PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Spike Speagle (ranked 4194 p4p, 4067 weight class) and Ivan Kovalev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Kovalev is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Speagle
vs
Kovalev

185 cm
22
155
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
145
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Spike Speagle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ivan Kovalev!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Speagle drives through and clinches with Kovalev against the cage.

Speagle successfully pulls guard.
Speagle manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kovalev manages to get himself to full guard.

Speagle is fighting to break Kovalev's control of his arms but Kovalev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Speagle wants to control from the top but Kovalev keeps moving.
Kovalev wants to get back to his feet but Speagle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Speagle would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kovalev keeping moving, preventing Speagle from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speagle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Speagle pushing down on Kovalev's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kovalev is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Speagle sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kovalev defending well though.
Kovalev avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Speagle.
Kovalev felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Speagle not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Speagle is trying to control. Kovalev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Speagle throwing shots but Kovalev is blocking nicely.
Kovalev is refusing to be controlled, as Speagle sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Speagle misses with a takedown attempt - Kovalev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Speagle scores with a three punch combo!
Speagle has a takedown stuffed.
Kovalev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Speagle fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kovalev, pushing him back against the cage.

Speagle is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Kovalev can't fight it off and eventually Speagle manages to take the fight to the floor. Kovalev looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kovalev is adopting a defensive guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kovalev wants to sweep here but Speagle controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speagle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kovalev is keeping the position for now.
Speagle trying to move into half guard but instead Kovalev has managed to sweep!

Kovalev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kovalev landing some decent shots from guard.
Kovalev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kovalev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Speagle has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kovalev has managed to get both his arms back between Speagle's legs - danger averted.
Kovalev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kovalev landing with the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Spike Speagle dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kovalev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Speagle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kovalev somewhat.

Speagle clinches up against the cage.

Speagle manages to break the clinch.
Kovalev has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kovalev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Speagle quickly recovers to half guard.

Speagle makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kovalev fails with a takedown attempt.
Spike Speagle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Kovalev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speagle shoots in but no luck this time.
Speagle is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kovalev can do to turn this around?
Kovalev takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Speagle connects with the punch.
Speagle is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Speagle is defended easily by Kovalev.
Speagle shoots in for a takedown but Kovalev shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kovalev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Speagle's half guard.
Kovalev working Speagle over with strikes.

Speagle is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev lands a big elbow - Speagle is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Kovalev!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ivan Kovalev!