PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Kurko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Ovechkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kurko
vs
Ovechkin

185 cm
23
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
21
215 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Kurko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Ovechkin!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ovechkin throws a good cross that connects.

Ovechkin moves into range and clinches up with Kurko.
Ovechkin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kurko is stalling here.
Kurko keeps control of Ovechkin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Kurko pulls guard successfully.
Kurko keeping moving, preventing Ovechkin from controlling successfully.
Ovechkin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Kurko has his foot on Ovechkin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ovechkin works his way back into a safe position though.
Kurko trying to keep a closed guard but Ovechkin is proving a slippery customer.
Ovechkin wants to pass the guard but Kurko is keeping the position.

Kurko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ovechkin throws a big right hand that misses.
Ovechkin is pushing down on Kurko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kurko is fighting to maintain full guard but Ovechkin has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kurko is trying to get back to full guard.
Ovechkin throwing shots but Kurko is blocking nicely.
Ovechkin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kurko wants to get back to full guard.
Ovechkin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ovechkin throwing shots but Kurko is blocking nicely.
Ovechkin is trying to control the action in half guard but Kurko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kurko slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurko trying to keep a closed guard but Ovechkin is proving a slippery customer.
Kurko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ovechkin is one step ahead there.
Ovechkin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Ovechkin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kurko, up you get!
Kurko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ovechkin avoids it really well and circles away.
Ovechkin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ovechkin misses with a series of wild punches.
Ovechkin fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ovechkin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kurko napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ovechkin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Ovechkin decides to stand back up. Ovechkin steps back and let's Kurko get back to his feet.
Ovechkin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kurko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kurko with a poor takedown
and Ovechkin counters with a series of strikes. Kurko will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kurko fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Kurko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ovechkin throws a right and a left that Kurko avoids nicely.
Kurko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ovechkin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Ovechkin drives through and clinches with Kurko against the cage.
Ovechkin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kurko prevents it.
Ovechkin stops a takedown attempt from Kurko.
Ovechkin stops a takedown attempt from Kurko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ovechkin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ovechkin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kurko backs up against the cage.
Ovechkin misses with a two punch combination.

Kurko closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kurko is breathing heavily.
Ovechkin is looking to regain half guard here but Kurko keeps moving and retains side control.

Kurko stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Kurko is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ovechkin.
Ovechkin misses with a wild combination.

Ovechkin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ovechkin thows a big elbow that misses.
Kurko looking for a sweep. Not yet Kurko, not yet.
Ovechkin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Kurko has his foot on Ovechkin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ovechkin works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Ovechkin will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kurko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ovechkin throws a head kick that half lands.
Ovechkin scores with a one two! Kurko had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Jab, jab by Ovechkin - just one landing.
Ovechkin stalks Kurko and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kurko's face. Kurko staggers backwards, shaken.
Kurko closes the distance and clinches up with Ovechkin, looking for a takedown. Kurko pushes Ovechkin against the cage but Ovechkin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ovechkin scores with a shot to the body.
Kurko shoots for a double leg takedown but Ovechkin sprawls well. He's pushed Kurko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kurko shoots and misses
and Ovechkin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kurko thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Kurko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kurko tries to keep at a distance but Ovechkin has taken the fight into the clinch.

Ovechkin is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Kurko can't fight it off and eventually Ovechkin manages to take the fight to the floor. Kurko looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ovechkin throwing strikes but missing.
Kurko wants to sweep here but Ovechkin controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ovechkin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurko isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ovechkin stacks Kurko on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ovechkin!
Kurko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kurko manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Ovechkin actively working from the bottom here.
Ovechkin wants to improve his position but Kurko is controlling well.
Kurko is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ovechkin trying to control but Kurko postures up.
Well, if Kurko 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.
Kurko stops Ovechkin from getting back to his feet.
Kurko is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurko seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ovechkin for as long as he can get away with.

Ovechkin looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kurko with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Ovechkin looking for submissions off his back.
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. Kurko connects with a nice short shot to Ovechkin's temple.
Kurko trying to control the pace.
Ovechkin wants to control but Kurko is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kurko slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ivan Kurko just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Ovechkin gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ovechkin tries to score with some ground and pound. Kurko controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Ovechkin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kurko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The ground and pound from Ovechkin seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kurko is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ovechkin tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kurko gets back to half guard.
Kurko gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Ovechkin 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kurko closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ovechkin did well to prevent Kurko getting side control.
Kurko slows the pace down in half guard.
Kurko passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kurko controlling the pace for now.
Ovechkin can't escape the position.
Ivan Kurko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kurko looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ovechkin wants to hold on but Kurko pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurko controlling his opponent.
Ovechkin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ovechkin is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Kurko prevents Ovechkin from getting the reversal.
Ovechkin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kurko takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kurko has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Ovechkin is trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ovechkin is looking to get to half guard.
Kurko controlling the position easily from mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ivan Kurko just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ovechkin misses with a two punch combination.
Kurko misses with a takedown
and Ovechkin counters with a series of strikes. Kurko will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ovechkin lands with a cross.
Ovechkin looks to land a combination but Kurko avoids it well.
Ovechkin throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kurko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ovechkin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ovechkin!
Ovechkin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kurko.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Kurko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ovechkin lands with an overhand left.
Kurko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ovechkin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kurko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ovechkin.
Ovechkin content to control rather than advance.
Kurko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ovechkin.
Kurko tries to get to full guard but Ovechkin has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ovechkin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kurko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ovechkin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ivan Kurko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ovechkin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kurko is refusing to be controlled, as Ovechkin sits in half guard.
Ovechkin drops an elbow to the side of Kurko's head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No joy there for Ovechkin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kurko misses with a takedown

and Ovechkin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ovechkin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kurko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ovechkin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Alexander Ovechkin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kurko keeping moving, preventing Ovechkin from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Ovechkin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ovechkin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Ovechkin!