PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Knox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilya Kovalchuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Knox could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ilya Kovalchuk's chin.

Knox
vs
Kovalchuk

182 cm
21
190 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

184 cm
19
189 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ilya Kovalchuk!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox throws a leg kick but Kovalchuk checks it.
Kovalchuk lands the left hand.
Knox lands a jab to the nose.
Knox blocks a jab.
Knox scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kovalchuk in his tracks.
Knox avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kovalchuk checks a leg kick nicely.
Kovalchuk pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kovalchuk digs a good body shot into Knox's ribs.
A bone on bone clash there as Kovalchuk blocks the leg kick.
Knox staying out of range there.
Knox shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kovalchuk throws an overhand right that lands on Knox's shoulder, as Knox tries to avoid the shot.
A jab from Kovalchuk misses.
Kovalchuk misses with a looping right.
Kovalchuk misses with a hook. Knox ducked under it nicely.
Knox tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kovalchuk swivels and escapes.
Knox avoids the body shot from Kovalchuk.
Knox misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox tries to close the distance and clinch but Kovalchuk swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Knox displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kovalchuk throws out the jab.
Kovalchuk might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Knox keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kovalchuk.
A head kick misses from Knox.
Knox blocks a head kick by Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk slips under a jab from Knox.
Knox shoots in looking for a takedown. Kovalchuk tries to sprawl out of it but Knox keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kovalchuk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kovalchuk misses with a looping left.
Knox chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kovalchuk punishes Knox's body with a nice straight punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Kovalchuk misses the target.
Kovalchuk tries to land a leg kick but Knox saw it coming and moves away.
Ilya Kovalchuk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Knox uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kovalchuk.
Knox misses with a low kick.
Knox throws a front kick aimed at Kovalchuk's knee but Kovalchuk avoids it well.
Ilya Kovalchuk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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.
A big right from Kovalchuk misses.
Knox moves out of range of the strikes.
Kovalchuk misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Knox.
Kovalchuk tests Knox's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Knox bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Knox wants to control but Kovalchuk is keeping him busy.
Kovalchuk tries to buck Knox off but Knox is having none of it.
Kovalchuk dodges the ground and pound from Knox.
Knox grinds an elbow into Kovalchuk's temple.
Kovalchuk can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knox throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Kovalchuk tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Knox wants to stand but Kovalchuk is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kovalchuk connects with a jab.
Knox throws a good cross that connects.
Knox throws an overhand right that lands on Kovalchuk's shoulder, as Kovalchuk tries to avoid the shot.

Knox scores a takedown into full mount!
Knox punching from mount but Kovalchuk doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Knox landing shots from mount.
Knox avoids the attempt from Kovalchuk to control.
Knox 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.
Kovalchuk blocking the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kovalchuk tries to lock up and control but Knox gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Knox looking to finish Kovalchuk with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kovalchuk!
Kovalchuk tries to lock up and control but Knox gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Knox is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox lands a nice shot to the head.
Knox throws some wild stikes that Kovalchuk manages to avoid easily.
Kovalchuk bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kovalchuk trying to control the position from guard on top but Knox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovalchuk passes Knox's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kovalchuk is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kovalchuk sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Knox defending well though.
Kovalchuk missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Knox moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Knox wants to sweep here but Kovalchuk controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris Knox will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Knox misses with a straight right.
Nice shot by Knox.
Knox throws a leg kick but Kovalchuk sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kovalchuk throws an overhand right that lands on Knox's shoulder, as Knox tries to avoid the shot.
Knox takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Knox scoring well with a low kick there.
Kovalchuk throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Knox on the side of the head.
Knox tries to clinch up but Kovalchuk circles away and keeps his distance.
Kovalchuk lands a two punch combo.
Knox tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Knox tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kovalchuk swivels and escapes.
Knox moves out of range of the strikes.
A big right from Knox misses.
The fighters circling - Kovalchuk throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Knox takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kovalchuk connects with a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kovalchuk keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Knox.
Kovalchuk scores with a nice right hand.
Kovalchuk just misses with a punch to the body.
Kovalchuk misses with a low kick.
Kovalchuk throws a jab when Knox was well out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Kovalchuk there.
Kovalchuk lands with a cross.
A shot to de liver by Kovalchuk. Beautiful body shot.
Kovalchuk scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kovalchuk takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Jab by Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk sizes up Knox with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Knox doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalchuk throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk looks to land a left hand but Knox moved out of range nicely.
Kovalchuk moves out of range as Knox strikes.
Kovalchuk connects with a right hand. Knox shakes it off.
Kovalchuk takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kovalchuk lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Knox misses with a looping left.
Kovalchuk connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Knox momentarily.
Knox throws out a leg kick but Kovalchuk moves out of range and Knox only half commits.
Knox dodges the punch combination from Kovalchuk.
Knox throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kovalchuk connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kovalchuk scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kovalchuk throws a hook but Knox blocks it.
Knox blocks a jab.
Ilya Kovalchuk seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Knox misses with a low kick.
Kovalchuk scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kovalchuk fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kovalchuk throws a right hand that Knox ducks under and follows up with a left that Knox also avoids with ease.
Kovalchuk's corner calls for a 1-2. Kovalchuk obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Knox ducks under a wild hook from Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk lands a nice shot to the body.
Knox slips under a jab from Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk stalks Knox and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Knox's face. Knox staggers backwards, shaken.
Kovalchuk lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nice uppercut lands for Kovalchuk. That snapped Knox's head back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kovalchuk lands with a shot to the body.
Knox takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kovalchuk throws a right and a left that Knox avoids nicely.
Good exchange - Kovalchuk coming out on top.
Nice jab there from Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Knox stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Knox on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk obviously looking to wear him down.
Kovalchuk dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kovalchuk scores with a nice right hand.
Kovalchuk scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Kovalchuk throws an overhand right that lands on Knox's shoulder, as Knox tries to avoid the shot.
Knox walks into a straight right hand from Kovalchuk.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kovalchuk connects with a single shot there.
Kovalchuk works Knox's body with a nice hook.
A head kick by Kovalchuk misses

so Knox counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kovalchuk is trying to keep Knox in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilya Kovalchuk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Knox's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kovalchuk lands with a hook. Knox tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A jab from Knox misses.
Kovalchuk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kovalchuk misses with a straight right.
Kovalchuk is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kovalchuk connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kovalchuk throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kovalchuk throws an overhand right that lands on Knox's shoulder, as Knox tries to avoid the shot.
Knox slips a straight right by Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk jabs at Knox's body.
Kovalchuk scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Knox doesn't seem bothered though.
Knox lands a head kick. Kovalchuk smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kovalchuk moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A telegraphed right hand from Kovalchuk misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalchuk lands a jab-cross combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kovalchuk throws a nice looking combination but Knox bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Knox uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kovalchuk.
Knox throws a low kick but Kovalchuk avoids it.
Knox looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kovalchuk lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kovalchuk blocks a jab.
Kovalchuk has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kovalchuk darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kovalchuk thuds his right hand into Knox's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Knox uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kovalchuk.
Knox fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kovalchuk dips to his left and cracks Knox with an uppercut!
Kovalchuk moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kovalchuk moves out of range of the strikes.
Knox moves out of range of the strikes.
Kovalchuk throws a shot from downtown. Knox moves away and avoids it.
Kovalchuk lands a really nice looking cross but Knox seems unphased.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalchuk lands with a hook. Knox tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kovalchuk missing with a left hand there. Knox was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Knox ducks under a wild hook from Kovalchuk.
Good exchange - Kovalchuk coming out on top.
The fighters circling - Kovalchuk throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Knox takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kovalchuk.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kovalchuk misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kovalchuk lands a glancing blow to the side of Knox's head.
Knox slips under a jab.
Kovalchuk throws a series of strikes that have Knox backpedaling.
Knox needs to keep his hands up - Kovalchuk had a free shot at his head there.
Knox drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kovalchuk scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Knox doesn't seem bothered though.
Kovalchuk jabs Knox right on the nose. Knox blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Kovalchuk misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kovalchuk.
Nice shot by Kovalchuk.
Nice cross by Kovalchuk.
Knox walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A telegraphed right hand from Kovalchuk misses the target.
Kovalchuk connects with a single shot there.
Kovalchuk scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kovalchuk cracks Knox with a good jab.
Kovalchuk connects with a looping right hand.
Knox walks into a straight right hand from Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Knox has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kovalchuk finds it's way round the side to connect with Knox's head.
A slow jab from Kovalchuk misses its intended target.
Kovalchuk lands with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot to de liver by Kovalchuk. Beautiful body shot.
A punch combination from Kovalchuk misses.
Kovalchuk's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Kovalchuk duly obliges.
Kovalchuk's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Kovalchuk duly obliges.
Kovalchuk stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kovalchuk looks to land a left hand but Knox moved out of range nicely.
Knox takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kovalchuk fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Knox ducks under a wild hook from Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Knox's calf.
A left lands for Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Knox takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kovalchuk wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kovalchuk misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilya Kovalchuk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kovalchuk 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilya Kovalchuk!