PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Nenad Jovanovic (ranked 21737 p4p, 21280 weight class) and Connor McDavid (ranked 577 p4p, 614 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Jovanovic
vs
McDavid

188 cm
31
214
19 - 2 - 1

185 cm
33
225
16 - 11 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Granite 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 19 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Nenad Jovanovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Connor McDavid!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from McDavid misses
and Jovanovic counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Jovanovic closes the distance and pushes McDavid back into the ropes.
Jovanovic lands a body punch.
Jovanovic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McDavid misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jovanovic tries to throw a body punch but McDavid avoids it by throwing Jovanovic back against the ropes.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Jovanovic.
McDavid told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
McDavid takes a shot to the head.
McDavid doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Jovanovic - that landed with a thud.
Jovanovic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McDavid misses with a hook from the clinch.
McDavid has a couple of punches blocked by Jovanovic.
McDavid lands a body shot in the clinch.
McDavid lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Jovanovic backwards.
McDavid swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jovanovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jovanovic gets through McDavid's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McDavid blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jovanovic blocks an uppercut.
McDavid misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDavid blocks a body shot from Jovanovic.
Jovanovic tries a body shot but McDavid blocks it.
McDavid throws a head punch that misses.
Jovanovic blocks an uppercut.
Jovanovic misses with the head strike.
Jovanovic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
McDavid doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jovanovic makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
McDavid throws a punch but it's blocked by Jovanovic.
A right hand to the body from McDavid.
Jovanovic prevents a body shot from McDavid.
McDavid lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Jovanovic backwards.
McDavid trying to land knees to the body.
Jovanovic misses with a hook to the ribs.
McDavid's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Jovanovic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jovanovic lands with a short shot to the head.
Jovanovic lands a right hand.
Nice body punch from Jovanovic - that landed with a thud.
Jovanovic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jovanovic working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jovanovic lands a body punch.
Jovanovic doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McDavid putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Jovanovic in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
McDavid misses with some punches.
A body shot lands from Jovanovic.
McDavid looks winded!
Jovanovic tries a body shot but McDavid blocks it.
Jovanovic lands an uppercut.
McDavid swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McDavid swings wildly with an uppercut but Jovanovic uses good head movement to avoid it.
McDavid's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jovanovic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from McDavid.
Jovanovic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jovanovic lands a left hand.
Jovanovic lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jovanovic tries to work over McDavid's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jovanovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jovanovic misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nenad Jovanovic dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Jovanovic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McDavid connects with a body shot.
Connor McDavid seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from McDavid misses.
A little feinted left hand from Jovanovic on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Jovanovic lands the left hand.
McDavid throws a shot from downtown. Jovanovic moves away and avoids it.
Jovanovic moves in looking to clinch but McDavid pushes him off.
McDavid throws out a counter right but Jovanovic avoids it with no problem.
McDavid connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A swing and a miss from McDavid.
Jovanovic gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McDavid.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jovanovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but McDavid swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McDavid throws a poor cross that misses
and Jovanovic counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jovanovic checks a low kick from McDavid.
Jovanovic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McDavid.
Jovanovic tests McDavid's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jovanovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McDavid can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDavid thumps Jovanovic with a low kick.
Sloppy strikes from Jovanovic. Those never looked like landing.
McDavid looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jovanovic fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
McDavid jabs Jovanovic right on the nose. Jovanovic blinks but takes it well.
McDavid misses with an uppercut. Jovanovic saw that one coming.
A little feinted left hand from Jovanovic on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Jovanovic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jovanovic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McDavid throws a hook but Jovanovic blocks it.
McDavid cracks Jovanovic with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
McDavid fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Jovanovic checks it well.
McDavid throws a hook but Jovanovic avoids it easily.
Jovanovic moves out of range as McDavid strikes.
McDavid tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jovanovic was well out of range. Poor timing from McDavid.
Jovanovic looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
McDavid throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDavid misses with a low kick.
Nice defenses there by Jovanovic.
McDavid throws a right hand that misses
and McDavid takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McDavid tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDavid throws a shot from downtown. Jovanovic moves away and avoids it.
Jovanovic looks to land a right hand but McDavid moved out of range.
McDavid now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
McDavid circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jovanovic misses with an uppercut. McDavid saw that one coming.
Jovanovic scores with a crisp jab that stopped McDavid in his tracks.
Jovanovic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McDavid sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McDavid throws a sloppy head kick
and Jovanovic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jovanovic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McDavid.
Jovanovic is looking to counter punch.
Jovanovic ducks under a wild hook from McDavid.
McDavid swings widly with a right hand
and Jovanovic counters with a straight right hand.
McDavid throws a hook but Jovanovic blocks it.
McDavid ducks under a wild hook from Jovanovic.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Connor McDavid will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Jovanovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McDavid.
McDavid avoids a punch combination nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McDavid! But no joy.
McDavid pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Jovanovic connects with a body shot that sends McDavid's belly button to the back.
A nice leg kick lands there from McDavid.
Connor McDavid seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fighters circle momentarily. Jovanovic darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Jovanovic takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jovanovic tries to clinch up.
Jovanovic walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McDavid lands a leg kick that knocks Jovanovic off balance momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jovanovic scores with a jab to the head.
McDavid misses with a right hand
and Jovanovic counters with a straight right hand.
McDavid throws a low kick but Jovanovic moves out of range easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jovanovic is looking to clinch.
McDavid feints a counter leg kick.
Jovanovic gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jovanovic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McDavid swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jovanovic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McDavid.

Jovanovic rushes McDavid and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Jovanovic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McDavid's elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Jovanovic.
McDavid misses with the head strike.
Jovanovic tries to work over McDavid's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jovanovic tries to work over McDavid's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McDavid throws a head punch that misses.
McDavid lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Jovanovic misses with a body punch.
McDavid misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McDavid swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McDavid lands a left hand that snaps the head of Jovanovic backwards.
McDavid misses with some punches.
McDavid scores with a shot to the side of Jovanovic's head.
Jovanovic working aggressively here.
Jovanovic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jovanovic tries to throw a body punch but McDavid avoids it by throwing Jovanovic back against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jovanovic struggles to land a body shot inside as McDavid controls his hands.
Jovanovic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jovanovic doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McDavid digs a right hand underneath Jovanovic's ribcage. Jovanovic let out a lung full of air as it connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jovanovic can't find room to land a body shot as McDavid controls the action.
Jovanovic struggles to land a body shot inside as McDavid controls his hands.
Nenad Jovanovic has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Jovanovic tries a body shot but McDavid blocks it.
Jovanovic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jovanovic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jovanovic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McDavid's elbow.
McDavid misses with a body punch.
Jovanovic scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Jovanovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
McDavid lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Jovanovic.
McDavid lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Jovanovic backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Jovanovic fails to land.
McDavid lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
McDavid tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jovanovic's elbow.
Jovanovic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Connor McDavid.
I think McDavid has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Connor McDavid!
A relieved looking Connor McDavid thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.