PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Kovalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Veli Rokka (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.

Kovalov
vs
Rokka

170 cm
30
196 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

186 cm
24
200 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Kovalov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Veli Rokka!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rokka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Rokka has Kovalov up against the cage in a clinch.

Kovalov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kovalov lands with a good body shot.
Kovalov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rokka.
Rokka connects with a crisp jab.
A head kick misses from Kovalov.
Kovalov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rokka.
Kovalov blocks a head kick by Rokka.
Rokka throws a poor cross that misses

and Kovalov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kovalov.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kovalov landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kovalov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokka keeping moving, preventing Kovalov from controlling successfully.
Kovalov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rokka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kovalov throwing strikes but missing.
Rokka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kovalov.
Rokka has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kovalov stopping the sweep attempt from Rokka.
Rokka is pulling down on Kovalov's head to control his posture.
Kovalov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rokka's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov wants to pass the guard but Rokka is keeping the position.
Rokka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rokka looking for a sweep. Not yet Rokka, not yet.
Kovalov postures up in Rokka's guard and throws a big left but Rokka blocks it.
Kovalov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rokka is keeping the position for now.
Rokka controlling Kovalov's posture.

Rokka uses the cage to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rokka throws a nice looking combination but Kovalov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Veli Rokka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokka lands a leg kick that knocks Kovalov off balance momentarily.
Rokka leaves Kovalov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kovalov!
Rokka clobbers Kovalov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rokka goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kovalov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Kovalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kovalov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rokka lands a really nice looking cross but Kovalov seems unphased.
Rokka ducks under a wild hook from Kovalov.
Rokka with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rokka tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kovalov is able to avoid easily.
Rokka throws a leg kick but Kovalov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Veli Rokka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov thuds a left hand into Rokka's body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rokka misses with a hook.
Kovalov looks to land a combination but Rokka avoids it well.
A clash of legs there as Kovalov blocks the low kick.
Rokka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovalov.
Rokka scores with a body shot.
Rokka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jab, jab by Rokka - just one landing.
Rokka lands a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rokka looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kovalov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rokka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Veli Rokka will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rokka throws a combination. Kovalov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rokka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kovalov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rokka sprawls well. Rokka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kovalov gets slowly back to his feet.
Rokka throws a shot to the body.
Rokka throws the left hand but Kovalov avoids the punch easily.
Rokka throws a hook to the side of Kovalov's head but Kovalov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kovalov closes the distance and clinches up with Rokka, looking for a takedown. Kovalov pushes Rokka against the cage but Rokka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kovalov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kovalov throws a series of punches but Rokka avoids them all with ease.
Kovalov throws the kick towards the body but Rokka avoids it.
Rokka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rokka misses the shot to the body.
Veli Rokka seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalov ducks under a wild hook from Rokka.
Kovalov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rokka's waist but Rokka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kovalov off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Kovalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rokka throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rokka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kovalov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rokka sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kovalov somewhat.
Rokka is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rokka swinging wildly here.
Kovalov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kovalov slips under a jab.
Rokka scores with a head kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kovalov is defended easily by Rokka.
Rokka scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokka connects with a crisp jab.
Kovalov fails to land the takedown.
Kovalov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kovalov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rokka connects with a leg kick. Kovalov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rokka throws a leg kick but Kovalov checks it.
Rokka throws a lazy uppercut
and Kovalov counters with a good low kick that Rokka was not able to check.
Rokka throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kovalov shoots in for a takedown but Rokka shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rokka throws a shot to the body.
Antonio Kovalov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov throws a jab when Rokka was well out of range.
Kovalov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kovalov misses with the combination.
Kovalov throws a leg kick but Rokka checks it.
Rokka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rokka.
Rokka blocks a jab.
Kovalov tries to move into range but Rokka moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Some bone on bone action there as Kovalov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rokka looks to land a right hand but Kovalov moved out of range.
Kovalov misses the jab.
Rokka circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Rokka misses with a body shot
and Kovalov counters with a nice leg kick.
Rokka goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kovalov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rokka lands with an overhand left.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rokka tests Kovalov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A big right from Rokka misses.
Rokka slips a straight right by Kovalov.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rokka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kovalov was well out of range. Poor timing from Rokka.
Kovalov throws a hook but Rokka blocks it.
Rokka looks to land a combination but Kovalov avoids it well.
Kovalov shoots in looking for a takedown. Rokka tries to sprawl out of it but Kovalov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rokka manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Veli Rokka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rokka rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kovalov counters with a nice uppercut.
Rokka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kovalov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rokka misses with a combination

and Kovalov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kovalov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kovalov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rokka wants to improve his position but Kovalov is controlling well.
Kovalov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kovalov working over Rokka with some ground and pound. Rokka looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
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!
Kovalov trying to control from half guard but Rokka is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kovalov wants to work for an arm triangle but Rokka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kovalov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rokka's head.
Kovalov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kovalov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kovalov is looking to take a break and control but Rokka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kovalov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rokka is trying to stand back up but Kovalov is controlling him
Rokka wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rokka trying to control from the bottom.
Rokka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kovalov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kovalov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rokka tries to roll over but Kovalov keeps him under control.
Kovalov trying to mount his opponent but Rokka defends it.
Rokka gets full guard.
Kovalov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kovalov trying to control the position from guard on top but Rokka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovalov is in close to Rokka's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov wants to control from the top but Rokka keeps moving.
Kovalov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kovalov wants to pass the guard but Rokka is keeping the position.
Kovalov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kovalov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rokka looking for a sweep. Not yet Rokka, not yet.
Rokka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rokka keeping moving, preventing Kovalov from controlling successfully.
Rokka lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kovalov!
Antonio Kovalov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Veli Rokka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rokka controlling the pace for now.
Kovalov regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Kovalov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rokka 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Antonio Kovalov!