PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Kovalev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dwayne Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kovalev
vs
Johnson

172 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
27
140 lbs
3 - 10 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexei Kovalev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dwayne Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Johnson takes one to the chin there.
Johnson scores with a hook to the body. Kovalev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kovalev lands a glancing blow to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kovalev is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kovalev is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Johnson decides to stand up.
Kovalev scores with a jab to the body.
Kovalev connects with a single shot there.

Johnson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kovalev is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Johnson manages to pass to mount!
Johnson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Johnson gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Kovalev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kovalev sets himself, and Johnson steps forward looking for the clinch! Kovalev avoids it this time.
Kovalev throws a leg kick

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovalev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kovalev is breathing heavily.

Johnson seems to be working for a kimura but Kovalev defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnson controlling the pace.
Johnson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.
Johnson throwing strikes here but Kovalev is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to finish with strikes here!

Kovalev defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Johnson.
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Poor strikes thrown by Johnson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Johnson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Johnson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Johnson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kovalev is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Johnson slows the pace down.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalev dodges the ground and pound from Johnson.
Dwayne Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kovalev looking for a sweep but Johnson has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Johnson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Johnson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Johnson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kovalev has given up his back here.

Kovalev is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Johnson controlling from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnson thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Johnson is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Kovalev is defending well though. Johnson let's go of the attempt for now.
Johnson controlling from the back.

Johnson looking for the choke from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Johnson.

Johnson is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Kovalev has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Johnson misses with punches from the back.
Kovalev is trapped and Johnson is scoring with shots to the head and body.
What can Kovalev do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Johnson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Kovalev knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Kovalev for a finish.
Johnson controls the position.

Johnson is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Kovalev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Johnson forces Kovalev back against the cage and clinches.
Kovalev stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kovalev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson tries to circle away but Kovalev has him pinned against the cage.
Kovalev being controlled against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johnson is looking for a takedown.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Johnson has Kovalev pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kovalev manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Alexei Kovalev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dwayne Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Kovalev forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kovalev.
Kovalev misses with the head strike.

Johnson jumps into guard, dragging Kovalev to the mat.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Kovalev from controlling successfully.

Johnson kicks Kovalev off and gets to his feet.
A jab lands there for Johnson.
Kovalev throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Kovalev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kovalev throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Johnson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Johnson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Alexei Kovalev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson has managed to clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovalev misses with a short punch on the inside.

Johnson has clasped his hands together around Kovalev's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Kovalev!
Johnson misses with a head shot.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Johnson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Johnson looking for a guillotine from mount but Kovalev is having none of it.
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson works his way to his opponent's back.
Johnson controlling from the back.

Johnson is looking for the choke from the back position but Kovalev is controlling his hands well.
Kovalev is trying to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson misses with an elbow to the head.
Kovalev is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Dwayne Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Johnson is continuing to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwayne Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwayne Johnson!