PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Takahashi Ryu (ranked 2185 p4p, 277 weight class) and Takeshi Kovacs (ranked 1930 p4p, 251 weight class). Takeshi Kovacs is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Ryu
vs
Kovacs

188 cm
21
195 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

186 cm
21
197 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Takahashi Ryu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Takeshi Kovacs!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovacs misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ryu takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ryu shoots in and drives through. Kovacs sprawls well.
Kovacs throws an overhand right that lands on Ryu's shoulder, as Ryu tries to avoid the shot.
Ryu went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Kovacs misses with a body shot.
Kovacs lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

It looks like Takahashi Ryu has been cut.
Ryu staying out of range there.
Kovacs lands with a right hand.

Ryu shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kovacs is trying to defend but Ryu finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kovacs works his way to full guard. Good work.

Kovacs escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ryu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kovacs controls Ryu momentarily but Ryu frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryu working some strikes from top position.
Kovacs 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.
Kovacs keeping moving, preventing Ryu from controlling successfully.
Ryu looking to pass the guard.
Ryu postures up and lands a big shot to Kovacs's brow.
Kovacs looking for a sweep. Not yet Kovacs, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Kovacs working for a triangle but Ryu defends it easily.
Kovacs is trying to keep Ryu in close.
Ryu trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovacs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovacs trying to control the position.
Kovacs pulls Ryu in to control the position.
Kovacs bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ryu's guard.

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.
Kovacs trying to control but Ryu is working from the bottom.
Kovacs stopping the sweep attempt from Ryu.
Kovacs stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ryu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kovacs trying to control but Ryu is working from the bottom.
Kovacs pushing down on Ryu's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kovacs is trying to control. Ryu wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kovacs has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at The Dam Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Kovacs wants to pass the guard but Ryu is defending well.
Kovacs is keen to just control but Ryu is a slippery customer.

Kovacs is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ryu sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ryu flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kovacs looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kovacs perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kovacs jabs Ryu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kovacs goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kovacs swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ryu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ryu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kovacs.
Kovacs misses with the combination.
Ryu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kovacs as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Kovacs dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Takahashi Ryu's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kovacs misses the shot to the body.
Ryu is looking to counter the offense by Kovacs and move into the clinch.
Ryu gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd cheers as Kovacs lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ryu doesn't seem phased though.
Kovacs misses with a few strikes there.

Ryu drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ryu stopping the sweep attempt from Kovacs.
Kovacs keeping moving, preventing Ryu from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryu wants to get up but he can't break Kovacs's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ryu trying to control but Kovacs is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovacs wants to sweep here but Ryu controlling him for the moment.
Takahashi Ryu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ryu looking to sit in guard and control but Kovacs gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kovacs pushing down on Ryu's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kovacs seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ryu does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Kovacs is trying to work for a kimura but Ryu is defending well.
Ryu wants to get back to his feet.
Kovacs wants to take a breather but Ryu is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryu wants to get back to his feet.
Ryu won't allow Kovacs to pass to mount.
Ryu is looking to control Kovacs's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ryu avoid being mounted?
Kovacs is keen to just control but Ryu is a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ryu shoots for a double leg takedown but Kovacs sprawls well. He's pushed Ryu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kovacs is looking for the big counter here.
A telegraphed right hand from Kovacs misses the target.
Ryu lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Takahashi Ryu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovacs throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ryu tried to counter with a leg kick but Kovacs avoided it.
Takeshi Kovacs seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kovacs cracks Ryu with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ryu looks for the body kick but Kovacs saw that one coming.
Kovacs swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kovacs looks to throw the jab but Ryu is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs stuffs the takedown attempt from Ryu. Ryu gets slowly back to his feet.
Kovacs throws a hook to the side of Ryu's head but Ryu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kovacs misses with the combination.
Ryu throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kovacs on the side of the head.
Kovacs misses with a double jab.
Kovacs throws a right and a left that Ryu avoids nicely.

Ryu rushes Kovacs and presses him up against the ropes.
Kovacs is trying to maintain a safe position but Ryu gets an underhook and turns Kovacs into the ropes.
Ryu stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Ryu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ryu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ryu appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs lands a body shot.
Takeshi Kovacs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovacs misses with a wild body shot.
Ryu moves in looking to clinch but Kovacs pushes him off.
Ryu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kovacs throws out the jab.
Kovacs lands a two punch combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ryu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kovacs avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takahashi Ryu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kovacs throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ryu counters with a shoot takedown. Kovacs fights it but they end up in guard.
Ryu passes Kovacs's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ryu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kovacs wants to improve his position but Ryu is controlling well.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Kovacs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Takahashi Ryu's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kovacs misses with a straight right.
Kovacs connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ryu's hands.
Ryu takes a jab right on the kisser.

Ryu scores with a takedown into Kovacs's guard.
Ryu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kovacs working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ryu.

Kovacs escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ryu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryu wants to stand but Kovacs is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kovacs looking to control.
Kovacs has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryu stopping the sweep attempt from Kovacs.
Ryu wants to stand but Kovacs has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kovacs fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ryu manages to avoid it.
Kovacs ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kovacs misses with a hook to the body
and Ryu counters with a left and a right that stings Kovacs.
Kovacs lands a really nice looking cross but Ryu seems unphased.
Kovacs misses with the combination.
Ryu takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs misses with a wild combination.
Ryu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ryu shoots in but Kovacs avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kovacs. Ryu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kovacs throws an off balance right hand
and Ryu counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kovacs thinking.

Ryu clinches.
Ryu prevents the takedown attempt.
Ryu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kovacs tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kovacs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kovacs misses with a hook to the ribs.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs stuffs the takedown.
Ryu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovacs.
Kovacs throws a body punch but Ryu moves out of range.
Kovacs misses with a two punch combination.
Ryu slips under a jab from Kovacs.
Kovacs will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Takahashi Ryu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kovacs slaps away a takedown attempt from Ryu, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Despite the aggression on Kovacs's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takahashi Ryu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ryu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Ryu rushes Kovacs and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Kovacs holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Kovacs looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Takeshi Kovacs is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ryu breaks the clinch.
Ryu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kovacs circles away.
Kovacs fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ryu shoots for a takedown but Kovacs saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kovacs fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ryu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ryu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kovacs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ryu slips a jab and a cross from Kovacs.
Jab, jab by Kovacs - just one landing.
Kovacs takes a swing at Ryu's ribcage but misses.
Kovacs connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kovacs misses with a series of wild punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeshi Kovacs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kovacs winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight for Takeshi Kovacs!
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight for Takeshi Kovacs!
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight for Takeshi Kovacs!

Takeshi Kovacs wins by unanimous decision!
Takeshi Kovacs seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.