PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aleksander Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and LaDanian Rucker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LaDanian Rucker has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Aleksander Kovalenko's chin.

Kovalenko
vs
Rucker

179 cm
25
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
21
166 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

[AIM] Hilton Supplements *NYC*

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aleksander Kovalenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, LaDanian Rucker!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Chad Campbell and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kovalenko takes the fight into the clinch.
Rucker wants to get back to striking at distance but Kovalenko won't allow it.
Rucker tries to pull guard but Kovalenko holds him up against the cage and eventually Rucker drops back down to his feet.
A left hand lands to the body for Kovalenko.
Rucker looking to slow down the pace here.
Kovalenko misses with a punch on the inside.
Rucker is trying to break the clinch but Kovalenko is controlling him.
Rucker tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rucker is trying to maintain a safe position but Kovalenko gets an underhook and turns Rucker into the cage.
Kovalenko lands a damaging elbow.
Kovalenko lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like LaDanian Rucker has been cut.
Kovalenko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kovalenko is leaning against Rucker and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kovalenko is leaning against Rucker and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kovalenko is pushing Rucker up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rucker tries to pull guard but Kovalenko won't allow it.
Aleksander Kovalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of LaDanian Rucker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rucker tries to pull guard but Kovalenko won't allow it.
Kovalenko lands with a left to the head.
Rucker tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kovalenko just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kovalenko creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rucker's defenses.
Rucker can't get the takedown.
Rucker looks gassed!
Kovalenko putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rucker in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rucker takes an elbow to the forehead.

That has opened up LaDanian Rucker's cut even more.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kovalenko.
Rucker can't find room to land a body shot as Kovalenko controls the action.
Rucker wants a takedown.
Rucker misses with the head strike.
Kovalenko putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rucker in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kovalenko lands an elbow inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kovalenko lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko stalling the fight.
Kovalenko is trying to maintain a safe position but Rucker gets an underhook and turns Kovalenko into the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Aleksander Kovalenko.
Kovalenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Rucker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rucker shoots in for a takedown but Kovalenko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Kovalenko scores with a four punch combination!

Kovalenko closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rucker did well to prevent Kovalenko getting side control.
Rucker tries to get to full guard but Kovalenko has control of the leg.

Kovalenko is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Rucker is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Aleksander Kovalenko!