PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jouni Kovana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Bakunin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jouni Kovana has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kovana
vs
Bakunin

172 cm
20
154 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Demonic Drugs
Demonic Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jouni Kovana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Bakunin!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovana throws a head kick that misses.
Bakunin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kovana throws a head kick but Bakunin moves out of range.

Bakunin scores with a takedown into Kovana's guard.
Kovana keeping moving, preventing Bakunin from controlling successfully.
Bakunin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bakunin trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kovana had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Bakunin is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kovana Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Bakunin's back instead.
Kovana throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Bakunin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bakunin is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Kovana is staying active.
Bakunin regains half guard.
Kovana prevents Bakunin from improving his position.
Bakunin is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kovana prevents Bakunin from improving his position.
Kovana seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bakunin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Bakunin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kovana wants to control from the top but Bakunin keeps moving.
Bakunin trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovana won't allow Bakunin to sweep him here.
Kovana has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Bakunin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kovana gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bakunin looks gassed!

Kovana avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kovana seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four 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.
Kovana wants to control from the top but Bakunin keeps moving.
Kovana tries to stand but Bakunin is controlling from the bottom.
Bakunin looking to control but Kovana passes into half guard.
Kovana missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bakunin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bakunin.
Bakunin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bakunin gets a takedown into half guard.

Kovana makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kovana throws an overhand right that lands on Bakunin's shoulder, as Bakunin tries to avoid the shot.
Bakunin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bakunin blocks a leg kick.

Kovana moves into the clinch successfully.
Bakunin is trying to drag Kovana to the mat but Kovana just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kovana lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kovana displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bakunin up against the cage.

Bakunin works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kovana wants to control the action here but instead Bakunin manages to pass to full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kovana really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bakunin content just to control the position here.
Bakunin wants to control the pace but Kovana is squirming around nicely.
Kovana has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Bakunin looking for the RNC.

Bakunin working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Kovana is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Bakunin has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Kovana taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mikhail Bakunin!