PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taras Kovriga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Li (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.

Kovriga
vs
Li

193 cm
26
255 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

198 cm
19
264 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Kobra Clothing Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Taras Kovriga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bruce Li!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Li has taken the fight to the clinch.
Li with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Li connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kovriga's face.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kovriga misses with a series of wild punches.
Li throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kovriga swinging wildly here.

Li moves into the clinch.
Li with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Li breaks the clinch.

Li clinches up against the cage.
Li with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Li trying to land knees to the body.
Kovriga takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Taras Kovriga has been cut.
The referee calls for Li to work.
Li putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kovriga in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li breaks from the clinch.
Kovriga throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kovriga jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Li tries to clinch up but Kovriga circles away and keeps his distance.
Kovriga throws a right and a left that Li avoids nicely.
Li tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kovriga manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kovriga will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Li moves into range and clinches up with Kovriga.
Li tries a knee to the head but Kovriga blocks it.
Li misses with a knee strike.
Kovriga managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
Li just leaning against Kovriga, taking a breather.
Li continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Li is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Li connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Li is struggling to control the position.
Li throws a head punch that misses.

Li breaks the clinch.
Li tries to clinch but Kovriga is having none of it.
Kovriga lands a glancing blow to the side of Li's head.

It looks like Bruce Li has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Kovriga. Those never looked like landing.
Li moves in looking to clinch but Kovriga pushes him off.
Kovriga swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kovriga tries to bum rush Li with a series of wild strikes but Li uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Li tries to clinch up.
Li moves out of range as Kovriga strikes.
Kovriga throws a right hand that Li ducks under and follows up with a left that Li also avoids with ease.
Li plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kovriga is breathing heavily.
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!
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kovriga swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Li just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kovriga's brow.
Kovriga managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
Kovriga wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Li throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kovriga blocks it with crossed arms.
Kovriga is looking to break free of the clinch but Li has double underhooks.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Kovriga.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Kovriga.
Li tries to land a knee to the head but Kovriga blocks with his arms.
Kovriga avoiding damage as Li throws knees to the body.
Li with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Li tries a knee to the head but Kovriga blocks it.
Li comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kovriga avoiding damage as Li throws knees to the body.
Li using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kovriga has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Li tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kovriga avoids it.
Kovriga wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kovriga tests Li's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A punch combination from Kovriga misses.
Kovriga looks to land a left hand but Li moved out of range nicely.
Kovriga fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kovriga misses with a right hand

and Li moves into the clinch.
Li tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Li throws a knee to the head but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Li breaks from the clinch.
Kovriga swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kovriga misses the shot to the body.
Li takes a jab right on the kisser.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Li dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Kovriga's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kovriga with a nice cross.
Kovriga looks to land a combination but Li avoids it well.

Kovriga gets tackled into the cage by Li. Li maintains the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Li - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Kovriga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kovriga throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kovriga keeps the fight on the outside.

Li forces Kovriga back against the cage and clinches.
Kovriga dodges an elbow strike from Li.
Kovriga blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovriga tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Li.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Li tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Li moves into the clinch.
Li keeps control of Kovriga as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kovriga dodges an elbow strike from Li.
Kovriga wants to break the clinch but can't.
A knee to the head by Li.

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Kovriga misses.
Kovriga falls off balance throwing a combination

and Li counters by moving into the clinch.
Li dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Li with a knee to the head.
Li with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li effectively controlling the action here.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Li has closed the distance and engaged Kovriga in a clinch.
Kovriga managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Li misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kovriga is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The referee is keeping an eye on Li - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kovriga is trying to break the clinch but Li is controlling him.
Li leaning against his opponent.
Li lands a nice knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Li with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bruce Li seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Li unloads a knee to the mid-section.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.
Kovriga can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovriga on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Li manages to break the clinch.

Li moves into the clinch.
Li gets through Kovriga's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Li misses with a knee strike.
Li controlling the action here for a moment.
Li lands a body punch.
Li tries to land a knee to the head but Kovriga blocks with his arms.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kovriga throws a lazy right hand but Li sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Li is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovriga lands with a hook. Li tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kovriga swings for the body but Li moves out of range.
Kovriga is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Li uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kovriga.

Li knocks Kovriga to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?
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!
Li cracks Kovriga with a big elbow.
Sloppy strikes there by Li.
Li is putting a hurting on Kovriga here, landing some big shots from side control.

Kovriga is rocked!
Li scoring with punches from side control.
Oh Kovriga is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Li misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kovriga seems to have got his legs back now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Li working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Li landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Li showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Kovriga swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Li counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Li swings for the body but Kovriga moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Li.
Kovriga scores with a jab.
Kovriga misses with a series of wild punches.
Bruce Li seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.
Li tries to clinch there but Kovriga circles away.
Kovriga throws a right hand that Li ducks under and follows up with a left that Li also avoids with ease.
Taras Kovriga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Li showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovriga.
Li fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kovriga throws a hook to the side of Li's head but Li sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kovriga misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kovriga lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovriga changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Li takes the fight into the clinch.
Li tries a knee to the head but Kovriga blocks it.

Li manages to break the clinch.
Kovriga swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.

Li has closed the distance and engaged Kovriga in a clinch.
Li misses with a knee strike.
Li misses with an elbow over the top.
Li controlling the action here for a moment.
Li with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li tries to land a knee to the head but Kovriga blocks with his arms.
Li is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Li manages to break the clinch.
Kovriga throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kovriga connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Li's hands.
Kovriga lands with a right hand.
Li avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kovriga throws a hook to the side of Li's head but Li sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Li lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Li gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kovriga avoids a wild elbow strike from Li.
Li tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kovriga is trying to break the clinch but Li is controlling him.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Li.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Li throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Li throws a head punch that misses.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kovriga throws out a powerful jab.
Kovriga misses with a hook.
Kovriga is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kovriga bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Li's head backwards.

That has opened up Bruce Li's cut even more.
Kovriga connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sloppy strikes from Kovriga. Those never looked like landing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kovriga swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Li lands a front kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Li clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovriga tries to break free but Li pushes him back against the cage.
Li with a knee to the head.
Li unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kovriga lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Li showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovriga.
Bruce Li is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Li tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kovriga manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Li is looking to clinch but Kovriga is avoiding it.
Kovriga misses with a double jab.
Li connects with a solid leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Li.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Li moves into the clinch.
Kovriga dodges an elbow strike from Li.
Taras Kovriga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kovriga is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Taras Kovriga.
I think Li 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Li!