PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rice Flair (ranked 1225 p4p, 2991 weight class) and Everett Covington (ranked 174 p4p, 360 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Flair
vs
Covington

167 cm
27
155
11 - 6 - 0

177 cm
29
168
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Excellent grappler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rice Flair!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Everett Covington!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Covington rushes Flair and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Covington blocking some punches.
Flair swings wildly with an uppercut but Covington uses good head movement to avoid it.
Flair throws a head punch that misses.
Flair tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Covington's elbow.
Flair struggles to land a body shot inside as Covington controls his hands.
Covington blocks a body shot from Flair.
Flair tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Covington blocks a body shot from Flair.
Covington goes for a takedown attempt but Flair pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Flair plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lazy left from Covington finds it's target.
Flair misses with a kick to the body

and Covington counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Covington.
Flair misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Covington breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Flair throws a combination that misses

and Covington decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Flair's guard.
Covington is fighting to break Flair's control of his arms but Flair is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Flair looking to hit a scissor sweep but Covington is one step ahead there.
Covington trying to control the position from guard on top but Flair is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Covington has gone for a leg lock! Flair slips out almost immediately though and dives into Covington's guard.

Flair preventing the sweep.
Flair slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Flair controlling from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Covington is looking for a sweep.
The referee asks Flair politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Flair prefers to stall for the moment though.
Covington is looking to regain half guard here but Flair keeps moving and retains side control.
Flair takes a little break here. Covington wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Covington has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Covington struggling a bit here.
Flair is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Covington is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Covington's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Covington tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Covington tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Covington is trying to work for a sweep but Flair has mounted him!

That's four 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.
Flair trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Flair sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Flair's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Covington slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Covington is trying to maintain the position but Flair is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flair sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Flair has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rice Flair dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Flair scores with a hook to the body. Covington takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Covington takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Covington takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Everett Covington is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Covington lands a lovely overhand right.
Flair fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Covington manages to avoid it.
A lazy body kick from Flair

and Covington counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Covington slips nicely into half guard.
Flair desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Covington looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Covington is looking to stall here but Flair recovers full guard.
Covington throws a strike but Flair rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Flair wants to control from the top but Covington keeps moving.

Covington is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Flair is aware though and is defending well.
Covington looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Flair puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Covington tries to get to full guard but Flair has control of the leg.
Flair stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flair prevents Covington from improving his position.

Covington looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Flair seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Flair continues to stall.
Rice Flair overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Covington is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Flair's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Flair's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Covington is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Flair. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Flair trying to control the position but Covington manages to sink in the hooks.
Flair avoids the strikes from Covington.

Covington is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Flair looking very determined here, making life difficult for Covington.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Covington gets his hands free as Flair looks to control.

Covington is persistently looking for the submission but Flair is defending it well.

Covington seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Flair's chin but Flair turns very nicely into Covington's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Flair.
Covington trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flair content to stall in guard here.
Covington wants to control but Flair passes easily into half guard.
Covington makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Covington.
Covington wants to sweep but no luck.
Flair has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flair engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Everett Covington will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Covington slips a jab and a cross from Flair.
Covington stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Flair.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Covington.
Flair throws a head kick that misses

and Covington counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Covington.
Covington in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Covington with a flurry of punches that miss.
Flair seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Flair wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flair is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Flair keeping full guard, as Covington tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flair not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Covington wants to pass the guard but Flair is keeping the position.
Flair keeping moving, preventing Covington from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Flair throws the left hand but Covington avoids the punch easily.

Covington looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Flair!
You can see the frustration on Flair's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Covington trying to control the action but Flair is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Covington works to advance to full mount. Flair defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Flair wants to control but Covington is having none of it.
Flair is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Flair is in all sorts of trouble here.
Flair tries to lock up and control but Covington gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Covington is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Covington landing strikes from the mount and Flair is in trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Covington is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Flair to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Flair shrugs it off.
Covington with shots to the head and body - Flair looks very uncomfortable down there.
Covington has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Flair's face.
Covington has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Flair tries to hold on but Covington pushes him away.
Covington misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Covington throwing strikes here but Flair is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Covington drops a big elbow. That's hurt Flair! More shots from Covington and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Everett Covington!
After winning the bout, Everett Covington thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.