PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Kyle Kovingten (ranked 23161 p4p, 20470 weight class) and Ray Morrison (ranked 667 p4p, 693 weight class). Kovingten comes to the ring accompanied by Tool - Schism. The crowd seem to be enjoying Morrison's choice of entrance music: Leave Me Alone. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kovingten
vs
Morrison

181 cm
30
164
28 - 14 - 2

182 cm
35
170
17 - 14 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Perkele!

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 28 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Kyle Kovingten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ray Morrison!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovingten throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice uppercut lands for Morrison. That snapped Kovingten's head back.
Kovingten throws a body punch but Morrison moves out of range.
Morrison closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Morrison jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morrison. Kovingten does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kovingten blocks the body kick.
Kovingten finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Morrison uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kovingten has time to react.
A solid leg kick lands there for Morrison.
Morrison throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kovingten sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kovingten ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kovingten is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Morrison.
Kovingten misses with an uppercut.
Kovingten tries to clinch there but Morrison circles away.
A nice side step and Morrison releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Morrison swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kovingten moves out of range as Morrison strikes.
Kovingten checks a low kick from Morrison.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovingten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kovingten avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Kovingten has taken the fight to the clinch.
Morrison is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrison tries to circle away but Kovingten has him pinned against the ropes.

Morrison's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Morrison lunges at Kovingten with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kovingten's hand.
Morrison throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Morrison throws a head kick that misses
and Kovingten counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Morrison ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kovingten moves away.

Kovingten gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Morrison misses with a punch on the inside.
Kovingten blocks a body shot from Morrison.
Morrison is trying to break the clinch but Kovingten is controlling him.
Morrison lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Morrison creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kovingten's defenses.

Morrison breaks the clinch.
Kovingten misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kovingten swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Morrison throws a lazy right hand but Kovingten sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Morrison swings for the body but Kovingten moves out of range.
Morrison lands with a kick to the ribs.
Morrison misses with a straight right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morrison fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Morrison throws a head kick but Kovingten moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrison tries to clinch but Kovingten is having none of it.
Kovingten tries to clinch up but Morrison circles away and keeps his distance.
Morrison wants to clinch up but Kovingten keeps it at a distance.
Kovingten buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kovingten ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Morrison moves away.
Morrison takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kovingten lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Morrison swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It appears Kovingten was looking to counter with a kick there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kovingten. Morrison does a little dance to reset his feet.
Morrison walks into a straight right hand from Kovingten.
Morrison misses the jab.
It appears Kovingten was looking to counter with a kick there.
Kovingten throws a right hand that misses
and Morrison counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kovingten thinking.
Morrison throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kovingten on the side of the head.
Morrison feints and then cracks Kovingten's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kovingten down.
Kovingten is looking to clinch but Morrison is avoiding it.
No joy there for Kovingten, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kovingten on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Morrison scores with a jab to the head.
Morrison throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kovingten slips under a jab.
Kovingten takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrison throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Morrison throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kovingten's head.
Morrison throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Morrison checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kovingten thuds his right hand into Morrison's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Morrison takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kovingten throws a right hand that Morrison ducks under and follows up with a left that Morrison also avoids with ease.
Kovingten on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Morrison scores with a jab to the body.
Morrison connects with a single shot there.
Morrison misses with an uppercut.
An attempted straight right counter from Kovingten misses the target.
Morrison jabs Kovingten right on the nose. Kovingten blinks but takes it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice defenses there by Morrison.

Morrison closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Kovingten lands with a left to the head.
Kovingten gets through Morrison's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kovingten lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kovingten using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kovingten struggles to land a body shot inside as Morrison controls his hands.
Morrison scores with a nice hook to the head.
Morrison misses with the head strike.
Our sources have told us that Kovingten has been working on his elbows in the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrison's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Morrison's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kovingten throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kovingten throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Morrison pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Morrison has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kovingten.
Kovingten avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kovingten throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Kovingten takes the fight into the clinch.
Morrison lands a body punch.
Morrison lands a body punch in the clinch.
Morrison blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Morrison tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kovingten's elbow.
Kovingten working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovingten comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kovingten creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Morrison breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kyle Kovingten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovingten throws a right hand that Morrison ducks under and follows up with a left that Morrison also avoids with ease.
Kovingten moves out of range as Morrison strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ray Morrison will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kovingten tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Morrison keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kovingten tries to clinch but Morrison is having none of it.

Kovingten gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kovingten makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kovingten has a couple of punches blocked by Morrison.
Kovingten comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kovingten scores with a shot to the side of Morrison's head.
Kovingten working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Kovingten just misses with a elbow thrown towards Morrison's brow.
Morrison blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovingten throws an elbow that misses.
Kovingten throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kovingten tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kovingten unloads a knee to the mid-section. Morrison lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morrison misses with a hook to the ribs.
Morrison is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kovingten is defending well for now.
Kovingten can't find room to land a body shot as Morrison controls the action.
Morrison lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kovingten gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Morrison pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kovingten.
Morrison connects with a crisp jab.

Kovingten has closed the distance and engaged Morrison in a clinch.
Kovingten throws a punch but it's blocked by Morrison.
Still in the clinch, Kovingten scores with a nice short uppercut.
Morrison creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kovingten's defenses.
Morrison lands a damaging elbow.
Morrison wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kovingten has him pressed against the ropes.
Kovingten takes an elbow to the temple.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Morrison.
Kovingten tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kovingten comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Morrison blocking some punches.
Kovingten pushes Morrison back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovingten prevents a body shot from Morrison.
Morrison throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Morrison escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morrison will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A big left from Kovingten misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Kovingten misses.
Morrison lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kovingten gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kovingten stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kovingten tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Morrison manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kovingten misses with a right hand
and Kovingten takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Morrison takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kovingten tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Morrison is able to avoid easily.
Kovingten on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kovingten throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kovingten keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Morrison slips a jab from Kovingten.
Morrison lunges at Kovingten with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kovingten's hand.
Kovingten scores with a decent looking hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kovingten. Morrison does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kovingten ducks under a wild hook from Morrison.
Kovingten lands a nice looking body kick.
Kovingten slips a jab from Morrison.

Kovingten has Morrison up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrison tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kovingten's elbow.
Kovingten working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Morrison blocks the elbow strike.
Good body shot from Morrison.
Kovingten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Morrison tries to work over Kovingten's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kyle Kovingten has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kovingten tries to work over Morrison's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Morrison wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Morrison avoids a wild elbow strike from Kovingten.
Kovingten tries a body shot but Morrison blocks it.
Morrison wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kovingten unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kovingten.
Morrison lands a hook that snaps the head of Kovingten backwards.
Kovingten misses with the head strike.
Kovingten blocks an elbow strike.
Kovingten misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kovingten.
Morrison connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kovingten's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrison fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morrison creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kovingten missing with knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovingten.
Morrison on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kovingten blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kovingten.
Kovingten doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kovingten blocks an elbow strike from Morrison.
Morrison wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kovingten putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Morrison in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Morrison misses with a body punch.
Kovingten misses with a body punch.
Morrison blocks an uppercut.
Morrison wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovingten misses with a hook from the clinch.
Morrison lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Morrison tries a body shot but Kovingten blocks it.
A short uppercut from Kovingten.
Kovingten has a couple of punches blocked by Morrison.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Kovingten dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Morrison tries a head kick but it misses.
Morrison throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kovingten wants to clinch up but Morrison keeps it at a distance.
A slow jab from Morrison misses its intended target.
Kovingten ducks right into an uppercut from Morrison.
Morrison staying out of range there.
Kovingten moves out of range of the strikes.
Kovingten tries to bum rush Morrison with a series of wild strikes but Morrison uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kovingten misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morrison ducks under a wild hook from Kovingten.
Morrison circles away from the clinch attempt.
Morrison fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kovingten checks it well.
Morrison scores with a kick to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovingten gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Morrison.
Morrison dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Kovingten has managed to clinch.
Kovingten looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kovingten lands with a right to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kovingten works on Morrison's body with a couple of short punches.
A head punch on the inside from Kovingten fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Kovingten.
Kovingten works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kovingten lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Morrison takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morrison misses with an elbow over the top.
Morrison throws an elbow that misses.
Kovingten goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kovingten lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Morrison backwards.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kovingten obliges.
Kovingten lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Morrison backwards.

Morrison breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kovingten lands a right hook to the body.
Morrison throws a head kick but Kovingten moves out of range.
Kovingten throws a quick counter head kick but Morrison was just out of range.
Kovingten will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Jab from Kovingten.
Morrison takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovingten connects with an inside leg kick.
Morrison looks to land a left hand but Kovingten moved out of range nicely.
Morrison uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kovingten.

Morrison tries to keep at a distance but Kovingten has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morrison pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Morrison tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kovingten moves in looking to clinch but Morrison pushes him off.
A countering left hand to the body from Morrison misses.
Kovingten looks to land a left hand but Morrison moved out of range nicely.
Morrison misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kovingten avoids the head kick by Morrison.
Kovingten tries to clinch up.
Kovingten lands a jab.
Morrison misses with a hook.
Morrison throws the kick towards the body but Kovingten avoids it.
Kovingten takes one to the side of the head.

Kovingten rushes Morrison and presses him up against the ropes.

Morrison pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Morrison ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kovingten moves away.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kovingten lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Morrison has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Morrison and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Morrison looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Morrison moves out of range as Kovingten throws a body kick.
Morrison looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Morrison keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kovingten is looking to slow Morrison down with leg kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrison has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kovingten.
Kovingten is looking to chop away at Morrison's legs.
Kovingten takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kovingten has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kovingten tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Morrison was well out of range. Poor timing from Kovingten.
Kovingten uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Morrison.
Morrison catches Kovingten with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kovingten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kovingten pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kovingten.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kovingten.
Kovingten lands with a slapping head kick.
Kovingten tries to clinch but Morrison is having none of it.
Kovingten keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Morrison.
Kovingten uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Morrison.
Kovingten moves out of range of the strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kovingten blocks a head kick by Morrison.
Kovingten looks to land a left hand but Morrison moved out of range nicely.
Morrison's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrison connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Morrison connects with a looping right hand.
Morrison ducks under a wild hook from Kovingten.
Kovingten moves out of range of the strikes.
Morrison throws a body punch but Kovingten moves out of range.
Kovingten throwing a counter right hand but Morrison manages to avoid it.
Kovingten feints and then cracks Morrison's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Morrison down.
Kovingten thows a left - swing and a miss!
Morrison takes a swing at Kovingten's ribcage but misses.
Morrison throws a body shot but no joy.
Kovingten is looking to counter punch.
Kovingten fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Morrison manages to avoid it.
Morrison throws a jab but it's blocked by Kovingten.
Morrison blocks a low kick nicely.
Morrison connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kovingten scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovingten ducks under a wild hook from Morrison.
A nice inside leg kick there by Morrison. That's going to slow Kovingten down.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Morrison lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kovingten has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kovingten and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Morrison looks to land a right hand but Kovingten moved out of range.
Kovingten tried to counter with a leg kick but Morrison avoided it.
Kovingten misses with an uppercut. Morrison saw that one coming.
A little jabbing left from Morrison on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

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 Kyle Kovingten.
I think Kovingten 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kyle Kovingten!
Kyle Kovingten decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.