PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Kovalenko
vs
Smith

205 cm
42
260 lbs
57 - 29 - 0

199 cm
27
255 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Museum of Monsters & Madmen

On Tap (160Q & Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 57 - 29 - 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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Smith!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovalenko tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kovalenko falls off balance throwing a combination

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kovalenko's head.

Smith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Kovalenko is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith stops Kovalenko from getting back to his feet.
Kovalenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith seems to be working for a kimura but Kovalenko defends the submission attempt.
Smith prevents Kovalenko from standing back up.
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Kovalenko is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Smith is looking for a kimura here.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kovalenko keeps working.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smith prevents Kovalenko from standing back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Smith has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Kovalenko tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Kovalenko wants to break the clinch but can't.

Smith drags the fight down to the ground.
Kovalenko tries to stand but Smith is controlling from the bottom.
Smith wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Kovalenko is now in half guard.
Smith trying to control but Kovalenko postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Kovalenko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kovalenko is working away from the top position though.
Smith keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kovalenko is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.
Kovalenko tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Smith.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
Kovalenko takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kovalenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Nikolai Kovalenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kovalenko thumps Smith with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Smith dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kovalenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith feints the counter takedown.
Smith blocks the body kick.
Smith tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kovalenko throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Smith is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Smith jumps guard and drags Kovalenko to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is trying to control the position but Kovalenko postures up.

Kovalenko decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kovalenko misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Kovalenko swinging wildly here.
Kovalenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Kovalenko.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovalenko.
Smith drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kovalenko defends it well.
Kovalenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kovalenko misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kovalenko throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kovalenko misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kovalenko tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kovalenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kovalenko loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Kovalenko lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A head kick misses from Kovalenko.
Smith tries for a takedown but Kovalenko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovalenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Kovalenko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Smith throws a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovalenko's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kovalenko duly obliges.
Smith takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Smith. Those never looked like landing.
Kovalenko misses with a kick to the body.

Smith gets a clinch.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nikolai Kovalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Smith.
Smith tries to pull guard but Kovalenko won't allow it.
The referee calls for Smith to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith pulls Kovalenko into guard.
Smith is pulling down on Kovalenko's head to control his posture.

Smith has an active guard here but Kovalenko has managed to pass into half guard.

Smith actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kovalenko dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith tries to clinch up but Kovalenko circles away and keeps his distance.
A combination from Kovalenko does no damage.
Kovalenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kovalenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kovalenko lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Smith backs up against the cage.
Smith darts in looking for a takedown but Kovalenko gets double underhooks and turns Smith into the cage.
A big right from Kovalenko misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith pushes Kovalenko up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith has Kovalenko pushed against the cage.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko misses with a wild combination.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovalenko.
Smith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kovalenko misses with a wild combination.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kovalenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Kovalenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kovalenko looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
A solid body kick from Kovalenko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko throws an overhand right that lands on Smith's shoulder, as Smith tries to avoid the shot.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Smith takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kovalenko fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kovalenko.

Smith darts in and clinches Kovalenko up against the cage.
Smith has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kovalenko after a bit of a struggle.
Nikolai Kovalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Kovalenko avoids the damage to the body.

Kovalenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jab from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko throws a combination that misses

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kovalenko keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Kovalenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is controlling Kovalenko's posture.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kovalenko is fighting to break Smith's control of his arms but Smith is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Kovalenko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kovalenko has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Kovalenko!
Nikolai Kovalenko decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.