PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vasco Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorma Kovanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigues kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Maurice Jarre - Shogun. Jorma Kovanen acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Rodrigues
vs
Kovanen

180 cm
23
180 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
175 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Takomo
TKO Vegas

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vasco Rodrigues!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jorma Kovanen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovanen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kovanen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues misses with a series of wild punches.
Kovanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Vasco Rodrigues seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovanen moves out of range of the strikes.
Kovanen tries to clinch up but Rodrigues circles away and keeps his distance.
Kovanen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kovanen throws a head kick but Rodrigues moves out of range.
Rodrigues takes a swing at Kovanen's ribcage but misses.
Rodrigues swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A telegraphed right hand from Rodrigues misses the target.
Kovanen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues misses with a leg kick
and Kovanen counters with a head kick.
Kovanen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues misses with a double jab.
Rodrigues just misses with a punch to the body.
A nice combination there by Rodrigues.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rodrigues.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodrigues cracks Kovanen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kovanen. Kovanen obviously looking to wear him down.
Rodrigues throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kovanen counters with a good low kick that Rodrigues was not able to check.
Rodrigues is breathing heavily.
Kovanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodrigues avoids the head kick by Kovanen.
Rodrigues avoids the head kick by Kovanen.

Kovanen lands a high kick to the side of Rodrigues's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Kovanen dives into guard, looking to finish.

It looks like Vasco Rodrigues has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodrigues keeping full guard, as Kovanen tries to pass.
Kovanen advances to half guard.
Rodrigues wants to improve his position but Kovanen is controlling well.
Rodrigues on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rodrigues tries to get out of the position.

Kovanen is working for a kimura but Rodrigues is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kovanen seems to be working for a kimura but Rodrigues defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kovanen wants to work for an arm triangle but Rodrigues is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kovanen trying to pass the guard but Rodrigues defending well.
Rodrigues knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kovanen on the ground.

Kovanen is trying to work for a kimura but Rodrigues is defending well.
Rodrigues is looking to improve his position.
Rodrigues is working hard here to advance position.
Kovanen works his way into side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rodrigues is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kovanen off and has taken his back!
Rodrigues loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Kovanen hold on?
Rodrigues throws strikes from the back but Kovanen rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Kovanen.
Rodrigues lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Rodrigues avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kovanen keeping moving, preventing Rodrigues from controlling successfully.
Kovanen wants to get back to his feet but Rodrigues is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rodrigues working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovanen controls Rodrigues momentarily but Rodrigues frees himself.
Rodrigues has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kovanen shoots for a takedown but Rodrigues saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rodrigues looks to land a left hand but Kovanen moved out of range nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodrigues clobbers Kovanen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rodrigues scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A jab lands there for Rodrigues.
Rodrigues ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kovanen moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorma Kovanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vasco Rodrigues's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rodrigues scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kovanen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodrigues as he jumps to the side.
Kovanen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kovanen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kovanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rodrigues throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rodrigues lands a jab to the nose.
A telegraphed right hand from Rodrigues misses the target.
Rodrigues is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kovanen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rodrigues throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rodrigues throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice shot lands for Rodrigues.
Kovanen throws a head kick that misses.
Rodrigues lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kovanen circles away quickly and effectively.
Kovanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Rodrigues misses the target.
Vasco Rodrigues is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovanen lands with a slapping head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodrigues blocks a head kick by Kovanen.
Rodrigues throws a body punch but Kovanen moves out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rodrigues!
Vasco Rodrigues is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodrigues throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kovanen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kovanen throws a head kick but Rodrigues moves out of range.
Kovanen walks into a left hand.
Rodrigues misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice jab there from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues misses with a few strikes there.
Rodrigues takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rodrigues throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kovanen counters with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Kovanen! Rodrigues is out on his feet! Kovanen rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Rodrigues is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Rodrigues is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jorma Kovanen!
Jorma Kovanen is the new welterweight champion!