PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Kovalev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Boyko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Kovalev
vs
Boyko

180 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
183 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rocky Kovalev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Boyko!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boyko throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kovalev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Kovalev decides to stand and escape the position.
Kovalev shoots and misses

and Boyko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Boyko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kovalev trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Boyko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kovalev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kovalev keeping moving, preventing Boyko from controlling successfully.
Kovalev controlling Boyko's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rocky Kovalev.
Boyko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kovalev counters with a shoot takedown. Boyko fights it but they end up in guard.
Kovalev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Kovalev thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kovalev prevents Boyko from getting back to his feet.
Kovalev trying to control but Boyko is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kovalev won't allow Boyko to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rocky Kovalev just wasn't active enough.
Boyko tries for a takedown but Kovalev circles away easily

and Kovalev counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kovalev.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boyko looks gassed!
Kovalev is in close to Boyko's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Boyko wants to sweep here but Kovalev controlling him for the moment.
Kovalev chips away with some ground and pound.
Kovalev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kovalev.
Boyko should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kovalev wants to control from the top but Boyko keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Rocky Kovalev has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Kovalev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Boyko quickly recovers to half guard.
Kovalev takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Kovalev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Boyko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Boyko doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kovalev counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Boyko's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Boyko is working an open guard so Kovalev takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Boyko fails with the takedown

so Kovalev counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovalev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kovalev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kovalev lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Boyko is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev stays in close to Boyko's body and controls the position.

Kovalev stands up and waves to Boyko to follow him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Boyko enables Kovalev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Boyko manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kovalev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kovalev with a flurry of punches that miss.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rocky Kovalev wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Boyko gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kovalev to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyko trying to keep a closed guard but Kovalev is proving a slippery customer.
Kovalev wants to control from the top but Boyko keeps moving.
Boyko tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Kovalev chips away with some ground and pound.
Kovalev throwing strikes from guard but Boyko blocks nicely.
Kovalev wants to control from the top but Boyko keeps moving.
Boyko wants to stand and escape but Kovalev is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovalev controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Kovalev dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kovalev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Boyko tries to hold on but Kovalev pushes him away.
Kovalev won't let Boyko get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Boyko is in a horrible position here. Kovalev smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kovalev looking to finish Boyko with some ground and pound. This is bad for Boyko!
Boyko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kovalev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rocky Kovalev just wasn't active enough.
Some wild striking there from Boyko.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kovalev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kovalev counters with a single leg into guard. Boyko didn't expect that.
Boyko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kovalev works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kovalev is pulling down on Boyko's head. It's preventing any offense from Boyko, at least for the moment.
Kovalev keeping full guard, as Boyko tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kovalev works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ivan Boyko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocky Kovalev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kovalev controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocky Kovalev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kovalev, 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Kovalev!