|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joaquim Maria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maria's entrance music is Kronos - Bloodtower. A fine choice. Kovalenko has chosen Небо славян! as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!
 |
|
 |
| 193 cm
22
270 lbs
11 - 2 - 0 |
|
205 cm
21
250 lbs
16 - 3 - 0 |
Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick |
|
BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Heavy handed |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joaquim Maria!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
16 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kovalenko!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Fedor Mirinova.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovalenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maria moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kovalenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maria circles away quickly and effectively.
Kovalenko throws out a powerful jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kovalenko. Maria does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kovalenko keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Maria takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Maria gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kovalenko throws a nice looking combination but Maria bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kovalenko throws a hook but Maria avoids it easily.
Kovalenko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kovalenko catches Maria with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kovalenko keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Maria misses with a head kick.
Maria pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kovalenko is out of range and Maria settles back down.
Maria throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kovalenko.
Maria takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kovalenko misses with a lunging right hand
and Maria makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kovalenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Some wild striking there from Kovalenko.
Maria throws a front kick aimed at Kovalenko's knee but Kovalenko avoids it well.
Maria swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Maria throws a push kick but Kovalenko slaps the foot to one side.
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.
Kovalenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Maria avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maria throws a leg kick but Kovalenko sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab.
Maria throws a front kick aimed at Kovalenko's knee but Kovalenko avoids it well.
Maria misses with a head kick.
Kovalenko connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Some wild striking there from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko misses the jab.
Maria tries a low kick but Kovalenko avoids it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maria throws a nice inside leg kick.
A punch combination from Kovalenko misses.
Kovalenko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab.
Maria tried to score with a low kick but Kovalenko checks it.
Maria tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kovalenko cracks Maria with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kovalenko swinging wildly here.
Maria turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kovalenko falls off balance throwing a combination
and Maria counters with a body kick that stops Kovalenko in his tracks momentarily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kovalenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maria moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kovalenko misses with a two punch combination.
Kovalenko is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kovalenko missing with a left hand there. Maria was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maria throws a chopping leg kick but Kovalenko manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kovalenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A cross from Kovalenko lands.
Maria walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
No joy there for Kovalenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maria is looking to score with low kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Nikolai Kovalenko dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Maria with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Maria wants to slow Kovalenko down by chopping away at his legs.
Kovalenko throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maria counters with a big head kick but Kovalenko shrugs it off.
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kovalenko has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Maria takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Maria avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maria misses with a body kick.
Maria misses with a low kick.
Kovalenko misses the jab.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kovalenko throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A low kick from Maria misses
and Kovalenko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kovalenko lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kovalenko avoids a kick to the body.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovalenko throws a nice looking combination but Maria bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kovalenko misses with the combination.
Kovalenko throws a nice looking combination but Maria bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sloppy strikes from Kovalenko. Those never looked like landing.
Kovalenko lands with an overhand left.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko throws a nice looking combination but Maria bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maria on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Maria with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kovalenko to score with a decent uppercut.
Kovalenko throws a nice looking combination but Maria bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kovalenko throws a series of punches but Maria avoids them all with ease.
Kovalenko tries to bum rush Maria with a series of wild strikes but Maria uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kovalenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Maria counters with a good low kick that Kovalenko was not able to check.
Kovalenko lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kovalenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kovalenko throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maria counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Kovalenko. Those never looked like landing.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko throws a right hand that Maria ducks under and follows up with a left that Maria also avoids with ease.
A clash of legs there as Kovalenko blocks the low kick.
Kovalenko checks a leg kick.
Maria tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maria tries to work over Kovalenko's front leg with a kick but Kovalenko checks it.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab
and Maria finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Maria is looking to land body kicks.
Kovalenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Maria fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Maria throws a low kick, looking for Kovalenko's leg but Kovalenko calmly moves out of range.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maria throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kovalenko blocks a leg kick.
Kovalenko scores with a decent looking hook.
Maria throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Maria throws a nice inside leg kick.
Maria throws a nice outside leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kovalenko checks a leg kick.
Maria will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovalenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Maria takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Joaquim Maria dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
A big left from Kovalenko misses.
Kovalenko checks a low kick from Maria.
Kovalenko misses with the combination.
Maria misses with a low kick.
Maria showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovalenko.
Maria throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalenko scores with a nice right hand.
Maria looks to land a body kick but Kovalenko moved away.
Maria tries a head kick but it misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Maria throws a head kick but Kovalenko moves out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kovalenko.
Maria misses with a kick to the body.
Kovalenko falls off balance throwing a combination
and Maria counters with a body kick that stops Kovalenko in his tracks momentarily.
Kovalenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maria throws a low kick but Kovalenko avoids it.
Kovalenko 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.
Both fighters circling a little - Maria finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Maria lands a leg kick that knocks Kovalenko off balance momentarily.
Kovalenko misses with a combination
and Maria counters with a good low kick that Kovalenko was not able to check.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Maria lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kovalenko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Maria.
Maria takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Maria tries a head kick but it misses.
Sloppy strikes from Kovalenko. Those never looked like landing.
Kovalenko takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maria throws a sloppy head kick and Kovalenko moves out of range easily.
A leg kick checked by Kovalenko.
Maria dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kovalenko. That did some damage!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Kovalenko misses with a wild combination.
Kovalenko lands a slapping body shot.
Maria throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kovalenko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Maria tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kovalenko moves out of range of the body kick.
A combination from Kovalenko does no damage.
Maria pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kovalenko is out of range and Maria settles back down.
Kovalenko checks a low kick from Maria.
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.
Maria throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kovalenko displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kovalenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Kovalenko misses.
Kovalenko's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kovalenko lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Maria backs up against the ropes.
Maria misses with a low kick as Kovalenko jumps back.
Maria throws a solid leg kick but Kovalenko takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Maria.
Kovalenko throws a right hand that misses
and Maria counters with a nice kick to the body.
Joaquim Maria is winning the standup battle so far.
Kovalenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kovalenko throws a hook but Maria avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Joaquim Maria clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Sloppy strikes from Kovalenko. Those never looked like landing.
Kovalenko throws a good cross that connects.
Kovalenko checks a leg kick.
Kovalenko misses with a few strikes there.
Kovalenko moves out of range as Maria throws a body kick.
Kovalenko blocks a leg kick.
Maria looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kovalenko scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Maria doesn't seem bothered though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maria with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab
and Maria counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Maria tries to work over Kovalenko's front leg with a kick but Kovalenko checks it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko throws an overhand right that lands on Maria's shoulder, as Maria tries to avoid the shot.
Kovalenko misses with a wild combination.
Kovalenko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maria.
Maria is looking to land body kicks.
Sloppy strikes from Kovalenko. Those never looked like landing.
Maria takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kovalenko blocks a head kick by Maria.
Maria feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kovalenko's calf.
Kovalenko tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maria attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Kovalenko misses the target.
Kovalenko misses with the combination.
Kovalenko lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab.
A bone on bone clash there as Kovalenko blocks the leg kick.
Maria throws a leg kick but Kovalenko moved away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko misses with the combination.
Kovalenko misses with a looping left.
Maria takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maria.
Maria slips a jab from Kovalenko.
Maria bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kovalenko works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kovalenko lands a jab to the head.
Kovalenko blocks a low kick nicely.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maria will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kovalenko scores with a jab.
Kovalenko misses with a two punch combination.
Maria misses with a body kick.
Kovalenko throws a series of strikes that have Maria backpedaling.
Maria throws out a leg kick but Kovalenko moves out of range and Maria only half commits.
Kovalenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maria misses with a body kick.
Maria looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Maria throws a body kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close fourth round but I would say that Joaquim Maria will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Maria throws a leg kick but Kovalenko moved away.
Kovalenko catches Maria with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Some bone on bone action there as Kovalenko checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kovalenko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maria sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maria is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kovalenko.
Maria avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kovalenko misses with the combination.
Kovalenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A low kick from Maria is predictable there
and Kovalenko counters with a three punch combo that has Maria backing up. Maria nods at Kovalenko to acknowledge the strikes.
Maria thows a leg kick but Kovalenko checks it
and Kovalenko counters with a stiff right hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maria circles away quickly and effectively.
Maria misses with a kick to the body.
Kovalenko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maria throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Kovalenko counters with a nice body shot.
Maria motions for Kovalenko to come forward. Maria throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kovalenko throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maria counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Kovalenko is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Kovalenko tries to bum rush Maria with a series of wild strikes but Maria uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kovalenko misses with a series of wild punches.
Maria misses with a low kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maria looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Some wild striking there from Kovalenko.
Maria showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovalenko.
Some wild striking there from Kovalenko.
Maria takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kovalenko thuds his right hand into Maria's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kovalenko checks a leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kovalenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maria circles away quickly and effectively.
Kovalenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kovalenko swings for the body but Maria moves out of range.
Kovalenko throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Maria counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Maria takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Maria tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kovalenko moves out of range of the body kick from Maria.
Maria throws a leg kick which misses Kovalenko's front leg but catches the back leg as Kovalenko tries to avoid it.
Maria pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Joaquim Maria is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maria misses with a leg kick.
Maria misses with a low kick.
Maria dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kovalenko. That did some damage!
Nikolai Kovalenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maria feints and then cracks Kovalenko's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kovalenko down.
Maria is looking to score with low kicks.
Kovalenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maria fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kovalenko checks it well.
Maria thumps Kovalenko with a low kick.
Maria attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A slapping body kick lands there for Maria.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nikolai Kovalenko.
Well Maria has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 47:48
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 49:46
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 49:47
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joaquim Maria!
Joaquim Maria retains his heavyweight title!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
62% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
