PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Kovakanki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Wilkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Kovakanki
vs
Wilkins

178 cm
21
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
210 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taisto Kovakanki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, David Wilkins!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Kenichi Hosakawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Kovakanki coming out on top.
Kovakanki tries to land a front kick but Wilkins steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kovakanki swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Wilkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Wilkins is trying to stall.

Wilkins breaks the clinch.
Wilkins swinging wilding here.

Wilkins drives through and clinches with Kovakanki against the ropes.

Wilkins breaks the clinch.
Kovakanki scores with a head kick.
Wilkins takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Wilkins.
Taisto Kovakanki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovakanki falls off balance throwing a combination
and Wilkins counters with a lovely shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Left hook, right uppercut from Wilkins.

It looks like Taisto Kovakanki has been cut.
Wilkins fails to land with a series of punches.
Oooh a lovely combination from Wilkins sends Kovakanki down but not out. Wilkins dives into side control looking to finish.

Kovakanki is rocked!

Wilkins is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kovakanki is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Oh Kovakanki is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kovakanki sneaks back into half guard.
Kovakanki seems to have got his legs back now.
Kovakanki is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovakanki wants to control but Wilkins is keeping busy.
Wilkins controlling the action here.
Kovakanki tries to roll over but Wilkins keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wilkins seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Wilkins seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kovakanki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kovakanki is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kovakanki motions for Wilkins to come forward. Kovakanki throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Wilkins takes one on the button.
Kovakanki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Wilkins misses with a few strikes there.
A big left from Kovakanki misses.
Kovakanki is looking to land body kicks.
Wilkins has a takedown stuffed.
Kovakanki misses with a hook.

That's four 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.
Wilkins moves into range and connects with a jab.
Wilkins moves in looking to clinch but Kovakanki pushes him off.
Kovakanki thows a body shot but no joy.
Kovakanki throws a head kick but Wilkins moves out of range.
Kovakanki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wilkins blocks a head kick by Kovakanki.
Kovakanki throws a chopping leg kick but Wilkins manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Wilkins instigates a clinch.

Wilkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wilkins avoids a kick to the body.
Kovakanki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Wilkins counters with a stiff right hand.
Wilkins keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kovakanki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kovakanki could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wilkins with a jab.
Wilkins moves in looking to clinch but Kovakanki pushes him off.
Wilkins scores with a sloppy right hand. Kovakanki should have avoided that one.
Kovakanki on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Wilkins. Wilkins obviously looking to wear him down.
Wilkins swinging wilding here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Wilkins dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Taisto Kovakanki's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Wilkins has managed to clinch.
Kovakanki misses with a knee strike.

Wilkins manages to break the clinch.
Taisto Kovakanki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovakanki scores with a push kick.
Wilkins throws a series of punches but Kovakanki avoids them all with ease.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Kovakanki - that will leave a mark!
Kovakanki lands a head kick. Wilkins smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
An inside leg kick from Kovakanki misses.
Wilkins throws a sloppy head kick and Kovakanki moves out of range easily.
Wilkins throws a nice looking combination but Kovakanki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kovakanki throws a sloppy head kick
and Wilkins counters with a good low kick that Kovakanki was not able to check.
Wilkins cracks Kovakanki with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
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!
Wilkins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wilkins catches Kovakanki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Oooh a lovely combination from Wilkins sends Kovakanki down but not out. Wilkins dives into side control looking to finish.
Wilkins wants to stand but Kovakanki has his arm trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovakanki being controlled for a moment.
Wilkins advances nicely into full mount.

That's two 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.
Wilkins tries to control but Kovakanki wriggling away.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Wilkins landing punches.
Kovakanki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Wilkins avoids the attempt from Kovakanki to control.
Kovakanki tries to reverse the position but Wilkins maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins lands a big elbow.

Wilkins has hold of Kovakanki's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kovakanki manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Wilkins looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four 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.
Kovakanki working to try and regain half guard.
Wilkins looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kovakanki really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Wilkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Taisto Kovakanki's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Wilkins throws a combination. Kovakanki tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kovakanki throws a leg kick but Wilkins moved away.
Oooh a lovely combination from Wilkins sends Kovakanki down but not out. Wilkins dives into side control looking to finish.

Kovakanki is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovakanki is letting Wilkins control him for a moment.
Oh Kovakanki is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wilkins working away.
Kovakanki seems to have got his legs back now.
Wilkins is looking to take a break and control but Kovakanki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Kovakanki's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkins wants to control but Kovakanki is keeping him busy.
Wilkins takes a little break here. Kovakanki wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two 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.
Kovakanki struggling a bit here.
A lull in the action here.

Despite being in the dominant position, David Wilkins just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wilkins with a nice cross.
Kovakanki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kovakanki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Wilkins counters with a big uppercut that knocks Kovakanki off his feet! Wilkins dives into side control looking to finish!
David Wilkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Taisto Kovakanki's cut is getting worse.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Wilkins wants to control but Kovakanki is keeping him busy.
Wilkins controlling from side mount.
Taisto Kovakanki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Let's hope that Wilkins has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes there by Wilkins.
Wilkins trying to control the position but Kovakanki is working away.
Kovakanki is looking to regain half guard here but Wilkins keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovakanki takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Wilkins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wilkins has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 26:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 26:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Wilkins!