PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Irhin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikolai Kovalenko had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Kovalenko
vs
Irhin

205 cm
43
260 lbs
59 - 31 - 0

180 cm
28
200 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Russian Bears Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 59 - 31 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kovalenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artem Irhin!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Irhin closes the distance and pushes Kovalenko back into the cage.
Irhin stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Irhin obliges.

Kovalenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Irhin fails to land with a series of punches.

Irhin moves into the clinch.
Irhin stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Irhin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kovalenko tries to break the clinch but Irhin is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irhin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Irhin stalling in the clinch.
Irhin is struggling to control the position.

Kovalenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kovalenko scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Irhin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kovalenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Irhin has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Irhin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A frustrated look appears on Kovalenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Irhin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Irhin misses with a knee to the head.
Kovalenko tries to break the clinch but Irhin is controlling the position.
A short right from Irhin.
Irhin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kovalenko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Irhin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A bit of stalling here from Irhin.
Irhin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kovalenko backwards.
Kovalenko looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Irhin missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irhin holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Kovalenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kovalenko throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A punch combination from Kovalenko misses.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovalenko tries to bum rush Irhin with a series of wild strikes but Irhin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Irhin clinches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Irhin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kovalenko's brow.
Irhin misses with a punch to the body.
Irhin avoiding damage.
Irhin tries a body shot but Kovalenko blocks it.
Irhin tries to land knees in the clinch but Kovalenko avoids the damage to the body.
Irhin effectively controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko is looking to break free of the clinch but Irhin has double underhooks.
Kovalenko tries to circle away but Irhin has him pinned against the cage.
Kovalenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Irhin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Irhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Irhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kovalenko is trying to break free.
Irhin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Kovalenko manages to break the clinch.
Irhin tries to clinch but Kovalenko is having none of it.
Irhin blocks a head kick by Kovalenko.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab.
Irhin is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Irhin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kovalenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Irhin counters with a one-two to the body.
Kovalenko throws the left hand but Irhin avoids the punch easily.
Irhin tries to clinch up but Kovalenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Irhin dodges the punch combination from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kovalenko counters with a two punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Irhin lands the left hand.
Good shot there by Irhin.
A telegraphed right hand from Kovalenko misses the target.
Kovalenko lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Irhin moves into the clinch successfully.
Kovalenko blocks a body shot from Irhin.
Irhin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Kovalenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kovalenko looks to land a combination but Irhin avoids it well.

Irhin has Kovalenko up against the cage in a clinch.

Kovalenko breaks from the clinch.
Kovalenko connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Irhin momentarily.
Irhin walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Artem Irhin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovalenko dodges the punch combination from Irhin.
A combination from Kovalenko does no damage.
Irhin wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalenko throws a head kick that half lands.
Kovalenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Irhin tries a quick counter leg kick but Kovalenko is wise to it.
Kovalenko misses with a two punch combination.

Irhin takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irhin presses Kovalenko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Irhin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick misses from Kovalenko.

Irhin has closed the distance and engaged Kovalenko in a clinch.
Kovalenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Irhin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Irhin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kovalenko is defending well for now.
Kovalenko tries to circle away but Irhin has him pinned against the cage.
Kovalenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Irhin misses with a body punch.
Irhin misses with a body punch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Irhin obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irhin slows down the pace here.
A right handed body shot lands from Irhin.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the head but Kovalenko blocks with his arms.
Irhin throws a punch but it's blocked by Kovalenko.
Irhin misses with a knee strike.
Irhin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kovalenko's face.
Irhin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kovalenko is defending well for now.
Kovalenko tries to circle away but Irhin has him pinned against the cage.
Irhin lands with a left to the head.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the head but Kovalenko blocks with his arms.
A frustrated look appears on Kovalenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kovalenko is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the head but Kovalenko blocks with his arms.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kovalenko avoids it.
Irhin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kovalenko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Irhin misses with a knee to the head.
Irhin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kovalenko blocks it with crossed arms.
Kovalenko is trying to break the clinch but Irhin is controlling him.
Irhin scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Kovalenko breaks from the clinch.
Kovalenko keeps the fight on the outside.
Kovalenko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Irhin.
Kovalenko misses with the combination.
Irhin is looking to clinch.
Kovalenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko misses with the combination.
Kovalenko misses with a head kick.
Kovalenko looks to land a combination but Irhin avoids it well.
Irhin moves in looking to clinch but Kovalenko pushes him off.
Nikolai Kovalenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Kovalenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Irhin.
As Irhin looks to move away, Kovalenko throws a big counter combo but Irhin just gets out of the way.

Kovalenko tries to keep at a distance but Irhin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Irhin scores with a nice short 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!
Irhin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kovalenko avoids it.
Irhin looking to throw knees to the head but Kovalenko is blocking nicely.
Kovalenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Irhin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Decent striking displayed by Irhin there.

Irhin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Irhin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kovalenko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Irhin looking to throw knees to the head but Kovalenko is blocking nicely.
Irhin gets through Kovalenko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Come on Irhin - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Irhin trying to land knees to the body.
Irhin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irhin has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kovalenko after a bit of a struggle.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the head but Kovalenko blocks with his arms.
Kovalenko blocks a body shot from Irhin.
Irhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irhin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kovalenko blocks it with crossed arms.
Kovalenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Irhin controlling the action here for a moment.
Irhin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Kovalenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Irhin tries to clinch there but Kovalenko circles away.
Kovalenko looks to land a combination. Irhin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Irhin lands with a right hand.
Irhin throws a jab when Kovalenko was well out of range.
A punch combination from Kovalenko misses.
Irhin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Irhin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Irhin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kovalenko swinging wildly here.
No joy there for Kovalenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Irhin lunges at Kovalenko with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kovalenko's hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice straight punches there by Irhin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Irhin.
Irhin misses with a straight right.
Kovalenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Irhin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Irhin takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Irhin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kovalenko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Irhin taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kovalenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Irhin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kovalenko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kovalenko throws a chopping leg kick but Irhin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Irhin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kovalenko's head.

Irhin has closed the distance and engaged Kovalenko in a clinch.
Nikolai Kovalenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Irhin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Irhin stalling in the clinch but Kovalenko improves position.
Irhin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Irhin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Irhin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kovalenko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Irhin.
Kovalenko fails to land with a series of punches.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Irhin! But no joy.
Kovalenko lands a head kick!

Irhin clinches.
Artem Irhin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irhin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the head but Kovalenko blocks with his arms.
Irhin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Irhin trying to land knees to the body.
Irhin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Irhin landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Irhin - that landed with a thud.
Irhin slowing the pace effectively.
Irhin displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kovalenko up against the cage.
Irhin continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Irhin leaning his opponent against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artem Irhin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Irhin 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artem Irhin!
Artem Irhin was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.