PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gyala Kovary (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harri Sirkkeli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kovary
vs
Sirkkeli

198 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gyala Kovary!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Harri Sirkkeli!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The crowd cheers as Kovary lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sirkkeli doesn't seem phased though.
Sirkkeli misses with a takedown attempt - Kovary sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sirkkeli throws a body punch but Kovary moves out of range.
Kovary throws a push kick but Sirkkeli slaps the foot to one side.
A thudding body kick lands there by Kovary!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sirkkeli.
Sirkkeli advances to full mount.
Kovary manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Kovary, under a barage of strikes from Sirkkeli.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirkkeli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kovary keeps working.

Sirkkeli is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kovary doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sirkkeli.
Sirkkeli is looking to take a break and control but Kovary is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Sirkkeli is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kovary defends it well.
Sirkkeli tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kovary knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sirkkeli works his foot free and advances to mount.

Sirkkeli is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kovary is surviving well by controlling Sirkkeli's body position as best he can.
Sirkkeli looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovary wants to control but Sirkkeli is having none of it.

Sirkkeli goes for an armbar but Kovary turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kovary.
Sirkkeli is trying to control the position but Kovary postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Sirkkeli is looking for a triangle but Kovary pushes his legs off easily.
Sirkkeli wants to sweep but no luck.
Kovary has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sirkkeli is proving hard to escape from.
Sirkkeli can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kovary controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gyala Kovary dominated that round.
That's time! Kovary's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kovary throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kovary bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kovary lands with a kick to the temple. Sirkkeli shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sirkkeli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sirkkeli throws out a powerful jab.
Sirkkeli moves out of range of the leg kick from Kovary.
Kovary walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sirkkeli checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sirkkeli throws a jab when Kovary was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovary pushes Sirkkeli away with a front kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kovary.
Sirkkeli is breathing heavily.
Kovary explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Kovary darts in and clinches Sirkkeli up against the cage.

Kovary breaks the clinch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sirkkeli crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kovary - the referee stops the clock and Sirkkeli gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kovary. Sirkkeli manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sirkkeli on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kovary. Kovary obviously looking to wear him down.
A head kick lands from Kovary that sends Sirkkeli to the canvas. Sirkkeli tries to scramble back to his feet but Kovary brings him back down into side control.
Kovary tries to stand but Sirkkeli is controlling his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirkkeli tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Kovary easily slips into full mount!
Sirkkeli is desperately trying to improve his position but Kovary has a good base and remains in mount.
Sirkkeli is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovary looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sirkkeli tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kovary can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sirkkeli is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sirkkeli wants to control but Kovary is having none of it.
Kovary trying to control but Sirkkeli is having none of it.
Kovary knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sirkkeli on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovary controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gyala Kovary dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sirkkeli misses with an uppercut.
Kovary misses with an uppercut. Sirkkeli saw that one coming.
Kovary throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gyala Kovary is winning the standup battle so far.
Sirkkeli shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kovary pinned against the cage. Kovary gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sirkkeli looks to throw the jab but Kovary is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovary misses with a head kick.
Kovary misses with a wild combination.
Sirkkeli 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.
Sirkkeli avoids the head kick by Kovary.
Kovary uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sirkkeli.
Decent striking displayed by Sirkkeli there.
Kovary really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kovary keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sirkkeli throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sirkkeli fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kovary manages to avoid it.
Kovary throws a push kick but Sirkkeli slaps the foot to one side.
Sirkkeli fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gyala Kovary is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sirkkeli stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kovary.
Kovary throws a nice head kick!
Sirkkeli swats away the attempt to clinch by Kovary.
Kovary throws a push kick but Sirkkeli slaps the foot to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sirkkeli misses with a leg kick
and Kovary counters with a nice body kick.
Sirkkeli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kovary feints and then cracks Sirkkeli's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sirkkeli down.
Kovary pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kovary swings for the body but Sirkkeli moves out of range.
Kovary sizes up Sirkkeli with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kovary is looking to slow Sirkkeli down with leg kicks.
Kovary connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gyala Kovary is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sirkkeli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kovary lands with a nice body kick.
Sirkkeli takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Sirkkeli looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovary scores with a nice body kick.
Kovary lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kovary throws a head kick but Sirkkeli moves out of range.
Sirkkeli moves out of range of the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gyala Kovary showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kovary, 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gyala Kovary!