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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leo Kovarov (ranked 3992 p4p, 187 weight class) and Dax Baxter (ranked 3386 p4p, 153 weight class). Leo Kovarov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 167 cm
20
139 lbs
3 - 0 - 0 |
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188 cm
26
135 lbs
4 - 3 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power |
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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
3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leo Kovarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dax Baxter!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Skip Squint and Francis DeMontford.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovarov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kovarov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Baxter throws a series of strikes that have Kovarov backpedaling.
Baxter tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kovarov was well out of range. Poor timing from Baxter.
Dax Baxter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kovarov.
Baxter pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It looked like Kovarov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A shot to the liver by Baxter. Beautiful body shot.
Baxter scores with a one two! Kovarov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
We've been hearing reports that Kovarov has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Baxter on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kovarov. Kovarov obviously looking to wear him down.
Kovarov gets tackled into the cage by Baxter. Baxter maintains the clinch.
Baxter swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Baxter being controlled against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baxter blocks an elbow strike.
Baxter has a couple of punches blocked by Kovarov.
Baxter lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kovarov backwards.
Kovarov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovarov lands a body punch.
Kovarov has Baxter pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Baxter manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Baxter working aggressively here.
Baxter fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Baxter misses with the head strike.
Baxter misses with a knee strike.
Kovarov drags the fight down to the ground.
Baxter looking to sit in guard and control but Kovarov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Baxter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Baxter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baxter keeps trying to improve his position.
Kovarov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baxter trying to control the position here.
Kovarov content to stall in guard here.
Kovarov wants to pass the guard but Baxter is keeping the position.
Kovarov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kovarov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kovarov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Kovarov working the body and head with strikes.
Kovarov working away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baxter is looking for a sweep.
Baxter struggling a bit here.
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.
Baxter takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Baxter tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kovarov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Baxter tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Kovarov easily slips into full mount!
Kovarov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kovarov lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kovarov controlling from the full mount.
Kovarov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Baxter for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Dax Baxter will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Kovarov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kovarov throws a head kick that misses.
Baxter lands with a right hand.
Baxter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kovarov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kovarov has a takedown stuffed.
A decent looking cross lands there for Baxter.
Kovarov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Baxter wants to improve his position but Kovarov is controlling well.
Baxter has hold of Kovarov's hands but Kovarov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovarov is thwarting Baxter's attempts to control the position.
Baxter is looking to improve his position.
Kovarov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Baxter wants to control but Kovarov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kovarov prevents Baxter from improving his position.
Kovarov wants to free his trapped foot but Baxter is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Baxter has hold of Kovarov's hands but Kovarov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Baxter is looking for a sweep. Kovarov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Baxter is trying to maintain the position but Kovarov is very close to passing his half guard.
Kovarov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kovarov is trying to work for a kimura but Baxter is defending well.
Kovarov escapes and gets back to his feet.
Leo Kovarov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Baxter.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovarov shoots in for a takedown but Baxter shows good takedown defense.
Baxter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kovarov tries for a takedown but Baxter sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Kovarov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot to the liver by Baxter. Beautiful body shot.
Baxter throws a shot to the body.
Baxter throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Baxter blocks the body kick.
Baxter misses with a hook.
Baxter misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
It looked like Kovarov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Baxter.
Kovarov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kovarov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Baxter sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Baxter scores with a hook.
Baxter looks to land a combination but Kovarov avoids it well.
Dax Baxter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baxter stuffs the takedown attempt from Kovarov. Kovarov gets slowly back to his feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter misses with an uppercut. Kovarov saw that one coming.
Baxter misses with a body shot.
Kovarov instigates a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baxter misses with a body punch.
Baxter doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Baxter misses with a body punch.
Kovarov pulls guard.
Kovarov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Baxter has passed into half guard!
Baxter stops Kovarov from getting back to his feet.
Baxter not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kovarov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Baxter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dax Baxter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Baxter tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kovarov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Baxter does no damage.
Baxter thuds his right hand into Kovarov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Baxter is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Baxter bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kovarov's head.
Kovarov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kovarov fails with a takedown attempt.
Kovarov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter tries to close the distance and clinch but Kovarov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kovarov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Baxter cracks a nice hook into Kovarov's ribs.
Kovarov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Baxter is rocked!
Leo Kovarov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovarov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Baxter is still in real trouble! Can Kovarov finish him?
Kovarov happy to just control the position for now.
Baxter takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter trying to remain calm as Kovarov controls from the top position.
Baxter tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Kovarov presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Baxter is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Kovarov locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Baxter is forced to tap!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Leo Kovarov!
In defeat, Dax Baxter stepped up to the mic, saying 'Congratulations to my opponent. He was the better fighter tonight.'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
50% |
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