PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taisto Tappura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tappura has chosen Ring of fire as his entrance music. 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.

Kovalenko
vs
Tappura

205 cm
30
260 lbs
31 - 13 - 0

201 cm
27
255 lbs
20 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kovalenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Taisto Tappura!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovalenko loads up on a big right hand but Tappura slips the punch.
Tappura explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kovalenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tappura manages to avoid it.
Tappura takes one on the button.

Tappura rushes Kovalenko and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kovalenko breaks from the clinch.
Kovalenko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tappura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tappura throws out a loose jab but Kovalenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tappura misses with a wild body shot.
Kovalenko shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Tappura eats them both and turns towards Kovalenko to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Taisto Tappura has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
That kick from Tappura tenderised Kovalenko's leg. Kovalenko is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tappura connects with a leg kick. Kovalenko looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A telegraphed right hand from Kovalenko misses the target.
Tappura throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that Tappura avoids nicely.
Kovalenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tappura gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko jabs Tappura to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kovalenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tappura fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kovalenko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tappura, right into the meat.
Tappura ducks under a wild hook from Kovalenko.
Tappura dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kovalenko. That did some damage!
Tappura attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Tappura thuds a left hand into Kovalenko's body.
Kovalenko misses with a wild combination.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tappura.
Kovalenko lands a lovely overhand right.
Tappura misses with an uppercut.
Kovalenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tappura.
Tappura throws a shot from downtown. Kovalenko moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tappura scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from Tappura. Kovalenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kovalenko scores with a nice head shot.
Kovalenko feints and then cracks Tappura's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tappura down.

Tappura has closed the distance and engaged Kovalenko in a clinch.
Tappura will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kovalenko up against the cage.
Kovalenko blocks a body shot from Tappura.
Tappura softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kovalenko is trying to break free.
Tappura can't find room to land a body shot as Kovalenko controls the action.
Tappura holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappura tries a body shot but Kovalenko blocks it.
Tappura lands with a light punch inside.
Kovalenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tappura leaning against his opponent.
Tappura misses with the head strike.
Kovalenko blocks a body shot from Tappura.
Kovalenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Tappura fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tappura goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kovalenko will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tappura up against the cage.
Tappura swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovalenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
A left hand lands to the body for Tappura.
Tappura misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tappura has a couple of punches blocked by Kovalenko.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tappura is trying to stall.
Tappura misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tappura throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Tappura dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Taisto Tappura's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tappura tries to clinch there but Kovalenko circles away.
Tappura slips under a jab.
Tappura moves in looking to clinch but Kovalenko pushes him off.
Tappura is looking to clinch but Kovalenko is avoiding it.
Kovalenko throws a series of punches but Tappura avoids them all with ease.
Tappura tries to land a front kick but Kovalenko steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A jab lands there for Tappura.
Kovalenko connects with an inside leg kick.
Kovalenko throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tappura misses the shot to the body.
Kovalenko tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Good work by Kovalenko as he checks the leg kick.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Tappura in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Kovalenko throws out a powerful jab.
Taisto Tappura seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovalenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kovalenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tappura moves away.
Tappura throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kovalenko stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Tappura looks to land a body kick but Kovalenko moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tappura darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kovalenko moves out of range as Tappura throws a body kick.
Kovalenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tappura was well out of range. Poor timing from Kovalenko.
Tappura dodges the punch combination from Kovalenko.
Tappura throws a head kick that half lands.
Tappura fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tappura throws a push kick but Kovalenko slaps the foot to one side.
Tappura lands with a nice body punch.
Tappura fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovalenko ducks under a wild hook from Tappura.
Tappura throws the kick towards the body but Kovalenko avoids it.
Kovalenko throws a big shot that misses.
Kovalenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Tappura listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko walks into a straight right hand from Tappura.

Kovalenko is rocked!
Tappura is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kovalenko rather than just go for the knockout.
Tappura throws a head kick but Kovalenko moves out of range.
Tappura misses with a series of wild punches.
Tappura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kovalenko takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A good leg kick by Tappura.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kovalenko. Tappura does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kovalenko misses with a kick to the body.
Kovalenko takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tappura misses with a head kick.
Tappura throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kovalenko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tappura just misses with a punch to the body.
Donk. Tappura catches Kovalenko right on the button with a cross.
Tappura turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tappura lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kovalenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tappura scores with a hook to the body. Kovalenko takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tappura misses with a two punch combination.
Tappura misses with a leg kick
and Kovalenko counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovalenko throws a lazy right hand but Tappura sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tappura throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kovalenko avoids a kick to the body.
Tappura explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kovalenko lands a jab to the head.
A clash of legs there as Kovalenko blocks the low kick.
Tappura wants to clinch.
Kovalenko blocks the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tappura walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kovalenko avoids the body shot from Tappura.
Tappura tries to work over Kovalenko's front leg with a kick but Kovalenko checks it.
Tappura ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kovalenko moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tappura tries to bum rush Kovalenko with a series of wild strikes but Kovalenko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kovalenko throws a jab but it's blocked by Tappura.
Tappura throws a leg kick which misses Kovalenko's front leg but catches the back leg as Kovalenko tries to avoid it.
Tappura connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kovalenko. Kovalenko circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kovalenko smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tappura.
A jab from Kovalenko misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tappura checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kovalenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kovalenko swinging wildly here.
Tappura throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kovalenko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Tappura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Taisto Tappura's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A nice leg kick lands there from Tappura.
Kovalenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tappura moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tappura looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tappura throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tappura throws an overhand right that lands on Kovalenko's shoulder, as Kovalenko tries to avoid the shot.
Tappura cracks Kovalenko with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tappura throws a body kick that misses.
Kovalenko works over Tappura's head and body with a nice combination.
Kovalenko takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tappura throws a push kick but Kovalenko slaps the foot to one side.
Tappura swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kovalenko takes a swing at Tappura's ribcage but misses.
Kovalenko on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tappura. Tappura obviously looking to wear him down.
Kovalenko throws a head kick but Tappura moves out of range.
Tappura throws a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tappura.
Tappura fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kovalenko.
Kovalenko throws out a loose jab but Tappura uses good head movement to avoid it.
A punch combination from Kovalenko misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A right-left combo lands from Kovalenko.
Tappura fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kovalenko.
Tappura pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tappura scores with a push kick.
Kovalenko stalks Tappura and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tappura's face. Tappura staggers backwards, shaken.
Kovalenko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tappura.

Tappura sends Kovalenko crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Tappura is motioning to the referee to let Kovalenko up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Oh Kovalenko is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalenko ducks into an uppercut from Tappura and that's knocked him out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Taisto Tappura!
A victorious Taisto Tappura thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.