PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kovalenko (ranked 3551 p4p, 0 weight class) and Striking Sparbot (ranked 9878 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kovalenko
vs
Sparbot

205 cm
48
260 lbs
62 - 43 - 0

199 cm
50
252 lbs
54 - 21 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 62 - 43 - 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 54 - 21 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Striking Sparbot!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparbot keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko throws a good cross that connects.
Sparbot drops his hands momentarily and Kovalenko takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sparbot throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kovalenko definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kovalenko misses with an uppercut
and Sparbot counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kovalenko cracks Sparbot with a good jab.
Kovalenko is looking to slow Sparbot down with leg kicks.

Sparbot gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sparbot's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nice body punch from Sparbot.

Sparbot's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kovalenko misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko lands a lovely overhand right.
Sparbot fails to land the takedown.
Kovalenko tries to score with a low kick but Sparbot moves his leg out of the way.
Nikolai Kovalenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovalenko misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sparbot counters with an outside leg kick.
Sparbot ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sparbot is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Kovalenko with a body shot.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovalenko throws a nice looking combination but Sparbot bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sparbot.

Sparbot clinches with his opponent.

Sparbot breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kovalenko throws a nice looking combination but Sparbot bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sparbot with the counter takedown but Kovalenko avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sparbot.
Nikolai Kovalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Striking Sparbot.
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that Sparbot avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparbot gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sparbot slips under a jab.
Kovalenko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Kovalenko backs off Sparbot throws a huge counter combo but Kovalenko manages to avoid it all.
Kovalenko misses with a looping left.
Sparbot unleashes a big counter combination but Kovalenko bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A jab lands there for Kovalenko.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovalenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kovalenko closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kovalenko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sparbot.

Sparbot moves into the clinch.
Sparbot just leaning against Kovalenko, taking a breather.
Kovalenko avoids the elbow strike from Sparbot, against the cage.
Sparbot working aggressively here.
Sparbot tries to pull guard but Kovalenko forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparbot wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Kovalenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sparbot steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko looks to land a combination but Sparbot avoids it well.
Sparbot is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Sparbot slips under a jab from Kovalenko.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kovalenko.
Sparbot is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A big right from Kovalenko misses.
Sparbot keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sparbot fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sparbot throws a body punch but Kovalenko moves out of range.
Sparbot dives in and grabs Kovalenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kovalenko pushes down on Sparbot's head and hops out.
Kovalenko checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sparbot eats them both and turns towards Kovalenko to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kovalenko looks to land a combination but Sparbot avoids it well.
Sparbot wants to counter with a clinch but Kovalenko pushes him away.
Some wild striking there from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko connects with a right hand. Sparbot shakes it off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab from Kovalenko finds it's way through Sparbot's defenses.
Sparbot tries to clinch but Kovalenko is having none of it.
Kovalenko misses the jab.
Sparbot shoots in for a double leg but Kovalenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kovalenko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sparbot looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kovalenko is fending him off so far but Sparbot persists. Nope, Kovalenko circles away and we're back to standing.
Kovalenko keeps the fight on the outside.
Kovalenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sparbot moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kovalenko misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kovalenko dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sparbot shoots in but no luck this time.
Kovalenko scoring well with a low kick there.
Kovalenko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sparbot can do to turn this around?
Kovalenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kovalenko looks to throw the jab but Sparbot is out of range.
Kovalenko thuds his right hand into Sparbot's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kovalenko has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Kovalenko missing with a left hand there. Sparbot was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sparbot looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sparbot fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kovalenko avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sparbot shoots in for a double leg but Kovalenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nikolai Kovalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Striking Sparbot.
Kovalenko throws the left hand but Sparbot avoids the punch easily.
Nikolai Kovalenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Kovalenko misses with the combination.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparbot doesn't manage to clinch there - Kovalenko circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sparbot.
Kovalenko throws a series of punches but Sparbot moves out of range.
Kovalenko connects with a looping right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sparbot looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kovalenko looks to score with a jab to the body but Sparbot is just out of range.
Kovalenko throws a leg kick which misses Sparbot's front leg but catches the back leg as Sparbot tries to avoid it.
Sparbot shoots in but no luck this time.
Sparbot throws a head kick but Kovalenko moves out of range.
Kovalenko closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kovalenko misses with a wild combination.
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sparbot circles away quickly and effectively.

Kovalenko tries to keep at a distance but Sparbot has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sparbot's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kovalenko misses with a two punch combination.
Sparbot looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kovalenko tries to bum rush Sparbot with a series of wild strikes but Sparbot uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sparbot is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A punch combination from Sparbot misses.
Kovalenko misses with a low kick.
Kovalenko looks to throw the jab but Sparbot is out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kovalenko darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kovalenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sparbot moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sparbot is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sparbot changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kovalenko looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sparbot laying and praying for a moment but Kovalenko takes advantage and regains half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kovalenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sparbot.
Sparbot is pressing down on Kovalenko's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kovalenko is holding on for now.
Kovalenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparbot not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Kovalenko kicks off Sparbot and gets to his feet.
Sparbot on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kovalenko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sparbot.
Kovalenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sparbot circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalenko misses with a looping right.
An inside leg kick lands from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Sparbot gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Sparbot escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sparbot has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kovalenko.
Sparbot moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kovalenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sparbot circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kovalenko dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kovalenko slaps away a takedown attempt from Sparbot, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko takes a swing at Sparbot's ribcage but misses.
A nice side step and Sparbot releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sparbot shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kovalenko but Kovalenko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sparbot throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kovalenko's waist but Kovalenko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sparbot off to one side.
Nikolai Kovalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Striking Sparbot.
Kovalenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sparbot moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sparbot lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sparbot tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sparbot gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sparbot slips a jab and a cross from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kovalenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sparbot is looking to clinch but Kovalenko is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kovalenko connects with a right hand. Sparbot shakes it off.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovalenko misses the jab.
Decent striking displayed by Kovalenko there.
Kovalenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kovalenko throws a body shot but no joy.
Kovalenko catches Sparbot with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sparbot tries to clinch there but Kovalenko circles away.
Kovalenko scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sparbot in his tracks.

Sparbot moves into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Sparbot.

Kovalenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sparbot goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalenko throws a shot from downtown. Sparbot moves away and avoids it.
Sparbot fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kovalenko is looking to counter punch.
A punch combination from Kovalenko misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kovalenko falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sparbot counters with a body kick that stops Kovalenko in his tracks momentarily.
Kovalenko misses with a wild combination.

Sparbot moves into the clinch successfully.
Kovalenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovalenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Sparbot breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sparbot moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sparbot has Kovalenko up against the cage in a clinch.
Sparbot prevents Kovalenko from breaking the clinch.
Sparbot is trying to pull guard but Kovalenko turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kovalenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sparbot has Kovalenko pressed against the cage.
Kovalenko trying to stall but Sparbot improves his position.

Kovalenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kovalenko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kovalenko misses with a right hand

and Sparbot counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sparbot is trying to pull guard but Kovalenko turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sparbot keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kovalenko's efforts to push away.
Sparbot stalling in the clinch.
Sparbot scores with a hook to the body.

Sparbot has Kovalenko pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sparbot pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kovalenko tumbling to the mat - Sparbot dives into Kovalenko's guard.
Sparbot is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Kovalenko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kovalenko, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Kovalenko!
Our winner, Nikolai Kovalenko, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.