|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Kovalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pasko Nusciva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nusciva has chosen Lionel Richie - Hello as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
 |
|
 |
| 170 cm
32
196 lbs
15 - 9 - 1 |
|
192 cm
23
199 lbs
8 - 9 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
|
ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
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
15 - 9 - 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
8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pasko Nusciva!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nusciva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kovalov misses with a few strikes there.
Nusciva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nusciva working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kovalov is trying to improve his position.
Nusciva is looking to take a break and control but Kovalov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nusciva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nusciva tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nusciva has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kovalov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nusciva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov trying to hold on to Nusciva's head to control him but Nusciva postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nusciva is looking to stall here but Kovalov recovers full guard.
Kovalov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nusciva is trying to maintain the position but Kovalov is very close to passing his half guard.
Nusciva tries to roll over but Kovalov keeps him under control.
Nusciva works his way to full guard. Good work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov landing some decent shots from guard.
Nusciva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kovalov distracts Nusciva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nusciva wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kovalov trying to control the position from guard on top but Nusciva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovalov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nusciva is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kovalov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nusciva is looking for a triangle here but Kovalov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Kovalov scoring with punches and elbows.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nusciva is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kovalov's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Nusciva is looking to improve his position.
Kovalov passes to side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovalov cracks Nusciva with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nusciva taking a bit of punishment here - Kovalov scoring with strikes.
Kovalov tries to advance to mount but Nusciva denies him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kovalov has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Nusciva!
Nusciva tries to lock up and control but Kovalov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kovalov with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Antonio Kovalov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Kovalov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kovalov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nusciva gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A cross from Kovalov lands.
Kovalov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kovalov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nusciva is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nusciva manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nusciva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kovalov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kovalov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kovalov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kovalov connects with a couple of short punches.
Nusciva keeping moving, preventing Kovalov from controlling successfully.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nusciva is looking for a triangle but Kovalov pushes his legs off easily.
Nusciva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nusciva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kovalov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nusciva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kovalov.
Nusciva working for submissions but it's allowed Kovalov to get to half guard.
Kovalov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nusciva keeps working.
Kovalov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kovalov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nusciva is just riding it out for now. Kovalov eventually gives up the hold.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nusciva gets full guard.
Kovalov wants to control from the top but Nusciva keeps moving.
Nusciva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kovalov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kovalov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kovalov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kovalov trying to control but Nusciva is working from the bottom.
Kovalov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nusciva looking to control.
Kovalov throws a big right hand that misses.
Kovalov trying to control the position from guard on top but Nusciva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovalov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nusciva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kovalov defends it easily.
Nusciva keeping moving, preventing Kovalov from controlling successfully.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nusciva controls Kovalov momentarily but Kovalov frees himself.
Nusciva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kovalov wants to control from the top but Nusciva keeps moving.
Kovalov forces his way into half guard.
Kovalov controlling the action here.
Nusciva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nusciva is refusing to be controlled, as Kovalov sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Antonio Kovalov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Kovalov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nusciva dodges the ground and pound from Kovalov.
Kovalov wants to take a breather but Nusciva manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Kovalov.
Kovalov passes Nusciva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nusciva trying to control but Kovalov postures up.
Nusciva keeping control of the position.
Nusciva is trying to get back to full guard.
Nusciva taking some punishment here, with Kovalov in his half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nusciva's head.
Nusciva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kovalov pulls his head out easily.
Nusciva is staying active underneath Kovalov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nusciva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kovalov.
Kovalov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Nusciva works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kovalov trying to control but Nusciva is working from the bottom.
Nusciva looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nusciva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kovalov has a hand on Nusciva's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Nusciva takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nusciva throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Nusciva trying to control but Kovalov is having none of it.
Kovalov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Nusciva tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nusciva throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Pasko Nusciva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nusciva jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kovalov is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kovalov and Nusciva has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
I wouldn't like to be where Kovalov is right now.
Nusciva in side control, throwing shots but Kovalov defends.
Nusciva postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kovalov is looking for a sweep.
Nusciva wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kovalov, who protects the arm well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nusciva creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kovalov sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Nusciva goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kovalov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Nusciva but great work by Kovalov.
Antonio Kovalov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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 working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nusciva is looking for a sweep.
Antonio Kovalov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nusciva is trying to control Kovalov's posture but Kovalov avoids it.
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 Antonio Kovalov.
Well Kovalov 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Kovalov!
After the big win, Antonio Kovalov made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Balco Boys - Hilo and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 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
67% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
