PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Blade Brown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Kovalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blade Brown is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Brown
vs
Kovalov

190 cm
27
200 lbs
9 - 7 - 1

170 cm
32
196 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent 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 9 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Blade Brown!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Kovalov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Brown finds it's way through Kovalov's defenses.
Kovalov lands with a good body shot.
Kovalov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Brown manages to avoid it.
Brown connects with a single shot there.
Kovalov dives in and grabs Brown's left leg, looking for a takedown. Brown pushes down on Kovalov's head and hops out.
Brown throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Brown swings for the body but Kovalov moves out of range.
Brown throws a jab but it's blocked by Kovalov.
A head kick misses from Brown.
Brown misses with the combination.
Kovalov misses with a combination
and Kovalov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Kovalov clinches.

Brown escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Brown throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
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!
A chopping leg kick lands by Kovalov.
Brown scores with a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown looks to land a left hand but Kovalov moved out of range nicely.

Kovalov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Brown's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Brown can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kovalov controls the pace.
Kovalov postures up and lands a big shot to Brown's brow.
Brown knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kovalov on the ground.
Kovalov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Brown working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kovalov.
Kovalov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Brown is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kovalov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kovalov looking to sit in guard and control but Brown gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Brown trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovalov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brown tries to free his leg and advance position but Kovalov is retaining full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brown trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovalov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brown will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Blade Brown just wasn't active enough.

Kovalov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kovalov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kovalov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kovalov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kovalov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Brown's legs.
Kovalov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sloppy strikes there by Kovalov.
Kovalov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Kovalov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kovalov is chipping away with strikes.
Brown parries the strikes from Kovalov easily there. Kovalov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Brown to escape.
Kovalov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kovalov trying to control the position but Brown is working away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The strikes coming from Kovalov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Kovalov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kovalov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Brown has time to react.

It looks like Blade Brown has been cut.
Kovalov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A slow jab from Brown misses its intended target.
Kovalov just misses with a punch to the body.
Kovalov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Brown takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Brown is rocked!
Brown drops his hands momentarily. Kovalov doesn't need a second invitation, landing a shot to the temple. Brown staggers and falls to the mat and the ref dives in to save him from any more punishment. Brown doesn't seem happy with the stoppage but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Antonio Kovalov!
Antonio Kovalov gave a mention to Balco Boys - Hilo in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).