PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leo Kovarov (ranked 2685 p4p, 96 weight class) and Lotus Flower (ranked 2804 p4p, 100 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Kovarov
vs
Flower

167 cm
20
139 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

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 4 - 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lotus Flower!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Summer Carpenter and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kovarov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Flower's guard.
Flower wants to control the position but Kovarov says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Kovarov wants to take a breather but Flower is having none of it.
Flower trying to control but Kovarov postures up.
Kovarov controlling the action here.
Kovarov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Flower for as long as he can get away with.
Flower trying to hold on to Kovarov's head to control him but Kovarov postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kovarov controlling the action here.
Flower has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Team Alpha Midget. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kovarov seems to be looking for submissions.
Flower is staying active underneath Kovarov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kovarov is thwarting Flower's attempts to control the position.
Kovarov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Flower keeps working.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kovarov sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kovarov throws a wild body kick that Flower sees coming a mile off.
Flower scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Kovarov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovarov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Flower is trying to control but Kovarov passes into side control!
A lull in the action here as Kovarov stalls from top position.
Kovarov working away.
Flower is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Kovarov is staying active.
A lull in the action here as Kovarov stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flower is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Flower is looking to control Kovarov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Flower avoid being mounted?
Well, if Kovarov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Flower trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Kovarov manages to pass to mount!
Flower tries to hold on but Kovarov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovarov lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kovarov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Flower wants to hold on but Kovarov pushes him away.
Kovarov working Flower over with strikes here.
Flower is squirming around, avoiding Kovarov's attempts to control the action.
Kovarov with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kovarov controlling the pace for now.
Kovarov avoids the attempt from Flower to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Kovarov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kovarov slips under a jab from Flower.
Kovarov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Flower throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Kovarov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kovarov tries to free his leg and advance position but Flower is retaining full guard.
Kovarov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Flower keeping full guard, as Kovarov tries to pass.

Flower looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kovarov has picked Flower up and slammed him! Flower can't keep hold of the triangle and Kovarov manages to pass to side control!
Who's going to make the next move?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovarov is looking to take a break and control but Flower is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flower manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kovarov's best efforts.
Flower is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kovarov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Flower wants to sweep but Kovarov has passed to side control!
Flower is not content to let Kovarov control the position.
Flower struggling a bit here.
Flower defending against the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Flower's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Kovarov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kovarov advances nicely into full mount.
Kovarov prevents Flower from getting the reversal.
Kovarov controlling from mount.
Flower stops Kovarov from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Flower is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flower tries to lock up and control but Kovarov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kovarov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Flower is looking to escape.
Flower is in all sorts of trouble here.

Kovarov looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Kovarov raining down shots from the mount!
Kovarov lands a big shot there that rocks Flower but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kovarov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Flower's face.
Kovarov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Flower can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovarov avoids the attempt from Flower to control.
Flower holds on for dear life, controlling Kovarov's posture momentarily.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kovarov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Flower in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kovarov avoids the attempt from Flower to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kovarov controlling the pace for now.
A nice elbow there by Kovarov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Kovarov 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!

Kovarov wants to clinch up but Flower keeps it at a distance.
Flower looks to land a combination. Kovarov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Leo Kovarov has been cut.
Kovarov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kovarov walks into a stiff left hand from Flower.
Flower lands a lovely overhand right.
Flower uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Flower cracks Kovarov with a good jab.

Kovarov is rocked!
Flower drops Kovarov with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Kovarov! Flower dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lotus Flower!