PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Jalkalukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Kovalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jalkalukko comes to the cage accompanied by Jordan Sparks ft. Chris Brown - No Air . The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Jalkalukko
vs
Kovalov

190 cm
27
200 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

170 cm
33
196 lbs
16 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
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 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jesse Jalkalukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Kovalov!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jalkalukko wants to clinch up but Kovalov keeps it at a distance.
Kovalov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kovalov throws a low kick but Jalkalukko avoids it.
Jalkalukko looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Jalkalukko throws a low kick, looking for Kovalov's leg but Kovalov calmly moves out of range.
Kovalov tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jalkalukko throws a head kick but Kovalov moves out of range.
Kovalov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
An inside leg kick from Jalkalukko misses.
Kovalov shoots in for a double leg but Jalkalukko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jalkalukko lands with a thumping leg kick.

Jalkalukko gets a takedown into half guard.

Jalkalukko is looking for a kimura but Kovalov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jalkalukko to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jalkalukko is trying to control. Kovalov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kovalov wants to get back to full guard.

Jalkalukko is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Jalkalukko is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kovalov sees it coming and defends easily.
Kovalov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov won't allow Jalkalukko to pass to mount.
Jalkalukko trying to control from half guard but Kovalov is working away.

Jalkalukko is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kovalov has managed to free his arm - good work.

Jalkalukko is trying to work for a kimura but Kovalov is defending well.
Kovalov is controlling Jalkalukko's trapped leg to prevent Jalkalukko from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov is looking to improve his position.
Kovalov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jalkalukko is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jalkalukko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kovalov keeps working.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Antonio Kovalov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Jalkalukko thumps Kovalov with a low kick.
Kovalov throws a nice looking combination but Jalkalukko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kovalov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jalkalukko will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kovalov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jalkalukko moves away.

Jalkalukko has managed to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jalkalukko has clasped his hands together around Kovalov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Kovalov can't do much from the bottom here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jalkalukko is trying to get an arm triangle but Kovalov is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Jalkalukko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kovalov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jalkalukko tries to avoid it but Kovalov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jalkalukko to the ground. Jalkalukko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A bone on bone clash there as Kovalov blocks the leg kick.
Jalkalukko steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Kovalov. That one must have hurt.
Jalkalukko throws a chopping leg kick but Kovalov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Jalkalukko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kovalov.
Jalkalukko throws a sloppy head kick and Kovalov moves out of range easily.
Jalkalukko throws a leg kick that misses.

Kovalov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalov controls Jalkalukko momentarily but Jalkalukko frees himself.
Kovalov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Jalkalukko wants to control from the top but Kovalov keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kovalov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jalkalukko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jalkalukko 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.
Jalkalukko tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kovalov checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Jalkalukko shoots in and gets a takedown into Kovalov's guard.
Kovalov wants to sweep here but Jalkalukko controlling him for the moment.
Kovalov pulls Jalkalukko in to control the position.
Jalkalukko wants to stand but Kovalov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Jalkalukko pushes down on Kovalov's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jalkalukko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kovalov keeps working.
Jesse Jalkalukko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kovalov is pressing down on Jalkalukko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jalkalukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovalov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jalkalukko has gone for a leg lock! Kovalov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Jalkalukko's guard.
Kovalov trying to control the position from guard on top but Jalkalukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jalkalukko controls Kovalov momentarily but Kovalov frees himself.
Jalkalukko is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kovalov is controlling him.
Jalkalukko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kovalov throwing strikes from guard but Jalkalukko blocks nicely.
Kovalov trying to control the position from guard on top but Jalkalukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovalov is fighting to break Jalkalukko's control of his arms but Jalkalukko is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jesse Jalkalukko has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kovalov is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Jalkalukko dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A bone on bone clash there as Kovalov blocks the leg kick.

Jalkalukko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kovalov 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 controls Jalkalukko momentarily but Jalkalukko frees himself.
Kovalov keeping moving, preventing Jalkalukko from controlling successfully.
Jalkalukko passes Kovalov's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jalkalukko is trying to control the action in half guard but Kovalov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Jalkalukko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kovalov preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jalkalukko is looking to pass Kovalov's guard but actually Kovalov recovers to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jalkalukko stopping the sweep attempt from Kovalov.
Jalkalukko looking to pass the guard.
Jalkalukko scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jalkalukko wants to control from the top but Kovalov keeps moving.
Kovalov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Antonio Kovalov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kovalov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Jalkalukko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Antonio Kovalov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jalkalukko throws a leg kick that misses.
Jalkalukko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kovalov.

Jalkalukko throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kovalov was covering up waiting for the punch and Jalkalukko finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jalkalukkois looking to pass into half guard but Kovalov pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kovalov is in guard.

Jalkalukko pushes Kovalov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Jalkalukko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jesse Jalkalukko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A bone on bone clash there as Kovalov blocks the leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Jalkalukko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jalkalukko 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse Jalkalukko!