PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Barrett Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Walter Kovacs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Kovacs

177 cm
37
218 lbs
17 - 10 - 1

215 cm
46
205 lbs
28 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Barrett Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Walter Kovacs!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson takes one to the chin there.
Kovacs gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnson.
Johnson misses with a combination
and Kovacs counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnson walks into a stiff left hand from Kovacs.
Johnson misses with a hook
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kovacs counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnson misses with a lunging right hand
and Kovacs counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kovacs throws a body shot but no joy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Donk. Kovacs catches Johnson right on the button with a cross.

It looks like Barrett Johnson has been cut.
Kovacs darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Johnson misses with a double jab
and Kovacs counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Johnson wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kovacs counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Walter Kovacs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovacs connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Johnson's hands.
Johnson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kovacs eats them both and turns towards Johnson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kovacs throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Kovacs gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with Kovacs.
Kovacs has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kovacs tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johnson looking to stall.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Johnson takes a shot to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kovacs misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kovacs misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Kovacs is controlling him.
Kovacs swings wildly with an uppercut but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Kovacs avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Kovacs is trying to stall.
Johnson works on Kovacs's body with a couple of short punches.
Kovacs lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kovacs has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kovacs lands a shoulder strike.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kovacs is keeping busy.
Kovacs tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kovacs creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kovacs lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Johnson is struggling to control the position.
Johnson wants to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Johnson.
Kovacs is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Still in the clinch, Kovacs scores with a nice short uppercut.
Johnson is stalling here.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Kovacs has the dominant position.
Kovacs throws a head punch that misses.
Johnson swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovacs uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kovacs misses with the head strike.
Kovacs throws a head punch that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kovacs.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Kovacs keeps him there for the moment.
Johnson trying to stall but Kovacs improves his position.
Kovacs fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kovacs is working Johnson over against the cage.
A short uppercut from Kovacs.
Johnson blocking some punches.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kovacs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson misses with a double jab
enabling Kovacs to counter with a crisp jab.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kovacs enables Johnson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kovacs manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kovacs works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kovacs has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Johnson has passed into side control.
Kovacs can't do much from the bottom here.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Kovacs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Kovacs dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Barrett Johnson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kovacs throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Johnson on the side of the head.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jab from Kovacs.
Kovacs tests Johnson's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Johnson dives in and scores a takedown into Kovacs's guard.
Johnson content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Kovacs gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kovacs is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kovacs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kovacs engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Johnson wants to control but Kovacs passes easily into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Kovacs working the head and body with strikes.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Kovacs is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Kovacs is continuing to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kovacs is trying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.
Kovacs controlling the pace.
Johnson wants to control but Kovacs is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kovacs is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Johnson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is not content to let Kovacs control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kovacs on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kovacs has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnson throws a right hand that misses
and Kovacs counters with a nice body shot.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Horrible takedown attempt by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Kovacs, which made it look bad.
Kovacs is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kovacs throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Johnson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kovacs with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nice jab there from Kovacs.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kovacs.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovacs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.
Kovacs takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Barrett Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovacs scores with the left hand. Johnson knows he should have avoided that one.
Barrett Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson throws a right hand that Kovacs ducks under and follows up with a left that Kovacs also avoids with ease.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Kovacs throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Kovacs scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Kovacs lands a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Kovacs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Barrett Johnson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Kovacs counter with a right hand.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Kovacs's shoulder, as Kovacs tries to avoid the shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kovacs! But no joy.
Kovacs paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kovacs showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throws a body shot but no joy.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson misses with a hook
and Kovacs counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Walter Kovacs seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovacs lands with a right hand.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson walks into a jab.
Kovacs tests Johnson's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kovacs changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson misses with a looping left.
Kovacs jabs Johnson right on the nose. Johnson blinks but takes it well.
Kovacs lands a lovely overhand right.
Kovacs lands with a straight right. Johnson didn't see that one coming.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kovacs swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kovacs looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kovacs counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Kovacs bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson walks into a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Kovacs connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kovacs makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kovacs swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Johnson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Johnson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kovacs scores with a hook to the body. Johnson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kovacs scores with a jab. Johnson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Johnson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kovacs circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kovacs cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kovacs swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Kovacs connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Johnson momentarily.
Barrett Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kovacs.
Kovacs clobbers Johnson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Johnson needs to keep his hands up - Kovacs had a free shot at his head there.
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
Kovacs cracks Johnson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Johnson misses with a combination
and Kovacs counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kovacs counters with a one-two to the body.
Kovacs slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs avoids the body shot from Johnson.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged Kovacs in a clinch.
Walter Kovacs seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as Kovacs controls his hands.
Kovacs scores with a hook to the body.
Kovacs fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kovacs throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Walter Kovacs is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kovacs lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Kovacs misses with a body punch.
Kovacs throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Kovacs being controlled against the cage.
Kovacs is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Kovacs tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Walter Kovacs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kovacs winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Walter Kovacs!