PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Boxing JiuJitsu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Kovalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

JiuJitsu
vs
Kovalov

185 cm
23
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
196 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Divine Clothing [GTI]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Boxing JiuJitsu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Kovalov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kovalov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Kovalov.
JiuJitsu jumps guard but Kovalov stands there with JiuJitsu around his waist. JiuJitsu gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kovalov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kovalov lands a left hand.
Still in the clinch, Kovalov scores with a nice short uppercut.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
JiuJitsu blocking some punches.
Kovalov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kovalov is struggling to control the position.
JiuJitsu tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kovalov just stands there and leans against the cage.
JiuJitsu fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boxing JiuJitsu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right hook to the body lands for Kovalov.

Kovalov is trying to trip JiuJitsu. He has hold of a leg but JiuJitsu is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kovalov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

JiuJitsu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kovalov trying to control but JiuJitsu is working from the bottom.
Kovalov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kovalov throwing strikes but missing.

JiuJitsu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
JiuJitsu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kovalov stands and throws JiuJitsu's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kovalov trying to control the position but JiuJitsu is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kovalov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
JiuJitsu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kovalov is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down JiuJitsu's shoulder. That is not cool.
JiuJitsu is looking to regain half guard here but Kovalov keeps moving and retains side control.
Kovalov wants to lay and pray for a moment but JiuJitsu keeps working.
Kovalov is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down JiuJitsu's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Kovalov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
JiuJitsu is trying to get back to his feet.
Kovalov wants to lay and pray for a moment but JiuJitsu keeps working.

Despite being in the dominant position, Antonio Kovalov just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kovalov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

JiuJitsu manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Kovalov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for JiuJitsu!
Kovalov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
JiuJitsu slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
JiuJitsu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kovalov not doing much here.

JiuJitsu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kovalov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
JiuJitsu gets back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kovalov got a little sloppy there for a moment and JiuJitsu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kovalov has managed to get both his arms back between JiuJitsu's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Kovalov dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

JiuJitsu misses with a body shot.
JiuJitsu takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
JiuJitsu misses with a hook.
Good work by Kovalov as he checks the leg kick.
Boxing JiuJitsu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A swing and a miss from Kovalov.
JiuJitsu misses with a straight left.
Kovalov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from JiuJitsu.
JiuJitsu misses with a two punch combination.

Kovalov clinches up with JiuJitsu and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kovalov presses JiuJitsu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kovalov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt JiuJitsu or not.
Nice body punch from Kovalov - that landed with a thud.
Kovalov has a couple of punches blocked by JiuJitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kovalov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of JiuJitsu backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Kovalov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed JiuJitsu clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
JiuJitsu prevents Kovalov from getting a body triangle.
JiuJitsu manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kovalov's guard. Nice work there by JiuJitsu.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kovalov can do anything to dispel that myth.

JiuJitsu drops back looking for a leg! Kovalov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kovalov manages to kick JiuJitsu off! JiuJitsu jumps back into Kovalov's guard.
Kovalov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
JiuJitsu is desperately trying to improve his position but Kovalov has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
JiuJitsu is squirming around, avoiding Kovalov's attempts to control the action.
JiuJitsu tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kovalov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
JiuJitsu is trying desperately to improve position.
JiuJitsu is working hard here to advance position.
Kovalov controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JiuJitsu is trying desperately to improve position.
Kovalov wants to control the pace but JiuJitsu is squirming around nicely.
Kovalov looking to finish JiuJitsu with some ground and pound. This is bad for JiuJitsu!
Kovalov scoring with strikes but JiuJitsu is staying in there.
Kovalov landing shots from mount.
JiuJitsu is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
JiuJitsu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kovalov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
JiuJitsu is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Kovalov.
JiuJitsu regains half guard.

JiuJitsu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kovalov pulls his head out easily.
JiuJitsu is trying to get back to full guard.
Kovalov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

JiuJitsu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kovalov pulls his head out easily.
Kovalov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Kovalov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

JiuJitsu misses with a wild combination.
JiuJitsu misses with a wild body shot.
JiuJitsu throws out a loose jab but Kovalov uses good head movement to avoid it.
JiuJitsu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
JiuJitsu ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kovalov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as JiuJitsu throws out the jab.

Kovalov feints and as JiuJitsu raises his hands in defense, Kovalov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kovalov trying to control but JiuJitsu is working from the bottom.
Kovalov passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalov wants to control but JiuJitsu is keeping him busy.
JiuJitsu manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
JiuJitsu blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kovalov.
JiuJitsu is trying to get back to full guard.
Kovalov controlling the action here.

JiuJitsu actively working from the bottom here.
JiuJitsu is looking for a sweep. Kovalov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Antonio Kovalov has got the better of the ground game so far.

JiuJitsu pushes Kovalov off and gets back to his feet.
JiuJitsu lands an overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kovalov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kovalov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kovalov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

JiuJitsu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kovalov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ground and pound from Kovalov.
JiuJitsu wants to get back to full guard.
JiuJitsu is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kovalov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kovalov's back!

Kovalov is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if JiuJitsu gets his way!
Kovalov is really stuck here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov turns into JiuJitsu and is now in his guard.
JiuJitsu keeping full guard, as Kovalov tries to pass.

JiuJitsu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kovalov wants to control from the top but JiuJitsu keeps moving.
Kovalov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

JiuJitsu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kovalov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
JiuJitsu wants to hit a switch here but Kovalov passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for JiuJitsu there!
Boxing JiuJitsu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kovalov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Kovalov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kovalov looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
JiuJitsu gets back to half guard.
JiuJitsu wants to get back to full guard.
Kovalov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
JiuJitsu missing with punches from the bottom.
JiuJitsu is refusing to be controlled, as Kovalov sits in half guard.
Kovalov slows the pace down in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Kovalov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kovalov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Kovalov!