PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Konovalov (ranked 3066 p4p, 3428 weight class) and Paulo Maldini (ranked 351 p4p, 391 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Konovalov
vs
Maldini

173 cm
25
154
1 - 1 - 0

181 cm
25
154
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ivan Konovalov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paulo Maldini!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Bruno Hogan and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Konovalov misses with a takedown
and Maldini counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Konovalov thinking.
Konovalov has his takedown stuffed
and Maldini counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Maldini moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Konovalov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Maldini counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Konovalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maldini feints a jab promting Konovalov to slip. Maldini then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Konovalov slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Konovalov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A nice combination there by Maldini.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maldini lands a nice shot to the body.
Maldini scores with a jab to the jaw.
Konovalov with a poor takedown
and Maldini counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Paulo Maldini is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konovalov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Maldini counters with a nice uppercut.
A shot to the liver by Maldini. Beautiful body shot.
Maldini lands with a nice body punch.
Konovalov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Maldini lands a nice looking body shot.
Konovalov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Maldini counter with a right hand.
Maldini moves into range and connects with a jab.
Good standup being displayed there by Maldini as he connects with a hook.
Konovalov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Maldini connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Konovalov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Maldini counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maldini scores with a jab.
Konovalov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Konovalov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Konovalov shoots and misses
and Maldini counters with a straight right hand.
Maldini punishes Konovalov's body with a nice straight punch.
Konovalov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Maldini connects with a body shot that sends Konovalov's belly button to the back.
Konovalov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Maldini counters with a left and a right that stings Konovalov.
Konovalov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Konovalov has his takedown stuffed
and Maldini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini dips to his left and cracks Konovalov with an uppercut!
Konovalov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Maldini counters with a nice uppercut.
Konovalov walks into a stiff left hand from Maldini.
Maldini scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Konovalov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Konovalov with a poor takedown
letting Maldini counter with a right hand.
Ivan Konovalov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Konovalov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A jab lands there for Maldini.
Decent striking displayed by Maldini there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Konovalov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maldini counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Konovalov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A punch lands to the side of Konovalov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Konovalov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Maldini counters with a stiff right hand.
Konovalov has his takedown stuffed
and Maldini connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Decent striking displayed by Maldini there.
Konovalov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Konovalov walks into a jab.
Konovalov misses with a takedown attempt
and Maldini counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Maldini dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Left hook, right uppercut from Maldini.
Maldini comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Konovalov ducks right into an uppercut from Maldini.
A shot to the liver by Maldini. Beautiful body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Maldini.
Konovalov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Konovalov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Maldini counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maldini scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Konovalov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Maldini has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Maldini dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ivan Konovalov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maldini connects with a single shot there.
Maldini has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Konovalov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maldini connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konovalov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Maldini counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Konovalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Konovalov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maldini avoids it really well and circles away.
Maldini fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Konovalov fails with the takedown
and Maldini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldini fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Maldini lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Maldini thuds a left hand into Konovalov's body.
Maldini lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Konovalov backs up against the cage.
Maldini connects with a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Danga de danga de dang - Maldini scores with a four punch combination!

Konovalov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Konovalov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Konovalov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Konovalov controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Konovalov is controlling him well.

Konovalov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maldini has escaped the position, nice work there.

Maldini sneaks out the side door and pushes Konovalov away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Konovalov fails with the takedown
and Maldini counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldini lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Maldini closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Konovalov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Maldini counters with a nice uppercut.
Konovalov fails with the takedown
and Maldini counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Konovalov has his takedown stuffed
and Maldini counters with a left to the body.
Maldini feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Konovalovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Maldini tests Konovalov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Maldini showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Maldini lands a slapping body shot.
Maldini is working the combinations to good effect here.
Maldini uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Konovalov has time to react.
Konovalov with a poor takedown
and Maldini counters with a left to the body.
Konovalov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maldini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maldini displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Good standup being displayed there by Maldini as he connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maldini connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Konovalov misses with a takedown
and Maldini counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Konovalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldini stuns Konovalov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Konovalov walks into a stiff left hand from Maldini.
Maldini scores with a decent looking hook.
Konovalov with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Maldini counter with a right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maldini's corner calls for a 1-2. Maldini obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Konovalov walks into a jab.
A left lands for Maldini.
The crowd cheers as Maldini lands an impressive looking overhand right. Konovalov doesn't seem phased though.
Konovalov misses with a takedown attempt
and Maldini counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Konovalov thinking.
Maldini has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Konovalov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Maldini finds it's way round the side to connect with Konovalov's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Konovalov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Maldini counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Konovalov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maldini counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maldini fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Konovalov on the side of the head.
Konovalov walks into a straight right hand from Maldini.
Maldini fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Konovalov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Maldini lands a jab-cross combination.
Maldini's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Maldini duly obliges.
Konovalov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maldini counters with a stiff right hand.
Maldini with a hook.
Konovalov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Maldini counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Paulo Maldini seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Maldini fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Konovalov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Konovalov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Konovalov has his takedown stuffed
and Maldini counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maldini pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Konovalov back to the cage. Maldini follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Maldini lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Konovalov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Maldini counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maldini cracks Konovalov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Maldini connects with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldini cracks Konovalov with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Konovalov has his takedown stuffed
letting Maldini counter with a right hand.
Maldini scores with a nice right hand.
Maldini dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Konovalov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Maldini connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Konovalov scrambles back to his feet.
Jab by Maldini.
Maldini cracks a nice hook into Konovalov's ribs.
Ivan Konovalov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maldini scores with a jab to the head.
Konovalov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Maldini comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maldini has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 24:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 24:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Maldini!