PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Mcknight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mcknight
vs
Kovalenko

188 cm
18
278 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dirk Mcknight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ivan Kovalenko!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Eddie Farnsworth and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovalenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mcknight circles away.
Mcknight is looking to clinch but Kovalenko is avoiding it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kovalenko.
Nice sprawl there from Mcknight as Kovalenko shoots in.
Dirk Mcknight has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Kovalenko.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kovalenko.

Mcknight dives in and scores a takedown into Kovalenko's guard.
Kovalenko is looking to sweep but instead, Mcknight has passed into half guard.
Kovalenko is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mcknight landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcknight missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kovalenko keeping hold of Mcknight's head, controlling as best he can.
Mcknight thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kovalenko's head.
Mcknight thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Mcknight is looking for a kimura but Kovalenko is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mcknight to get the leverage.
Kovalenko wants to control but Mcknight passes into side.
Kovalenko is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kovalenko can't do much from the bottom here.
Kovalenko taking punishment in the form of punches.
The ground and pound from Mcknight seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kovalenko tries to bench press Mcknight off him but Mcknight keeps the position.
Kovalenko keeping his opponent close.
Check out the look on Mcknight's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcknight sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kovalenko is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Mcknight 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.
Kovalenko is looking to regain half guard here but Mcknight keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mcknight in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Mcknight could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kovalenko struggling a bit here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kovalenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko looks winded!
Mcknight tries for a takedown but Kovalenko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Mcknight closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mcknight lands in his opponent's guard.
Kovalenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kovalenko trying to keep a closed guard but Mcknight is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mcknight won't allow Kovalenko to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Mcknight dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mcknight misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mcknight fails with the takedown.

Mcknight gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kovalenko to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kovalenko wants to pass the guard but Mcknight is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalenko trying to control but Mcknight is working from the bottom.
Mcknight looking for a sweep. Not yet Mcknight, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mcknight controls Kovalenko momentarily but Kovalenko frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kovalenko bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mcknight's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Kovalenko has Mcknight up against the cage in a clinch.
Kovalenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mcknight is trying to break the clinch but Kovalenko is controlling him.
Mcknight trying to land knees to the body.
Mcknight is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kovalenko can do to turn this around?
Mcknight wants to take the fight to the mat but Kovalenko manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Mcknight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kovalenko takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kovalenko blocks an uppercut.
Mcknight fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mcknight misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kovalenko.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovalenko.

Kovalenko breaks the clinch.

Mcknight tries to keep at a distance but Kovalenko has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko stops a takedown attempt from Mcknight.

Kovalenko decides to pull guard.
Kovalenko working a defensive guard but Mcknight passes into half guard.
Kovalenko tries to get to full guard but Mcknight has control of the leg.
Kovalenko is looking to escape.
Kovalenko flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kovalenko tries to roll over but Mcknight keeps him under control.
Kovalenko is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kovalenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mcknight is one step ahead there.
Kovalenko seems keen to control Mcknight's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mcknight takes a jab right on the kisser.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Kovalenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kovalenko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Kovalenko gets a takedown into half guard.
Mcknight wants to control but Kovalenko is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mcknight tries to roll over but Kovalenko keeps him under control.

Mcknight kicks off Kovalenko and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mcknight's waist but Mcknight gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kovalenko off to one side.
Kovalenko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kovalenko wants it to stay on the feet.
Dirk Mcknight is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovalenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mcknight counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kovalenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mcknight tries to clinch but Kovalenko is having none of it.
No luck for Kovalenko with that takedown attempt.
Dirk Mcknight has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Kovalenko.
Kovalenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kovalenko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mcknight.
Kovalenko wants to counter the offense by Mcknight and move into the clinch position.
Kovalenko darts in looking for a takedown but Mcknight gets double underhooks and turns Kovalenko into the cage.
Mcknight shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcknight shoots for a double leg takedown but Kovalenko sprawls well. He's pushed Mcknight's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Kovalenko gets a clinch.
Mcknight wants a takedown but no success here.

Kovalenko breaks the clinch.
Mcknight shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kovalenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mcknight looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that both miss.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mcknight lands with a short shot to the head.
Mcknight can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcknight working aggressively here.

Kovalenko turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kovalenko manages to end up in side control.
Kovalenko tries to advance to mount but can't.
Mcknight wants to control but Kovalenko postures up.
Kovalenko fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kovalenko cracks Mcknight with a big elbow.
Mcknight tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kovalenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mcknight regains half guard.
Kovalenko trying to control the action but Mcknight is working from the bottom.
Mcknight wants to improve his position but Kovalenko is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Kovalenko is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Mcknight gets back to full guard.

Mcknight has his feet on Kovalenko's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Mcknight defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kovalenko.
Mcknight is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ivan Kovalenko.
I think Kovalenko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Kovalenko!