PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leo Kovarov (ranked 2155 p4p, 101 weight class) and Christian Baier (ranked 2968 p4p, 136 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Christian Baier enters the cage!

Kovarov
vs
Baier

167 cm
22
146 lbs
6 - 2 - 1

167 cm
23
138 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Leo Kovarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Christian Baier!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baier throws out a loose jab but Kovarov uses good head movement to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Kovarov misses the target.
Baier misses with a double jab.
Kovarov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Baier misses with a straight right.
Kovarov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Baier lands with a nice combination. Kovarov backs away looking to recover.
The fighters circle momentarily. Baier darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Baier misses with an uppercut. Kovarov saw that one coming.
Kovarov takes one to the chin there.
Baier comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kovarov moves out of range as Baier strikes.
Baier throws a lazy right hand but Kovarov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kovarov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovarov misses with a wild body shot.
Christian Baier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baier throws a series of punches but Kovarov moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovarov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Baier is able to avoid easily.
Baier misses with a wild body shot.
Kovarov misses with a wild combination.
Baier misses with an uppercut. Kovarov saw that one coming.
Baier has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Nice shot by Baier.
Kovarov lands a jab to Baier's midsection.
A big right from Baier misses.
Baier looks to throw the jab but Kovarov is out of range.
Kovarov blocks a jab.

Kovarov gets a takedown into half guard.
Kovarov wants to take a breather but Baier is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kovarov is looking for a kimura but Baier is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kovarov to get the leverage.
Baier avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kovarov.
Baier is looking to improve his position.
Kovarov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kovarov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Baier defends it well.

Baier is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kovarov pulls his head out easily.
Baier is looking to improve his position.

Kovarov stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baier checks the leg kick.

Kovarov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kovarov throwing strikes but Baier manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Baier looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Baier tries to advance to mount but can't.
Kovarov is trying to control Baier's posture but Baier avoids it.
Kovarov is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Hardpunch (13 Elite / 1000$, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

Baier is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kovarov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baier tries to advance to mount but Kovarov denies him.

Baier is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kovarov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kovarov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Baier's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Christian Baier will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Baier fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Baier slips a jab and a cross from Kovarov.
Baier displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kovarov throws out the jab.
Baier might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Kovarov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Baier on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Baier misses with a hook.

Kovarov drives through and clinches with Baier against the cage.
Kovarov lands a shot to the body.
Baier on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Baier tries to throw a body punch but Kovarov avoids it by throwing Baier back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kovarov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kovarov throws a body punch but Baier moves out of range.
Baier slaps away a takedown attempt from Kovarov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Baier stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Baier.
Kovarov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Baier counters with a stiff right hand.
Kovarov throws a series of punches but Baier avoids them all with ease.
Baier misses with a straight right.
Leo Kovarov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovarov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Baier throws a body punch but Kovarov moves out of range.
Kovarov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Baier cracks Kovarov with a good jab.
Baier connects with a body shot that sends Kovarov's belly button to the back.
Kovarov misses with a low kick.
Baier scores with a body shot.
Baier connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kovarov's hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baier lands with an uppercut that bounces Kovarov off the cage and back into range.
Baier throws a lazy right hand but Kovarov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Baier lands a nice looking body shot.
Christian Baier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovarov ducks under a wild hook from Baier.
Decent striking displayed by Baier there.
Kovarov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kovarov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kovarov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Baier moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kovarov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It seemed like Baier was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A punch lands to the side of Kovarov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kovarov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baier lands with a nice body punch.
Good shot there by Baier.
Kovarov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Baier sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Baier misses its intended target.
Kovarov takes one to the chin there.
Baier looks to land a left hand but Kovarov moved out of range nicely.
Kovarov feinted with a counter takedown.

Kovarov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Baier!
Baier sneaks back into half guard.
Kovarov working the head and body with strikes.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kovarov connects with a nice short shot to Baier's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kovarov trying to control the action but Baier is working from the bottom.
Baier blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kovarov.
Baier trying to control here.
Kovarov trying to control the action but Baier is working from the bottom.
Baier won't allow Kovarov to pass to mount.
Baier trying to control here.

Kovarov seems to be looking for submissions.
Kovarov is trying to control the action in half guard but Baier is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Baier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Baier lands with a shot to the body.

Kovarov scores with a takedown into Baier's guard.

Baier looking for a guillotine here but Kovarov defends easily.
Kovarov trying to control the position from guard on top but Baier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kovarov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kovarov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Baier is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Baier has escaped and now he's on top!

Kovarov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kovarov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Baier defends well.

Kovarov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Baier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Leo Kovarov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kovarov is pulling down on Baier's head. It's preventing any offense from Baier, at least for the moment.

That's two 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.

Baier got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kovarov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baier has managed to get both his arms back between Kovarov's legs - danger averted.

Kovarov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Baier doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Baier manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Baier is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Kovarov has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Baier is looking to defend but Kovarov has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Baier! Kovarov pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Baier taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Leo Kovarov!