PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Kyle Kovingten (ranked 22440 p4p, 3365 weight class) and Digi Talis (ranked 607 p4p, 416 weight class). Kovingten comes to the ring accompanied by Tool - Schism. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kovingten
vs
Talis

181 cm
29
164
26 - 13 - 2

175 cm
31
155
20 - 8 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Kyle Kovingten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Digi Talis!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Talis just misses with a punch to the body.

Kovingten clinches up against the ropes.
Our sources have told us that Kovingten has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Talis is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Kovingten gets through Talis's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Talis avoids the elbow strike from Kovingten, against the ropes.
Kovingten misses with some punches.
Kovingten tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Talis's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Talis fails to land.
Kovingten throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Talis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovingten.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovingten lands a right hand that snaps the head of Talis backwards.
Talis lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Talis blocks an elbow strike.
Kovingten misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kovingten creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Talis's defenses.

It looks like Digi Talis has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Kovingten just misses with a elbow thrown towards Talis's brow.
Talis throws a head punch that misses.
Kovingten lands a damaging elbow.
Talis lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kovingten backwards.
Kovingten throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Talis working aggressively here.
Kovingten blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovingten misses with a punch to the body.
A hook to the body from Talis.
Kovingten throws an elbow that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovingten.
Kovingten lands a nice elbow.
Kovingten working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Talis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kovingten misses with the head strike.
Talis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kovingten's elbow.
Kovingten scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovingten tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Talis blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Talis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kovingten unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kovingten lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Talis.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Talis.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kovingten.
Kovingten misses with a punch to the body.
Talis avoiding damage as Kovingten throws knees to the body.
Talis has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kovingten seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Talis can turn it around.
Kovingten lands a left hand that snaps the head of Talis backwards.
Kovingten comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kovingten misses with a body punch.
Talis pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Kovingten lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talis swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kovingten.
Talis misses with some punches.
Kovingten lands a body shot.
Kovingten is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Talis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kovingten digs a right hand into Talis's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Talis's gas tank.
Kovingten misses with the head strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Kovingten.
Talis looks winded!
Kovingten trying to land knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Talis fails to land.
Talis misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Kovingten.
Talis takes an elbow to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Kovingten just misses with a elbow thrown towards Talis's brow.
Kovingten misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Talis.
Kovingten tries to work over Talis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kovingten working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovingten lands a right hand.
Kovingten tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Talis's elbow.
Talis taking a breather.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Kovingten creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kovingten throws a punch but it's blocked by Talis.
Talis blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kovingten takes a shot to the head.
Talis throws a punch but it's blocked by Kovingten.
Kovingten lands an uppercut.
Kovingten scores with a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Kovingten dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Digi Talis's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kovingten works the jab nicely.
Talis moves out of range as Kovingten throws a body kick.
Kovingten tries to clinch up.
It seemed like Talis was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Talis looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Good leg kick by Kovingten.
Talis throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kovingten's head.
Talis buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kovingten misses with a combination
and Talis counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kovingten moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Talis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kovingten thumps Talis with a low kick.
Talis tries a head kick but it misses.
Kovingten moves in looking to clinch but Talis pushes him off.
Talis takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovingten lands with a kick to the temple. Talis shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kovingten throws out a powerful jab.
Kovingten connects with a solid leg kick.
Kovingten blocks the body kick.
Kovingten misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kovingten is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Talis can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovingten thuds a left hand into Talis's body.
Kovingten defending well as Talis loads up on a big left hand.
Kovingten throws a leg kick but Talis moved away.
Talis swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A telegraphed right hand from Talis misses the target.
Kovingten throws a low kick, looking for Talis's leg but Talis calmly moves out of range.
Kovingten chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kovingten scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Talis doesn't seem bothered though.
Kovingten connects with a jab.
Kyle Kovingten is winning the standup battle so far.

Kovingten has taken the fight to the clinch.
Talis working aggressively here.
Talis working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovingten.
Kovingten softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Kovingten tries a body shot but Talis blocks it.
Talis blocking some punches.
Kovingten lands with a right to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovingten throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovingten swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kovingten throws an elbow that misses.
Kovingten lands a right hand.
Kovingten throws an elbow but it misses.
Kyle Kovingten has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Talis leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Kovingten blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Talis.
Talis lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kovingten backwards.
Talis dodges an elbow strike from Kovingten.
Kovingten misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Talis.
Kovingten throws a punch but it's blocked by Talis.
Kovingten creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Talis blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovingten tries to work over Talis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice elbow from Kovingten.
Kovingten works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kovingten misses with a body punch.
Talis wants to stall.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kovingten.
Kovingten working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kovingten struggles to land a body shot inside as Talis controls his hands.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A nice left hand lands by Kovingten.
Kovingten swings wildly with an uppercut but Talis uses good head movement to avoid it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Talis takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kovingten tries to land knees in the clinch but Talis avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovingten blocks a body shot from Talis.
Kovingten tries to work over Talis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kovingten throws a punch but it's blocked by Talis.
Kovingten blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kovingten has a couple of punches blocked by Talis.
Talis wants to stall.
Talis prevents a body shot from Kovingten.
Kovingten misses with some punches.
Kovingten pushes off an throws an elbow but Talis leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Kovingten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kovingten misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kovingten prevents a body shot from Talis.
Kovingten creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kovingten misses with some punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Kovingten dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Digi Talis's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kovingten closes the distance and pushes Talis back into the ropes.
Kovingten works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Talis creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Talis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kovingten lands an elbow inside.
Talis blocks an elbow strike.
Kovingten throws an elbow that misses.
Kovingten throws a head punch that misses.
Kovingten lands a nice uppercut.
Kovingten lands with a short punch from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovingten tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Talis's elbow.
Nice elbow from Kovingten.
Talis dodges an elbow strike from Kovingten.
A hook to the body from Kovingten.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short left from Talis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovingten lands an elbow inside that Talis shrugs off.
Talis avoids a wild elbow strike from Kovingten.
Kovingten scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kovingten lands an elbow that stopped Talis in his tracks for a moment.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovingten.
Kovingten works on Talis's body with a couple of short punches.
Talis misses with a punch on the inside.
Kovingten tries to work over Talis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kovingten tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Talis trying to stall but Kovingten improves his position.
Kovingten misses with the head strike.
Talis lands with a light punch inside.
A short left from Kovingten.
Talis avoids the elbow strike from Kovingten, against the ropes.
Kovingten looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Digi Talis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovingten swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Talis.
A nice left hand lands by Kovingten.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Talis swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovingten uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kovingten working aggressively here.
Kovingten works on Talis's body with a couple of short punches.
Talis avoids a wild elbow strike from Kovingten.
Kovingten comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kovingten.
Kovingten misses with the head strike.
A short right from Kovingten.
Talis takes an elbow to the temple.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kovingten.
Kovingten softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovingten blocking some punches.
Kovingten throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Kovingten fails to land.
Kovingten creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Nice body punch from Kovingten - that landed with a thud.
A right handed body shot lands from Kovingten.
Talis takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kovingten working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kovingten tries to work over Talis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Talis blocks a body shot from Kovingten.
Kovingten goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Talis trying to stall but Kovingten improves his position.
Talis misses with a short punch on the inside.
Talis takes a shot to the head.
Kyle Kovingten is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talis pushes Kovingten back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Talis blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovingten misses with a punch on the inside.
Talis dodges an elbow strike from Kovingten.
Talis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Kovingten tries a body shot but Talis blocks it.
Talis stalling against the ropes.
Kovingten tries to throw a body punch but Talis avoids it by throwing Kovingten back against the ropes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Kovingten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kovingten has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Kovingten!
Kyle Kovingten tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.