PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Kovakanki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Itachi Kowashaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Kovakanki
vs
Kowashaki

178 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taisto Kovakanki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Itachi Kowashaki!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowashaki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kovakanki as he jumps to the side.
Kowashaki looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Kowashaki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Kowashaki gets caught flat footed, as Kovakanki shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Kovakanki gets to his feet - Kowashaki follows without any prompting.

Kovakanki darts in and clinches Kowashaki up against the cage.
Kovakanki wants to get back to striking at distance but Kowashaki won't allow it.
Kovakanki could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Kovakanki jumps into guard, dragging Kowashaki to the mat.
Kovakanki tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Kovakanki pushes Kowashaki off and scrambles back to his feet.
Kovakanki tries a head kick but it misses.

Kovakanki rushes Kowashaki and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kovakanki goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kowashaki prevents it.

Kowashaki jumps guard.
Kowashaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kowashaki can't keep his opponent in guard - Kovakanki advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowashaki pushes Kovakanki off looking to stand but Kovakanki dives back in and keeps control.
Kowashaki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kovakanki.
Kovakanki looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kowashaki with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kovakanki content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Kovakanki stands up out of the half guard.

Kovakanki gets a takedown into half guard.
Kovakanki has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kovakanki is pressing down on Kowashaki's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kowashaki is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovakanki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kowashaki is not content to let Kovakanki control the position.
Kowashaki pushes Kovakanki off looking to stand but Kovakanki dives back in and keeps control.

Kovakanki decides to stand and escape the position.
Kovakanki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Kovakanki has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kovakanki managing to block the knees to the body from Kowashaki.

Kovakanki wants the takedown. Kowashaki is fighting it off but Kovakanki persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kowashaki's guard against the cage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kowashaki looking to control but Kovakanki passes into half guard.
Kowashaki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kovakanki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kovakanki looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kowashaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kowashaki tries to kick Kovakanki off but Kovakanki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Kovakanki is working for a kimura but Kowashaki is defending it quite comfortably.
Kowashaki tries to roll over but Kovakanki keeps him under control.

That's four 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.
Kovakanki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kovakanki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kowashaki wants to control but Kovakanki is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kowashaki moves out of range of the body kick.

Kowashaki shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kowashaki showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovakanki is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Kovakanki dominated that round.
That's time! Kovakanki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kowashaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kovakanki moves into range and clinches up with Kowashaki.
Kovakanki fails to pull guard.

Kovakanki lands a takedown into guard.
Kovakanki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kowashaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovakanki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Kovakanki stands and steps away. Kowashaki gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Kovakanki pushes Kowashaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Kowashaki has had enough of the clinch but Kovakanki keeps him there for the moment.
Kowashaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kovakanki.

Kovakanki breaks from the clinch.
Kowashaki is breathing heavily.

Kovakanki drives through and clinches with Kowashaki against the cage.

Kovakanki manages to break the clinch.

Kovakanki moves into the clinch.

Kovakanki pulls Kowashaki into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kovakanki wriggles free and stands up.

Kovakanki has Kowashaki up against the cage in a clinch.

Kovakanki gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Kovakanki wants to free his trapped foot but Kowashaki is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kovakanki is looking to take a break and control but Kowashaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Kovakanki seems content to control.
Kovakanki seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kowashaki for as long as he can get away with.
Kovakanki working over Kowashaki with some ground and pound. Kowashaki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kovakanki not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovakanki controlling the action here.
Kowashaki pushes Kovakanki off looking to stand but Kovakanki dives back in and keeps control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Kovakanki decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Kovakanki looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kowashaki!
Kovakanki content just to control the position here.
Kovakanki tries to control but Kowashaki wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Taisto Kovakanki just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Kovakanki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kovakanki bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kovakanki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kowashaki keeps working.
Kovakanki controlling the position from side mount.
Kovakanki works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Kovakanki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kovakanki controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kovakanki stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kowashaki. Kovakanki shrugs it off though.

Kovakanki drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovakanki working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Kovakanki dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kovakanki drives through with a takedown into guard.

Kovakanki decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kowashaki, up you get!

Kovakanki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kovakanki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kowashaki's head.
Kovakanki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kowashaki is trying to buck Kovakanki off.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Kowashaki tries to bench press Kovakanki off him but Kovakanki keeps the position.
Kowashaki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kowashaki is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kovakanki connects with a decent elbow.
Kovakanki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kowashaki keeps working.

Kovakanki decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowashaki tries to clinch up

and Kovakanki counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kowashaki's guard now.
Kovakanki passes Kowashaki's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kowashaki gets back to full guard.

Kowashaki is looking for a triangle but Kovakanki pushes his legs off easily.
Kowashaki can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kovakanki controls the pace.
Kowashaki looking to control.
Kovakanki might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kovakanki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kowashaki swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovakanki trying to control but Kowashaki is working from the bottom.
Kovakanki stops Kowashaki from standing up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kovakanki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kowashaki swivels and escapes.
Kovakanki fails with an attempt to clinch.

Kovakanki moves into range and clinches up with Kowashaki.
Kovakanki landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Kovakanki jumps into guard, dragging Kowashaki to the mat.
Kovakanki is pulling down on Kowashaki's head to control his posture.
Kovakanki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kowashaki manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovakanki postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kovakanki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kowashaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovakanki scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kovakanki wants to control from the top but Kowashaki keeps moving.
Kovakanki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Kovakanki gets to his feet - Kowashaki follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kovakanki bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kowashaki is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kovakanki connects with a decent elbow.

Kovakanki decides to stand back up. Kovakanki steps back and let's Kowashaki get back to his feet.

Kovakanki bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kowashaki can't do much from the bottom here.
Kowashaki is trying to get back to half guard.
Kovakanki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kowashaki can do to turn this around?
Kovakanki controlling the position.
Taisto Kovakanki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kowashaki is looking for a sweep.
Itachi Kowashaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kovakanki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kowashaki keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taisto Kovakanki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kovakanki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:26
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:26
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taisto Kovakanki!