PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Tripper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tripper has chosen Disturbed - Land Of Confusion as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kovalenko
vs
Tripper

205 cm
30
260 lbs
31 - 14 - 0

192 cm
37
284 lbs
27 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

Zentrope Fighting Universe
$300

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kovalenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jack Tripper!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tripper fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kovalenko moves out of range as Tripper strikes.
Kovalenko misses with a low kick.
Kovalenko lands a lovely overhand right.
Tripper darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kovalenko slips under a jab from Tripper.
Tripper fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tripper throws the kick towards the body but Kovalenko avoids it.
Kovalenko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tripper throws a hook to the side of Kovalenko's head but Kovalenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kovalenko scores with a hook.
Tripper has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kovalenko throws a one two combo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kovalenko. Tripper does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tripper showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko lands an overhand right.
Kovalenko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tripper.
Tripper tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kovalenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Tripper.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tripper misses with a few strikes there.
Kovalenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tripper manages to avoid it.
Tripper looks for the body kick but Kovalenko saw that one coming.
Kovalenko takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Tripper shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kovalenko manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tripper pushing down on Kovalenko's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Tripper wants to pass to mount but Kovalenko is defending the position.
Tripper thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kovalenko's head.
Tripper is controlling the pace.
Tripper is nestled in close to Kovalenko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tripper passes to full mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kovalenko wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Tripper content just to control the position here.
Tripper trying to control but Kovalenko is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko is trying to stand.
Tripper looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kovalenko is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tripper takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kovalenko is squirming around, avoiding Tripper's attempts to control the action.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jack Tripper hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kovalenko tries to bum rush Tripper with a series of wild strikes but Tripper uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Tripper dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tripper throws out a leg kick but Kovalenko moves out of range and Tripper only half commits.
Tripper throws a front kick aimed at Kovalenko's knee but Kovalenko avoids it well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tripper.
Tripper throws an overhand right that lands on Kovalenko's shoulder, as Kovalenko tries to avoid the shot.
Nice shot lands for Kovalenko.
Nikolai Kovalenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Kovalenko checks a leg kick nicely.
Tripper takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tripper lands with a kick to the ribs.
Tripper thows a body shot but no joy.
Tripper misses with a low kick as Kovalenko jumps back.
Tripper throws a push kick but Kovalenko slaps the foot to one side.
Tripper wants to slow Kovalenko down by chopping away at his legs.
Kovalenko takes a swing at Tripper's ribcage but misses.
Kovalenko misses with a body shot.
Kovalenko swings for the body but Tripper moves out of range.
Kovalenko throws a sloppy head kick and Tripper moves out of range easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovalenko misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tripper motions for Kovalenko to come forward. Tripper throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kovalenko is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kovalenko gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kovalenko misses with a wild body shot.
Tripper throws a series of punches but Kovalenko avoids them all with ease.
Tripper takes one to the chin there.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kovalenko crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Tripper - the referee stops the clock and Kovalenko gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Tripper. Kovalenko manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Tripper misses with a straight right.
Kovalenko chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tripper can pounce on him.
Tripper moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovalenko misses with a looping right.
Tripper throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kovalenko is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tripper chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kovalenko moves out of range of the body kick from Tripper.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tripper. Kovalenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kovalenko misses the shot to the body.
Tripper fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tripper looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tripper thows a body shot but no joy.
Good shot there by Kovalenko.
Tripper scores with a jab. Kovalenko acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kovalenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kovalenko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tripper.
Tripper is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kovalenko.
Tripper lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kovalenko with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tripper to score with a decent uppercut.
Jack Tripper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tripper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kovalenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kovalenko moves out of range of the body kick.
Tripper throws a leg kick but Kovalenko moved away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kovalenko. Tripper does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tripper scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tripper swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tripper tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kovalenko checks a leg kick.
Kovalenko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tripper.
Tripper misses with a body kick.
Tripper is looking to land body kicks.
Tripper blocks a jab.

Tripper looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Tripper wants to take a breather but Kovalenko is having none of it.
Tripper performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tripper lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tripper wants to free his trapped foot but Kovalenko is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tripper is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tripper throwing strikes here but Kovalenko is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Tripper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kovalenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kovalenko takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Tripper connects with a looping right hand.
Tripper thumps Kovalenko with a low kick.
Kovalenko tests Tripper's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tripper changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kovalenko on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovalenko misses the shot to the body.
Kovalenko catches Tripper with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tripper throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kovalenko stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tripper, right into the meat.
Kovalenko is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tripper. That's going to slow Kovalenko down.
Kovalenko with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tripper to score with a decent uppercut.
Kovalenko moves out of range as Tripper strikes.
Tripper throws a leg kick which misses Kovalenko's front leg but catches the back leg as Kovalenko tries to avoid it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kovalenko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tripper.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tripper scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kovalenko slaps away a takedown attempt from Tripper, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tripper pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kovalenko is out of range and Tripper settles back down.
Tripper throws a front kick aimed at Kovalenko's knee but Kovalenko avoids it well.
A punch combination from Kovalenko misses.
Tripper thows a body shot but no joy.
Kovalenko swinging wildly here.
Tripper defending well as Kovalenko loads up on a big left hand.
That kick from Tripper tenderised Kovalenko's leg. Kovalenko is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tripper swings for the body but Kovalenko moves out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Kovalenko.
Tripper connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Tripper throws the kick towards the body but Kovalenko avoids it.
Tripper moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tripper feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kovalenkos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Tripper fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kovalenko checks it well.
Tripper lands with a nice body kick.
Tripper misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Donk. Kovalenko catches Tripper right on the button with a cross.
Kovalenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Tripper lands a nice shot to the body.
Kovalenko digs a good body shot into Tripper's ribs.
Tripper pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tripper steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kovalenko.
Tripper throws the kick towards the body but Kovalenko avoids it.
Kovalenko throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Tripper lands a leg kick that knocks Kovalenko off balance momentarily.
Tripper throws a wild body kick that Kovalenko sees coming a mile off.
Tripper throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tripper connects with an inside leg kick.
Kovalenko looks for the body kick but Tripper saw that one coming.
Kovalenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Tripper lands with a shot to the body.
Kovalenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kovalenko tried to score with a low kick but Tripper checks it.
Nikolai Kovalenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tripper scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kovalenko walks into a straight right hand from Tripper.
Tripper looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tripper swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kovalenko counters with a left and a right that stings Tripper.
An inside leg kick lands from Tripper.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tripper moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovalenko avoids the head kick by Tripper.
Tripper fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tripper throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Kovalenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tripper throws the kick towards the body but Kovalenko avoids it.
Tripper with a nice cross.
Tripper jabs at Kovalenko's body.
A left and a right from Tripper both land. Nice combination.
Tripper throws a leg kick which misses Kovalenko's front leg but catches the back leg as Kovalenko tries to avoid it.
Kovalenko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kovalenko takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kovalenko moves out of range of the body kick.
Tripper stuns Kovalenko with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kovalenko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tripper dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kovalenko. That did some damage!
Tripper scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kovalenko will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Tripper scores with a nice body kick.
Jack Tripper is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice sprawl there from Kovalenko as Tripper shoots in.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Tripper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tripper has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Tripper!
In his post fight interview, Jack Tripper started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.