PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Kovalev (ranked 2197 p4p, 257 weight class) and James Toby (ranked 2885 p4p, 315 weight class). Toby has chosen Will Smith - The Fresh Prince as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as James Toby enters the cage!

Kovalev
vs
Toby

207 cm
23
260 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

198 cm
35
275 lbs
17 - 15 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Kovalev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 15 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Toby!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Kovalev.
It looked like Kovalev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Toby swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kovalev counters with a right hand to the body.
Toby looks for the body kick but Kovalev saw that one coming.
It looked like Kovalev was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Toby.
Toby throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kovalev lands an overhand right.
Toby tries a head kick but it misses.
Kovalev connects with a nice looking jab.
Toby dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Toby throws a right hand that misses
and Kovalev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kovalev jabs at Toby's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Toby staying out of range there.
Kovalev changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Toby throws a body shot but no joy.
Kovalev swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Toby throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Toby fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Toby. Kovalev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Toby 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toby connects with a nice looking jab.
Toby looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kovalev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Toby.
Kovalev has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Shark Tank in the buildup to the fight.
James Toby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovalev tries to close the distance and clinch but Toby swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kovalev walks into a jab.
Toby throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Kovalev counter with a right hand.
A swing and a miss from Toby.
Toby swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Kovalev counter with a right hand.
Kovalev throws out a loose jab but Toby uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kovalev ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kovalev tries to bum rush Toby with a series of wild strikes but Toby uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kovalev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Toby moves away.
Toby misses with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovalev checks a low kick from Toby.
Kovalev swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kovalev throws a hook to the side of Toby's head but Toby sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Vladimir Kovalev has been cut.
Kovalev catches Toby with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Kovalev cracks Toby with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Toby looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Kovalev finish him?

Toby is rocked!
Toby leaves his chin hanging out and Kovalev seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Toby crumbles to the floor in a heap, and the referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Vladimir Kovalev!