PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Danny Munty (ranked 5421 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Kovalev (ranked 6587 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kovalev's choice of entrance music: Vinnie Paz - Cheesesteaks. The key to victory for Danny Munty has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Munty
vs
Kovalev

180 cm
23
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
19
215 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Danny Munty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aleksandr Kovalev!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Skip Squint and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Munty drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kovalev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kovalev trying to keep a closed guard but Munty is proving a slippery customer.

Kovalev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Munty gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Kovalev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Munty gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kovalev working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Munty trying to control but Kovalev is working from the bottom.
Munty won't allow Kovalev to sweep him here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kovalev can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kovalev uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Munty looks to score with a jab to the body but Kovalev is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kovalev clinches up against the cage.
Munty prevents a body shot from Kovalev.
Kovalev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Munty is trying to break the clinch but Kovalev is controlling him.
Munty takes a shot to the head.

Munty gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kovalev regains guard.
Munty is breathing heavily.
Kovalev wants to sweep here but Munty controlling him for the moment.
Munty wants to get up but he can't break Kovalev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Munty accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kovalev is trying to keep Munty in close.

Kovalev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Munty defends well.

Kovalev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kovalev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Munty gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Munty being controlled here momentarily.
Kovalev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Munty throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Munty stopping the sweep attempt from Kovalev.
Munty missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Kovalev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Kovalev working for a triangle but Munty defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kovalev has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Munty is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Munty.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kovalev.
Munty blocking some punches.
Kovalev lands with a left to the head.
Kovalev tries to work over Munty's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Munty.
Kovalev lands an uppercut.
Kovalev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kovalev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Munty backwards.
Kovalev misses with a body punch.
Kovalev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Munty wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kovalev throws a punch but it's blocked by Munty.
Kovalev tries to throw a body punch but Munty avoids it by throwing Kovalev back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kovalev.
Munty looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Kovalev tries to work over Munty's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kovalev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kovalev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kovalev tries to work over Munty's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Kovalev on the inside.
Munty can't break the clinch.
Kovalev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Munty backwards.
Kovalev misses with some punches.
Munty blocking some punches.
Munty tries to break the clinch but Kovalev is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Kovalev dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kovalev rushes Munty and presses him up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kovalev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kovalev throws a punch but it's blocked by Munty.
Kovalev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kovalev misses with the head strike.
Kovalev keeps control of Munty as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kovalev working aggressively here.
Kovalev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kovalev misses with a punch on the inside.
Aleksandr Kovalev seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kovalev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kovalev can't find room to land a body shot as Munty controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Munty jumps guard and drags Kovalev to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Munty wants to stand and escape but Kovalev is having none of it.
Munty keeping moving, preventing Kovalev from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kovalev trying to control the position from guard on top but Munty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovalev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kovalev trying to control the position from guard on top but Munty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Munty not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kovalev wants to control from the top but Munty keeps moving.
Kovalev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Munty keeping moving, preventing Kovalev from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Munty gets a double leg takedown into Kovalev's guard.

Kovalev pushes Munty off and gets back to his feet.
Kovalev looks to throw the jab but Munty is out of range.

Munty clinches with his opponent.

Munty has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Kovalev clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Munty has his opponent's back but Kovalev is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Munty.

Kovalev has managed to clinch.
Munty blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kovalev misses with some punches.
Kovalev struggles to land a body shot inside as Munty controls his hands.
Kovalev misses with the head strike.
Munty blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev working aggressively here.
Kovalev throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Muntys head.
Kovalev lands with a left to the head.
Munty blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Munty gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Kovalev wriggles free and stands up.

Kovalev drives through and clinches with Munty against the cage.
Kovalev throws a punch but it's blocked by Munty.
Kovalev scores with a shot to the side of Munty's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalev scores with a shot to the side of Munty's head.
Kovalev lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Munty or not.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kovalev.
Kovalev digs a right hand underneath Munty's ribcage. Munty let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kovalev has a couple of punches blocked by Munty.
Kovalev misses with a punch on the inside.
Kovalev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kovalev tries a body shot but Munty blocks it.
Kovalev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kovalev gets through Munty's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A frustrated look appears on Munty's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kovalev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kovalev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kovalev misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kovalev.
Kovalev lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Kovalev fails to land.
Kovalev misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Kovalev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kovalev forces Munty back against the cage and clinches.
Munty wants to break the clinch but can't.
Munty blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovalev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Munty wants to get back to striking at distance but Kovalev won't allow it.
Kovalev has a couple of punches blocked by Munty.
Kovalev lands a body shot.
Kovalev pushes Munty back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Munty blocks an uppercut.
Munty blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovalev misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalev misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Kovalev fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kovalev.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Munty blocking some punches.
Kovalev tries a body shot but Munty blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Kovalev fails to land.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
Kovalev throws a punch but it's blocked by Munty.
A right handed body shot lands from Kovalev.
Kovalev throws a punch but it's blocked by Munty.
Kovalev working aggressively here.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
Kovalev swings wildly with an uppercut but Munty uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kovalev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Munty is rocked!
Kovalev misses with a punch on the inside.
Oh Munty is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kovalev misses with a punch on the inside.
Kovalev misses with a punch on the inside.
Kovalev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Kovalev fails to land.
Kovalev misses with some punches.
Kovalev working aggressively here.
Kovalev working aggressively here.
Kovalev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kovalev swings wildly with an uppercut but Munty uses good head movement to avoid it.
Munty blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kovalev misses with some punches.
Munty seems to have got his legs back now.
Munty wants to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev lands with a left to the head.
Munty blocking some punches.
Kovalev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Munty blocks an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovalev digs a right hand underneath Munty's ribcage. Munty let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A head punch on the inside from Kovalev fails to land.
Munty blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovalev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Munty blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kovalev tries to work over Munty's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kovalev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kovalev lands a nice shot to the body.
Munty wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kovalev has a couple of punches blocked by Munty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev tries to throw a body punch but Munty avoids it by throwing Kovalev back against the cage.
Kovalev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kovalev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kovalev misses with the head strike.
Kovalev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Munty is trying to break the clinch but Kovalev has him pressed against the cage.

Munty manages to pull guard.
Kovalev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Munty. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kovalev wants to control from the top but Munty keeps moving.
Kovalev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Munty is keeping the position for now.
Kovalev landing some decent shots from guard.
Kovalev stands and throws Munty's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kovalev tries for a kimura but Munty is defending well.

Kovalev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Munty knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Kovalev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Munty is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Danny Munty has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Munty throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandr Kovalev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kovalev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksandr Kovalev!
In his post fight interview, Aleksandr Kovalev started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.