PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Masato Kobayashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Ovechkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Ovechkin struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.7lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kobayashi
vs
Ovechkin

174 cm
22
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Masato Kobayashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexander Ovechkin!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Richard Clark and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kobayashi tries to clinch but Ovechkin is having none of it.
Kobayashi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ovechkin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice sprawl there from Ovechkin as Kobayashi shoots in.
Kobayashi tries to land a front kick but Ovechkin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Ovechkin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kobayashi is looking for a sweep.

Ovechkin has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Kobayashi tries to clinch up but Ovechkin circles away and keeps his distance.

Ovechkin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kobayashi is looking to improve his position.
Kobayashi is trying to maintain the position but Ovechkin is very close to passing his half guard.
Ovechkin lands with a punch from half guard.
Ovechkin wants to pass the guard but Kobayashi is defending well.

Ovechkin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ovechkin lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ovechkin wants to work for an arm triangle but Kobayashi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ovechkin looks gassed!

Ovechkin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kobayashi defends it well.
Kobayashi wants to improve his position but Ovechkin is controlling well.
Kobayashi is working hard here to advance position.
Ovechkin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kobayashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kobayashi throws a head kick but Ovechkin moves out of range.
Ovechkin keeps the fight on the outside.
Kobayashi doesn't manage to clinch there - Ovechkin circles away.
Kobayashi throws a sloppy head kick and Ovechkin moves out of range easily.
Kobayashi wants to clinch up but Ovechkin keeps it at a distance.
Kobayashi tries for a takedown but Ovechkin circles away easily

so Ovechkin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi keeping full guard, as Ovechkin tries to pass.
Kobayashi trying to keep a closed guard but Ovechkin is proving a slippery customer.

Ovechkin drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Ovechkin seems to have locked his on tight now - Kobayashi screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Ovechkin, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Alexander Ovechkin!