PBP Commentary

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

Kovalev
vs
Jones

191 cm
24
245 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

195 cm
22
250 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Good gas tank

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Peter Kovalev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnny Jones!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovalev throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Jones counter with a right hand.
A swing and a miss from Jones.
Kovalev ducks under a wild hook from Jones.
Kovalev misses with a takedown
enabling Jones to counter with a crisp jab.
Jones keeps the fight on the outside.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Jones! But no joy.
Kovalev has his takedown stuffed
and Jones counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kovalev misses with a series of wild punches.
Kovalev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalev tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Jones counters with a left to the body.
Jones's coach down at Montreal Fighter's Gym (5* Sparring) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Jones's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Kovalev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jones lands a really nice looking cross but Kovalev seems unphased.
Kovalev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev misses with a combination
and Jones counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kovalev thinking.

Kovalev clinches up with Jones and pushes him back against the cage.
Kovalev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kovalev is trying to break the clinch but Jones has him pressed against the cage.

Jones breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kovalev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kovalev feints a jab promting Jones to slip. Kovalev then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Jones slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Kovalev throws a right hand that Jones ducks under and follows up with a left that Jones also avoids with ease.
Jones slips a jab and a cross from Kovalev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev looks to land a combination but Jones avoids it well.
Kovalev tries a head kick but it misses.
Peter Kovalev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovalev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jones circles away quickly and effectively.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovalev misses with a double jab.
Kovalev misses with the combination.
Jones goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kovalev throws a series of punches but Jones avoids them all with ease.
Kovalev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jones counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kovalev throws a nice looking combination but Jones bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A punch combination from Kovalev misses.
Jones keeps the fight on the outside.
Jones swings for the body but Kovalev moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev throws a combination that misses
and Jones connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kovalev fails to land with a series of punches.
Kovalev looks to land a combination but Jones avoids it well.
Jones appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kovalev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Jones counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
No joy there for Jones, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jones. Kovalev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kovalev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jones throws a hook but Kovalev avoids it easily.
Kovalev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kovalev throws a combination that misses
and Jones counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kovalev misses with a double jab
and Jones counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Kovalev clinches.
Jones is pushing Kovalev up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones stalling.
Jones lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kovalev backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovalev tries a body shot but Jones blocks it.
Kovalev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jones just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peter Kovalev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kovalev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Johnny Jones will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kovalev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kovalev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jones counters with a nice body shot.
Some wild striking there from Kovalev.
Jones throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Kovalev counter with a right hand.
Kovalev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Despite the aggression on Jones's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kovalev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jones doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kovalev misses with a double jab.
Sloppy strikes from Jones. Those never looked like landing.
Kovalev lands the left hand.
Kovalev misses with a few strikes there.
Peter Kovalev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones scores with a jab. Kovalev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kovalev misses with the combination.
Kovalev has his takedown stuffed
and Jones counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jones counters with a series of strikes. Kovalev will be more careful next time no doubt.
Jones misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jones swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kovalev went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Kovalev throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jones counters with a straight right hand.
Kovalev scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kovalev throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jones counters with a left to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Kovalev scores with a four punch combination!
Jones lands with a cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovalev misses with a two punch combination.
Kovalev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Jones counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kovalev tries to clinch but Jones moves away
and Jones counters with a straight right hand.
Jones pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnny Jones is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Good shot there by Kovalev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev throws a combination that misses
and Jones counters with a straight right hand.
Jones lands an overhand right.
Kovalev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kovalev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jones waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kovalev.
Kovalev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Jones.
Kovalev tries to bum rush Jones with a series of wild strikes but Jones uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kovalev throws a lazy uppercut
and Jones counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kovalev misses with the combination.
Kovalev throws a right and a left that Jones avoids nicely.
As Kovalev backs off Jones throws a huge counter combo but Kovalev manages to avoid it all.
Jones showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovalev.
Kovalev with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Jones to score with a decent uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jones wants it to stay on the feet.
Kovalev misses with a double jab
and Jones connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Kovalev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jones, pushing him back against the cage.
Jones lands with a light punch inside.

Kovalev is rocked!
Jones is pushing Kovalev up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Oh Kovalev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kovalev avoiding damage as Jones throws knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jones - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kovalev seems to have got his legs back now.

Jones breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kovalev looks to land a combination but Jones avoids it well.
Kovalev misses with a series of wild punches.
A countering left hand to the body from Jones misses.
A combination from Kovalev does no damage.
Kovalev scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Kovalev closes the distance looking to clinch
and Jones counters with a nice uppercut.
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!
Kovalev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jones counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kovalev misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Johnny Jones will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kovalev with a poor takedown
and Jones counters with a nice uppercut.
Kovalev fails to land with a series of punches.
Kovalev looks to land a combination but Jones avoids it well.
Kovalev falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Jones to counter with a crisp jab.
Kovalev staying out of range there.
Jones moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kovalev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jones let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kovalev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jones.
Kovalev has his takedown stuffed
and Jones counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalev misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kovalev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Kovalev.
Kovalev misses with a series of wild punches.
A nice side step and Jones releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kovalev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jones with a hook.
Jones avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jones looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kovalev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Jones counter with a right hand.
Kovalev throws a low kick but Jones avoids it.
Kovalev throws a head kick that misses
and Jones counters with a stiff right hand.
Kovalev swinging wildly here.
Johnny Jones seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jones loads up on a big right hand but Kovalev slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev's corner calls for a 1-2. Kovalev obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kovalev stalks Jones and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Jones's face. Jones staggers backwards, shaken.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jones changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Kovalev. Those never looked like landing.
Kovalev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kovalev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jones counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peter Kovalev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kovalev throws a right hand that Jones ducks under and follows up with a left that Jones also avoids with ease.
Kovalev misses with a looping left.
Despite the aggression on Jones's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Some wild striking there from Kovalev.
Jones throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kovalev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Jones cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jones scores with a hook to the body. Kovalev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Kovalev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kovalev swings widly with a right hand
letting Jones counter with a right hand.
A punch lands to the side of Kovalev 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kovalev slips a straight right by Jones.
Kovalev with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Jones to score with a decent uppercut.
Kovalev gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Jones gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Johnny Jones!
An out of breath Johnny Jones thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
In defeat, Peter Kovalev stepped up to the mic, saying 'this aint the last u seen of me!!!'.