PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wladyslaw Raginis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kovalenko
vs
Raginis

205 cm
45
260 lbs
60 - 36 - 0

182 cm
35
265 lbs
21 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 60 - 36 - 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 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wladyslaw Raginis!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab lands there for Raginis.
Raginis throws a leg kick
letting Kovalenko counter with a right hand.
Kovalenko tries to bum rush Raginis with a series of wild strikes but Raginis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Raginis takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Raginis misses with a looping right.
Kovalenko slips under a jab from Raginis.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Raginis is defended easily by Kovalenko.

Kovalenko ducks straight into an uppercut from Raginis and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Kovalenko manages to regain guard straight away.

Kovalenko is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raginis chips away with some ground and pound.
Oh Kovalenko is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Raginis looking to pass the guard.
Kovalenko seems to have got his legs back now.
Raginis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kovalenko keeping moving, preventing Raginis from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Raginis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Raginis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kovalenko is keeping the position for now.

Kovalenko pushes Raginis off and scrambles back to his feet.
Raginis throws a body shot but no joy.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Kovalenko - that will leave a mark!
Raginis just misses with a punch to the body.
Raginis tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Raginis.
Wladyslaw Raginis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raginis throws a good cross that connects.
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raginis connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kovalenko's hands.
Kovalenko scores with a three punch combo!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raginis looks for a takedown but Kovalenko sprawls well.
Kovalenko misses with a wild combination.
Kovalenko lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Raginis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kovalenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raginis lands a glancing blow to the side of Kovalenko's head.
Kovalenko definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kovalenko throws a nice looking combination but Raginis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kovalenko avoids a kick to the body.
Kovalenko throws a series of punches but Raginis moves out of range.
Raginis tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kovalenko's corner calls for a 1-2. Kovalenko obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Raginis throws a hook to the side of Kovalenko's head but Kovalenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kovalenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Raginis circles away quickly and effectively.
Raginis is looking for the big counter here.
Kovalenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raginis.
Kovalenko is looking for a counter combo.
Kovalenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raginis.

Raginis has managed to clinch.
Raginis misses with a punch on the inside.
Raginis is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Raginis leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Raginis.
Raginis pushes Kovalenko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Raginis.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raginis lands a hook that snaps the head of Kovalenko backwards.
Raginis lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kovalenko blocking some punches.
Kovalenko prevents the takedown attempt.
Nikolai Kovalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wladyslaw Raginis.
Raginis misses with a hook from the clinch.

Raginis has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Kovalenko clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Wladyslaw Raginis will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Raginis missing with a left hand there. Kovalenko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Raginis gets a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Raginis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Raginis lands a takedown into guard.
Raginis stopping the sweep attempt from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko has momentary wrist control but Raginis slips an elbow through the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kovalenko scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Kovalenko throws out a powerful jab.
Kovalenko scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raginis on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kovalenko slips under a jab.
Raginis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Raginis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kovalenko circles away.
Kovalenko connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Raginis doesn't manage to clinch there - Kovalenko circles away.
Kovalenko seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Raginis scores with a takedown into Kovalenko's guard.

Kovalenko wriggles free and stands up.
Kovalenko slips a jab from Raginis.
Kovalenko seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raginis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kovalenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nikolai Kovalenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Raginis looks to land a right hand but Kovalenko moved out of range.
Raginis 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.
Raginis tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Kovalenko to counter with a crisp jab.
Kovalenko is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raginis ducks under a wild hook from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko scores with a one two! Raginis had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Raginis looks to score with a jab to the body but Kovalenko is just out of range.
Raginis digs a good body shot into Kovalenko's ribs.
Kovalenko lands a jab-cross combination.
Raginis moves in looking to clinch but Kovalenko pushes him off.
Raginis misses with a double jab.
Raginis misses with a hook
and Kovalenko counters with a left and a right that stings Raginis.
Kovalenko fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Raginis on the side of the head.
Raginis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kovalenko swivels and escapes.
As Raginis looks to move away, Kovalenko throws a big counter combo but Raginis just gets out of the way.
The fight stays on the outside here - Raginis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kovalenko is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko blocks the body kick.
Kovalenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Raginis slips a jab from Kovalenko.
Raginis tries to clinch but Kovalenko moves away
and Kovalenko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Raginis stuns Kovalenko with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Raginis misses with a looping right.

Raginis clinches up against the cage.
Raginis looking for a takedown.
Nikolai Kovalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wladyslaw Raginis.
Nice body punch from Raginis.
Kovalenko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kovalenko takes a shot to the head.
Raginis has Kovalenko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kovalenko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raginis lands a right hand.

Kovalenko breaks the clinch.
Raginis tries to move into range but Kovalenko moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Raginis steps into range and cracks Kovalenko with a monster punch that buckles his knees! Kovalenko flops backwards and Raginis dives into his guard looking to finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kovalenko wants to stand and escape but Raginis is having none of it.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Raginis working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Raginis trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovalenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Raginis throws a big right hand that misses.
Kovalenko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nikolai Kovalenko will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Raginis shoots in looking for a takedown. Kovalenko tries to sprawl out of it but Raginis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kovalenko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Raginis is looking to clinch but Kovalenko is avoiding it.
Kovalenko was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kovalenko throws a lazy uppercut
and Raginis counters with a left right combination that sends Kovalenko crashing to the mat - Raginis wastes no time in diving on top of him and pounding Kovalenko out for a TKO! Devastating finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Wladyslaw Raginis!