries to clinch
letting Povetkin counter with a right hand.
Lord tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lord throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lord throws a predictable looking body shot
and Lord takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lord misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Povetkin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lord.
Povetkin connects with a body shot.
A punch combination from Lord misses.
Povetkin moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Lord is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lord's corner calls for a 1-2. Lord obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The fighters circling - Lord throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lord misses with a hook.
Lord fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Povetkin is out of range.
Lord slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lord fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Povetkin manages to avoid it.
Lord pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lord.
Lord misses with an uppercut
enabling Povetkin to counter with a crisp jab.
Lord walks into a stiff left hand from Povetkin.
Good leg kick by Lord there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Lord tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Povetkin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lord's calf.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lord throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lord misses with a body shot
letting Povetkin counter with a right hand.
Lord throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Povetkin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lord falls off balance throwing a combination
and Povetkin counters with a nice low kick that buckles Lord's knee momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Lord showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lord misses with a looping left.
Lord just misses with a punch to the body.
Povetkin checks a leg kick.
Lord wants to clinch but Povetkin slips to the side
and Povetkin counters with a nice low kick that buckles Lord's knee momentarily.
Lord attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Lord throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Povetkin counters with a right hand to the body.
The fighters circling - Lord throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lord tries to clinch there but Povetkin circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lord looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lord ducks under a wild hook from Povetkin.
Lord thows a leg kick but Povetkin checks it
and Povetkin counters with a series of strikes. Lord will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lord closes the distance but Povetkin moves to the side
and Povetkin counters with a good low kick that Lord was not able to check.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Povetkin lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Povetkin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lord sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lord tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Povetkin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Povetkin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Povetkin's corner calls for a 1-2. Povetkin obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Lord misses with an uppercut
and Povetkin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lord misses with a looping right.
Lord throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lord with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin avoids a kick to the body.
Lord throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lord throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Povetkin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lord.
Povetkin blocks a leg kick.
Povetkin works the jab nicely.
Lord throws a right and a left that Povetkin avoids nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lord fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lord misses with an uppercut
and Povetkin counters with a straight right hand.
Lord stuns Povetkin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Lord wants to clinch up but Povetkin keeps it at a distance.
Povetkin closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin lunges at Lord with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Lord's hand.
Povetkin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Povetkin takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Povetkin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Lord's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Povetkin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lord fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lord takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lord darts in trying to clinch
and Povetkin counters with a nice uppercut.
Lord throws a leg kick but Povetkin checks it.
Lord tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Povetkin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lord misses with a left hand
and Povetkin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Alexander Povetkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lord looks to clinch
and Povetkin counters with a slapping leg kick.
Lord misses with the combination.
Lord has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Lord misses with a left hand
and Povetkin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Povetkin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Peter Lord is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lord looks to land a combination but Povetkin avoids it well.
Lord misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Povetkin.
Povetkin lands a glancing blow to the side of Lord's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lord throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lord is looking to clinch but Povetkin is avoiding it.
Lord connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

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 Alexander Povetkin.
Well Lord has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:30

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