PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wladyslaw Raginis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikolai Kovalenko will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Raginis
vs
Kovalenko

182 cm
37
265 lbs
24 - 17 - 0

205 cm
46
260 lbs
60 - 40 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wladyslaw Raginis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 60 - 40 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kovalenko!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raginis looks to land a combination but Kovalenko avoids it well.
Kovalenko is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Raginis throws a nice outside leg kick.
Raginis lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kovalenko throws a series of punches but Raginis moves out of range.
Raginis throws a right hand that misses
letting Kovalenko counter with a right hand.
Wladyslaw Raginis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raginis misses with a head kick.

Raginis clinches.
Raginis has Kovalenko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kovalenko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Raginis has hold of one of Kovalenko's legs. Kovalenko is fighting the takedown attempt but Raginis gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kovalenko is looking to stand back up but Raginis counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Kovalenko.

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!
Raginis lands strikes from half guard.
Raginis thows a huge punch but Kovalenko dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raginis working over Kovalenko with some ground and pound. Kovalenko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Raginis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kovalenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kovalenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Raginis content to control rather than advance.
Kovalenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Raginis.
Kovalenko looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Raginis is nestled in close to Kovalenko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Raginis missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Raginis throwing shots but Kovalenko is blocking nicely.
Raginis winds up and cracks Kovalenko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Raginis.
Raginis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kovalenko is trying to stand back up but Raginis is controlling him
Raginis has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Raginis wants to control but Kovalenko is keeping him busy.
Raginis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kovalenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Raginis.

Raginis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Raginis seems to be working for a kimura but Kovalenko defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raginis looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Raginis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kovalenko's head.
Raginis trying to control from half guard but Kovalenko is working away.
Raginis working over Kovalenko with some ground and pound. Kovalenko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Raginis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kovalenko won't allow Raginis to pass to mount.
Kovalenko taking some punishment here, with Raginis in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Raginis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kovalenko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Raginis is working away from the top position though.
Raginis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Raginis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Raginis is trying to control. Kovalenko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Raginis is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Raginis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raginis is nestled in close to Kovalenko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ground and pound from Raginis.

Kovalenko is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wladyslaw Raginis dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Raginis throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kovalenko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Raginis lands with a good body shot.
Raginis misses with a low kick.
Raginis fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Raginis shoots in and gets a takedown into Kovalenko's guard.
Kovalenko keeping full guard, as Raginis tries to pass.
Raginis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raginis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Raginis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Raginis scoring with punches to the head and body.
Raginis trying to control but Kovalenko is working from the bottom.
Raginis tries to free his leg and advance position but Kovalenko is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Raginis.
Kovalenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Raginis throws a big right hand that misses.
Raginis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kovalenko can do to turn this around?
Raginis postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Raginis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kovalenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Raginis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Raginis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Raginis throws a big elbow that misses.
Kovalenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Raginis.
Raginis cracks Kovalenko with a solid left hand.
Raginis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raginis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Raginis landing some decent shots from guard.
Raginis is looking to work some ground and pound but Kovalenko has wrist control.
Wladyslaw Raginis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Raginis won't allow Kovalenko to get back to his feet.
Raginis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kovalenko's head.
Raginis is looking to work some ground and pound but Kovalenko has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raginis scoring with some ground and pound.

Raginis has gone for a leg lock! Kovalenko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Raginis's guard.

Raginis is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raginis lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Raginis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raginis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Raginis postures up in Kovalenko's guard and throws a big left but Kovalenko blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kovalenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Raginis.
Raginis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Raginis keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kovalenko's head.
Raginis throwing strikes but missing.
Raginis trying to control but Kovalenko is working from the bottom.
Raginis lands a couple of digs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raginis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Raginis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Raginis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wladyslaw Raginis dominated that second round.
That's time! Raginis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Kovalenko slips under a jab.
Raginis attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kovalenko shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Raginis eats them both and turns towards Kovalenko to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Raginis scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kovalenko wants to get back to his feet.
Kovalenko taking punishment in the form of punches.
Kovalenko is still in real trouble! Can Raginis finish him?
Raginis tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kovalenko seems to have recovered his senses.

Raginis working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kovalenko is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raginis throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Raginis tries for a kimura but Kovalenko is defending well.
Raginis controlling the position.
Raginis wants to control but Kovalenko is keeping him busy.
Raginis working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Raginis misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Kovalenko parries the strikes from Raginis easily there. Raginis is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kovalenko to escape.
Raginis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kovalenko keeps working.
Kovalenko defending against the ground and pound.
Raginis lands a strong strike to the head of Kovalenko. That's dazed him! Raginis looking to finish here. Kovalenko is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Raginis lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Wladyslaw Raginis!