PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kiazer Soze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giril Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Soze comes to the cage accompanied by Holy Tears. Kovalenko has chosen Judas Priest - Grinder as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Soze
vs
Kovalenko

190 cm
19
190 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
195 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kiazer Soze!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Giril Kovalenko!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovalenko throws a jab but it's blocked by Soze.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab.
Soze shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kovalenko pinned against the cage. Kovalenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kovalenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Kovalenko misses with a series of wild punches.
Kovalenko throws a hook but Soze blocks it.
Soze shoots for a double leg takedown but Kovalenko sprawls well. He's pushed Soze's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kovalenko scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Kiazer Soze has been cut.
Kovalenko swinging wilding here.
Kovalenko doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Soze counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kovalenko's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soze throwing strikes but missing.
Kovalenko controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soze wants to pass the guard but Kovalenko is keeping the position.

Soze drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kovalenko dives on top into guard.
Kovalenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kovalenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Soze works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kovalenko wants to stand but Soze is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kovalenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Soze is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kovalenko is aware though and is defending well.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kovalenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kovalenko lands a couple of elbows.
Soze looking for a sweep. Not yet Soze, not yet.
Kovalenko passes Soze's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kovalenko working over Soze with some ground and pound. Soze looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kovalenko trying to pass the guard but Soze defending well.
Kovalenko lands with a punch from half guard.
Nice strikes from Kovalenko there.
Ground and pound from Kovalenko.

Soze looking for submissions off his back.
Soze is breathing heavily.
Kovalenko blocks the strikes from Soze.
Kovalenko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soze actively working from the bottom here.
Soze is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kovalenko scores with a couple of nice shots.
Soze is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kovalenko scores with a couple of nice shots.
Soze is staying active underneath Kovalenko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
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. Kovalenko connects with a nice short shot to Soze's temple.
Kovalenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Soze keeps working.
Kovalenko takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kovalenko working the head and body with strikes.
Kovalenko trying to control the action but Soze is working from the bottom.
Kovalenko tries to pass to full mount but Soze defends it.
Kovalenko working over Soze with some ground and pound. Soze looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soze looking for submissions off his back.
Kovalenko slips a nice elbow through Soze's hands, connecting with Soze's forehead.
Kovalenko working Soze over with strikes.
Kovalenko tries to pass the half guard into mount. Soze knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Soze has hold of Kovalenko's hands but Kovalenko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Soze is looking to improve his position.
Kovalenko trying to control from half guard but Soze is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soze wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giril Kovalenko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kiazer Soze's cut.
That's time! Soze's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kovalenko misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Soze counters with a shoot takedown. Kovalenko fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soze throwing strikes but missing.
Soze passes into half guard.
Kovalenko is trying to maintain the position but Soze is very close to passing his half guard.
Soze missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kovalenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Soze.
Kovalenko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kovalenko managing to control the position.
Kovalenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soze stops Kovalenko from standing up.

Kovalenko uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Soze slips a jab from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko throws a big shot that misses.
A slow jab from Soze misses its intended target.
Soze blocks a jab.
Soze misses with a two punch combination.
Kovalenko throws a combination that misses
and Soze counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kovalenko throws a big shot that misses.
Kovalenko misses with a takedown

and Soze counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Soze.
Kovalenko is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soze stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kovalenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Soze has gone for a leg lock! Kovalenko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Soze's guard.

Soze has his foot on Kovalenko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kovalenko works his way back into a safe position though.
Kovalenko pushes down on Soze's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Giril Kovalenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kovalenko lands with a punch from half guard.
Kovalenko is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Kovalenko wants to work for an arm triangle but Soze is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kovalenko takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Soze slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko working some strikes from top position.
Kovalenko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Soze's head.
Kovalenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soze is keeping the position for now.
Kovalenko landing with the ground and pound.
Soze working a defensive guard here.

Soze throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kovalenko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Soze's head.

Soze is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kovalenko is aware though and is defending well.
Kovalenko cracks Soze with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kovalenko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kovalenko trying to control but Soze is working from the bottom.
Soze wants to sweep but no luck.

Soze working for a triangle but Kovalenko defends it easily.
Kovalenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soze swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kovalenko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Soze looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kovalenko postures up and lands a big shot to Soze's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiazer Soze dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kiazer Soze's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kovalenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Soze fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kovalenko misses with a wild body shot.

Kovalenko is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Soze's half guard.
Kovalenko working Soze over with strikes.
Kovalenko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kovalenko looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kovalenko working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kovalenko uses his free foot to push down on Soze's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Soze.
Kovalenko with good strikes from the mount here!

Soze is rocked!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kovalenko working Soze over with strikes here.
Oh Soze is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Kovalenko cracks Soze with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Giril Kovalenko! Giril Kovalenko retains his middleweight title!