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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ashley Covington (ranked 5337 p4p, 2984 weight class) and Ryan Rhodes (ranked 482 p4p, 333 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Covington might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to .... Ryan Rhodes has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ashley Covington's chin.
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| 179 cm
20
175
2 - 3 - 0 |
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170 cm
26
176
2 - 1 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily |
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BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ashley Covington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Rhodes!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Joseph Jones and Reed Andrews.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rhodes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Covington.
An attempted straight right counter from Covington misses the target.
Rhodes ducks under a wild hook from Covington.
Covington tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rhodes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Covington somewhat.
Rhodes looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rhodes looks to land a combination but Covington avoids it well.
Covington throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Covington gets the takedown into side control.
Rhodes is trying to improve his position.
Covington is looking to take a break and control but Rhodes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Rhodes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Covington is putting a hurting on Rhodes here, landing some big shots from side control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Covington misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Rhodes parries the strikes from Covington easily there. Covington is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rhodes to escape.
Rhodes is trying to control Covington's posture but Covington avoids it.
Covington trying to control the action but Rhodes is working from the bottom.
Rhodes is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Covington is keen to just control but Rhodes is a slippery customer.
Rhodes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Covington.
Covington not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Covington looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rhodes preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Covington.
Rhodes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Covington scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rhodes is trying to control but can't.
Covington uses his free foot to push down on Rhodes's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rhodes.
Rhodes in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rhodes is looking to get to half guard.
Covington looking to finish Rhodes with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rhodes!
Covington wants to control the pace but Rhodes is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Covington with a couple of short strikes.
Covington landing strikes from the mount.
Covington lands a heavy elbow.
Covington looking to control and managing it successfully.
Covington has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rhodes is bucking up trying to escape but Covington cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rhodes sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Covington looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rhodes with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rhodes wants to improve his position but Covington is controlling well.
Rhodes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Covington not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rhodes is trying to stand.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Covington takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rhodes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Covington. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Covington is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Covington landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rhodes trying to control from the bottom.
Rhodes is holding on to half guard well.
Covington is nestled in close to Rhodes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Covington thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Covington throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Covington scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rhodes is trying to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ashley Covington dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.
Rhodes tries to land a front kick but Covington steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rhodes tries a head kick but it misses.
Rhodes moves into the clinch.
Covington slowing the pace effectively.
Covington blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Covington manages to break the clinch.
Rhodes instigates a clinch.
Covington has Rhodes pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Covington pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rhodes tumbling to the mat - Covington dives into Rhodes's guard.
Covington is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rhodes can do to turn this around?
Rhodes looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhodes has momentary wrist control but Covington slips an elbow through the middle.
Covington sitting in guard here, content to control.
Covington makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Covington slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes controls Covington momentarily but Covington frees himself.
Covington missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Covington scoring with punches to the head and body.
Covington in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Covington advances to half guard.
Rhodes is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Covington controlling the action here.
Rhodes is trying to control but can't.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rhodes has his hands clasped together around Covington's back. He's all about the action.
Rhodes is looking to control Covington's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rhodes avoid being mounted?
Covington working Rhodes over with strikes.
Covington not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Covington missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Covington is trying to control the action in half guard but Rhodes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rhodes wants to improve his position but Covington is controlling well.
Covington thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rhodes's head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes is staying active underneath Covington, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Covington moves into the clinch.
Rhodes managing to block the knees to the body from Covington.
Covington lands a good knee to the midsection. Rhodes won't want to take too many of those.
Covington blocks an elbow strike.
Rhodes lands an elbow inside.
It looks like Ashley Covington has been cut.
Covington misses with a hook to the ribs.
Covington blocks a body shot from Rhodes.
Rhodes is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Covington.
Rhodes working aggressively here.
Covington is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rhodes is defending well for now.
Covington turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rhodes struggling a bit here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Covington fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rhodes wants to control but Covington postures up.
Rhodes dodges the ground and pound from Covington.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rhodes takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Covington is looking to take a break and control but Rhodes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rhodes is trying to buck Covington off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You can see the frustration on Rhodes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Covington remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ashley Covington dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ashley Covington's cut.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Rhodes tries to land a front kick but Covington steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Jab by Covington.
Rhodes is looking to land body kicks.
Ashley Covington seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Covington throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Covington gets tackled into the cage by Rhodes. Rhodes maintains the clinch.
Covington lands a left hand.
Covington lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rhodes tries to get to full guard but Covington has control of the leg.
Covington not doing much here.
Rhodes tries to get to full guard but Covington has control of the leg.
Covington seems to be looking for submissions.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Covington sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rhodes defending well though.
Covington scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ground and pound from Covington.
Covington scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Covington landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ground and pound from Covington.
Rhodes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rhodes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Covington.
Covington sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rhodes defending well though.
Covington trying to control from Rhodes's half guard. Rhodes has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Ryan Rhodes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ashley Covington overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Covington passes into half guard.
Covington not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rhodes is staying active underneath Covington, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Covington scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Covington thows a huge punch but Rhodes dodges it nicely.
Rhodes trying to control here.
Covington lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rhodes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rhodes has control of Covington's left arm, preventing Covington from doing any damage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Covington controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rhodes is trying to control the position but Covington postures up.
Rhodes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Covington manages to get himself to full guard.
Rhodes is looking to work some ground and pound but Covington has wrist control.
Rhodes wants to control from the top but Covington keeps moving.
Rhodes stays in close to Covington's body and controls the position.
Covington throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
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.
Covington wants to stand and escape but Rhodes is having none of it.
Ashley Covington is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Covington changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rhodes looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rhodes bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Covington closes the distance and pushes Rhodes back into the cage.
Our sources have told us that Covington has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Rhodes prevents a takedown attempt there.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Covington as Rhodes tries to tie him up.
Rhodes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rhodes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Covington is defending well for now.
Rhodes has a couple of punches blocked by Covington.
And that's the end of the fight!
Ashley Covington showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Covington, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ashley Covington!
Ashley Covington tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.
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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
40% |
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