PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krazy Horse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Horse is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Otis. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kovalenko
vs
Horse

205 cm
24
260 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

200 cm
28
282 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Russian Top Team Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kovalenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Krazy Horse!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovalenko lands with a nice body punch.
Horse shoots in looking for a takedown. Kovalenko tries to sprawl out of it but Horse keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kovalenko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horse drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kovalenko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kovalenko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kovalenko wants it to stay on the feet.
Nikolai Kovalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Krazy Horse.
A leg kick checked by Horse.
Horse shoots in looking for a takedown. Kovalenko tries to sprawl out of it but Horse keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kovalenko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horse tries to clinch
and Kovalenko counters with a stiff right hand.
Horse shoots in looking for a takedown but Kovalenko manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Horse's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Horse shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
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!
Horse misses with a takedown attempt - Kovalenko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Horse misses with a takedown attempt - Kovalenko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A slow jab from Kovalenko misses its intended target.
Horse shoots in for a double leg but Kovalenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Horse looks for a takedown but Kovalenko sprawls well.
Horse looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko lands a head shot.
Kovalenko lands a leg kick that knocks Horse off balance momentarily.
Horse looks for a takedown but Kovalenko sprawls well.
Kovalenko lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kovalenko falls off balance throwing a combination

and Horse counters by clinching up.
Kovalenko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Horse is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kovalenko to keep the fight standing.

Kovalenko manages to break the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovalenko thows a body shot but no joy.
Kovalenko throws a big shot that misses.
Kovalenko swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Horse.
Horse steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kovalenko.
Horse tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Horse takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Horse closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kovalenko circles away.
Horse throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Horse walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kovalenko lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kovalenko throws a series of punches but Horse moves out of range.
Horse is trying desperately to land a takedown but Kovalenko is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Horse.
Kovalenko connects with a good right hand that stumbles Horse. Horse circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Horse shoots in but Kovalenko avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kovalenko missing with a left hand there. Horse was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Krazy Horse seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovalenko swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Horse.
Horse shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Horse throws a sloppy head kick and Kovalenko moves out of range easily.
Horse shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kovalenko pinned against the cage. Kovalenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kovalenko is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Kovalenko throws a head kick but Horse moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horse shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Horse misses with a takedown attempt
and Kovalenko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kovalenko cracks Horse with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kovalenko lands a jab to the nose.
Horse misses with a takedown
and Kovalenko finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Horse walks into a left hand.
Horse walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Horse takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kovalenko lands with a nice body punch.
Kovalenko scores with a one two! Horse had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kovalenko connects with a looping right hand.

Kovalenko sends Horse crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Kovalenko is motioning to the referee to let Horse up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Horse is rocked!
Kovalenko cracks Horse with a left hook right on the temple and Horse goes down! He's out! Referee! Stop the fight! Kovalenko lands a few more punches before the dopey ref steps in - hopefully Horse is OK!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Nikolai Kovalenko!
Nikolai Kovalenko managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Russian Top Team Nutrition, into his post fight interview.