PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Kovalev (ranked 5796 p4p, 618 weight class) and Gustav Rinaldi (ranked 25265 p4p, 835 weight class). Kovalev's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Vinnie Paz - Cheesesteaks. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kovalev
vs
Rinaldi

186 cm
18
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

198 cm
20
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aleksandr Kovalev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gustav Rinaldi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kovalev gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Kovalev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rinaldi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rinaldi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kovalev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rinaldi has managed to get both his arms back between Kovalev's legs - danger averted.
Kovalev keeping moving, preventing Rinaldi from controlling successfully.
Rinaldi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kovalev haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kovalev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kovalev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kovalev tries to get out of the position.
Rinaldi trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovalev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovalev has his hands on Rinaldi's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kovalev has his foot on Rinaldi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rinaldi works his way back into a safe position though.
Kovalev wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Rinaldi manages to pass to side control.
Rinaldi is trying to control. Kovalev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kovalev is holding on to half guard well.
Rinaldi drops an elbow to the side of Kovalev's head.
Kovalev works his way to full guard. Good work.

Kovalev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rinaldi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kovalev keeping moving, preventing Rinaldi from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev is controlling Rinaldi's posture.
Kovalev 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.

Kovalev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rinaldi passes into side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kovalev is trying to get back to half guard.
Kovalev is working hard here to advance position.
Kovalev is trying to control Rinaldi's posture but Rinaldi avoids it.
Kovalev is trying to buck Rinaldi off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kovalev is trying to get back to half guard.
Rinaldi wants to control but Kovalev is keeping him busy.
Kovalev is trying to get back to half guard.
Kovalev tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Rinaldi easily slips into full mount!
Rinaldi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kovalev is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rinaldi prevents Kovalev from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kovalev is looking to get to half guard.
Kovalev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rinaldi on the ground.
Rinaldi controlling his opponent.
Rinaldi avoids the attempt from Kovalev to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kovalev is looking to improve his position but Rinaldi isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Rinaldi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kovalev forces Rinaldi back against the cage and clinches.

Rinaldi gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Kovalev pushes Rinaldi off and gets back to his feet.

Rinaldi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovalev is looking to escape.
Rinaldi prevents Kovalev from improving his position.
Kovalev trying to hold on to Rinaldi's head to control him but Rinaldi postures up.
Rinaldi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kovalev is trying to stand up here but Rinaldi is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi is keen to just control but Kovalev is a slippery customer.
Kovalev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rinaldi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rinaldi's back!

Kovalev looking for the RNC.
Rinaldi wants to escape the position.

Kovalev working for a choke but Rinaldi reverses nicely into Kovalev 's guard.
Kovalev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rinaldi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kovalev tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kovalev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kovalev has Rinaldi pulled in close to control his posture.
Kovalev wants to sweep but no luck.
Kovalev pulls Rinaldi in to control the position.

Kovalev isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rinaldi stacks Kovalev on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rinaldi!
Rinaldi trying to control the position but Kovalev is working away.
You can see the frustration on Kovalev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Kovalev!
Kovalev wants to control but Rinaldi is having none of it.
Rinaldi tries to control but Kovalev wriggling away.
Kovalev wants to hold on but Rinaldi pushes him away.
Kovalev bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev wants to control from the top but Rinaldi keeps moving.
Kovalev landing with the ground and pound.
Kovalev connects with a couple of short punches.
Kovalev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rinaldi is keeping the position for now.
Kovalev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kovalev looking to pass the guard.
Rinaldi trying to control the position.
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 Aleksandr Kovalev will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kovalev closes the distance and clinches.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
Kovalev working aggressively here.
Kovalev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rinaldi's elbow.
Kovalev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kovalev swings wildly with an uppercut but Rinaldi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kovalev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Rinaldi tightens his grip and picks Kovalev up, before dumping him to the ground. Kovalev manages to land in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rinaldi trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovalev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gustav Rinaldi has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rinaldi wants to control from the top but Kovalev keeps moving.

Kovalev has his foot on Rinaldi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rinaldi works his way back into a safe position though.
Kovalev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Kovalev working for submissions but it's allowed Rinaldi to get to half guard.

Rinaldi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Rinaldi wants to work for an arm triangle but Kovalev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rinaldi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kovalev is trying to get back to full guard.
Kovalev wants to get back to his feet.
Kovalev is trying to maintain the position but Rinaldi is very close to passing his half guard.
Kovalev scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Rinaldi manages to mount him!
Kovalev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rinaldi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kovalev is looking to escape.
Rinaldi prevents Kovalev from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi avoids the attempt from Kovalev to control.
Rinaldi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kovalev is looking to escape.
Kovalev is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kovalev bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Kovalev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rinaldi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kovalev works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kovalev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rinaldi keeps working.
Kovalev is really struggling to control Rinaldi but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kovalev works his way into full mount!

Kovalev working for a submission but Rinaldi is keeping him at bay.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Aleksandr Kovalev.
I think Kovalev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Aleksandr Kovalev!
Aleksandr Kovalev 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.