PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Schmuckatelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Schmuckatelli has chosen Stay Here by SWANS as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Kovalenko
vs
Schmuckatelli

205 cm
25
260 lbs
23 - 9 - 0

200 cm
34
267 lbs
24 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 23 - 9 - 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 24 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joe Schmuckatelli!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schmuckatelli slips under a jab from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko scores with a hook to the body. Schmuckatelli takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Schmuckatelli forces Kovalenko back against the cage and clinches.
Schmuckatelli misses with a short punch on the inside.
Schmuckatelli swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kovalenko dodges an elbow strike from Schmuckatelli.
Kovalenko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Schmuckatelli has him pressed against the cage.

Kovalenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kovalenko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Schmuckatelli throws a right and a left that both miss.
Schmuckatelli throws a lazy right hand but Kovalenko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Schmuckatelli throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kovalenko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kovalenko misses with a wild combination.
A jab from Kovalenko misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko misses with a wild body shot.
Schmuckatelli misses with a looping left.
Joe Schmuckatelli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schmuckatelli will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kovalenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Schmuckatelli ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Schmuckatelli misses with a double jab
and Kovalenko counters with a left and a right that stings Schmuckatelli.
Schmuckatelli defending well as Kovalenko loads up on a big left hand.
Decent striking displayed by Kovalenko there.
Schmuckatelli throws a combination that misses
and Kovalenko makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kovalenko throws a hook but Schmuckatelli blocks it.
A telegraphed right hand from Schmuckatelli misses the target.
Schmuckatelli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kovalenko.
Schmuckatelli falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kovalenko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmuckatelli throws a jab when Kovalenko was well out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalenko lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Schmuckatelli throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kovalenko.
Schmuckatelli takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kovalenko scores with a nice head shot.
Schmuckatelli uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kovalenko.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovalenko looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kovalenko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Schmuckatelli.
Kovalenko misses with the combination.
Kovalenko smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Schmuckatelli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab.
Kovalenko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schmuckatelli moves into range and clinches up with Kovalenko.
Kovalenko blocks a body shot from Schmuckatelli.
Schmuckatelli looking for a takedown.
Kovalenko is trying to force a seperation but Schmuckatelli has the dominant position.
Schmuckatelli is looking for a takedown.
Nikolai Kovalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Schmuckatelli.
Schmuckatelli drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kovalenko pulls his leg out and moves away.
Schmuckatelli scores with a jab. Kovalenko acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kovalenko throws a low kick but Schmuckatelli avoids it.
Schmuckatelli takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Schmuckatelli connects with a leg kick. Kovalenko looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko throws a jab when Schmuckatelli was well out of range.
Schmuckatelli looks to land a combination but Kovalenko avoids it well.
Schmuckatelli throws a lazy right hand but Kovalenko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kovalenko checks a leg kick.
Schmuckatelli slips a straight right by Kovalenko.
Schmuckatelli is looking to clinch but Kovalenko is avoiding it.
Kovalenko loads up on a big right hand but Schmuckatelli slips the punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schmuckatelli shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kovalenko as he avoids it easily.
Schmuckatelli throws a head kick but Kovalenko moves out of range.
Kovalenko misses with a straight left.
Schmuckatelli displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kovalenko throws out the jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schmuckatelli tries to bum rush Kovalenko with a series of wild strikes but Kovalenko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Schmuckatelli fails to land the takedown.
Some wild striking there from Kovalenko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kovalenko dominated that round.
That's time! Kovalenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kovalenko throws a shot from downtown. Schmuckatelli moves away and avoids it.
Nice takedown defense from Kovalenko. No joy for Schmuckatelli on that attempt.
Kovalenko checks a leg kick.
Schmuckatelli fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Joe Schmuckatelli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovalenko buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Schmuckatelli as he connects with a hook.
Good shot there by Kovalenko.
Schmuckatelli rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kovalenko counters with a nice uppercut.
Schmuckatelli throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
No joy there for Schmuckatelli, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
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!
Kovalenko throws a nice outside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Schmuckatelli throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Schmuckatelli takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kovalenko throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmuckatelli slips a jab from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Schmuckatelli throws a combination that misses
letting Kovalenko counter with a right hand.
Schmuckatelli shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kovalenko but Kovalenko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Schmuckatelli pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Schmuckatelli throws a hook to the side of Kovalenko's head but Kovalenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Schmuckatelli throws an overhand right that lands on Kovalenko's shoulder, as Kovalenko tries to avoid the shot.
Kovalenko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Schmuckatelli tries to clinch but Kovalenko is having none of it.
Kovalenko with a nice cross.
Schmuckatelli swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kovalenko counters with an inside leg kick.
Schmuckatelli takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Schmuckatelli fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Schmuckatelli tries to clinch up
and Kovalenko counters with a slapping leg kick.
Schmuckatelli tries to work over Kovalenko's front leg with a kick but Kovalenko checks it.
Kovalenko lands a glancing blow to the side of Schmuckatelli's head.
Kovalenko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Schmuckatelli.
Schmuckatelli wants to clinch up but Kovalenko keeps it at a distance.
Nikolai Kovalenko is winning the standup battle so far.

Schmuckatelli clinches.
Schmuckatelli looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kovalenko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Schmuckatelli has him pressed against the cage.
Kovalenko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kovalenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Schmuckatelli 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 Schmuckatelli.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmuckatelli pushes off an throws an elbow but Kovalenko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kovalenko tries to break the clinch but Schmuckatelli is controlling the position.
Schmuckatelli misses with a knee strike.
Kovalenko working hard to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Kovalenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kovalenko is trying to break the clinch but Schmuckatelli is controlling him.
Schmuckatelli gets through Kovalenko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Schmuckatelli fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Schmuckatelli misses with an elbow over the top.
Kovalenko avoids a wild elbow strike from Schmuckatelli.
Schmuckatelli missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmuckatelli pushes off an throws an elbow but Kovalenko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Schmuckatelli lands an elbow inside.
Schmuckatelli throws a knee to the head but misses.
Schmuckatelli misses with an elbow over the top.
Schmuckatelli working aggressively here.
Schmuckatelli tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Schmuckatelli lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Schmuckatelli just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kovalenko's brow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Schmuckatelli throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Schmuckatelli lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kovalenko or not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kovalenko dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Schmuckatelli uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kovalenko.
Jab from Kovalenko.
A telegraphed right hand from Schmuckatelli misses the target.
Kovalenko throws a big shot that misses.
A slow jab from Kovalenko misses its intended target.
Schmuckatelli moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kovalenko gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Schmuckatelli.
Schmuckatelli misses with a double jab.
Schmuckatelli swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Schmuckatelli takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Schmuckatelli tries to clinch but Kovalenko moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Kovalenko misses the target.
Schmuckatelli walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kovalenko checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Schmuckatelli swinging wildly here.
Kovalenko misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kovalenko moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kovalenko displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Schmuckatelli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kovalenko moves away.
Kovalenko connects with a right hand. Schmuckatelli shakes it off.
Schmuckatelli blocks a jab.
Kovalenko works the jab nicely.
Kovalenko throws a body kick that misses.
Schmuckatelli chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Schmuckatelli throws the left hand but Kovalenko avoids the punch easily.
Kovalenko lands a really nice looking cross but Schmuckatelli seems unphased.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Schmuckatelli tries to clinch but Kovalenko is having none of it.
Kovalenko swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmuckatelli takes a shot to the body in his stride.
No joy there for Kovalenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Schmuckatelli uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kovalenko.
Schmuckatelli thows a body shot but no joy.
Schmuckatelli throws a lazy right hand but Kovalenko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kovalenko lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Schmuckatelli just misses with a punch to the body.
Kovalenko checks a low kick from Schmuckatelli.
Schmuckatelli is looking to clinch.
Schmuckatelli throws a leg kick
and Kovalenko counters with a nice body kick.
Kovalenko throws a quick inside leg kick.
Schmuckatelli motions for Kovalenko to come forward. Schmuckatelli throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko lands with a kick to the ribs.
Schmuckatelli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kovalenko avoids the head kick by Schmuckatelli.
Schmuckatelli looks to land a right hand but Kovalenko moved out of range.
Kovalenko darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kovalenko scores with a body shot.
Kovalenko takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Schmuckatelli closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kovalenko lands with a nice combination. Schmuckatelli backs away looking to recover.
Schmuckatelli tries to clinch but Kovalenko moves out of range.
Kovalenko feints and then cracks Schmuckatelli's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Schmuckatelli down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Schmuckatelli throws a jab but it's blocked by Kovalenko.
Schmuckatelli takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kovalenko fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kovalenko.
Schmuckatelli throws a jab when Kovalenko was well out of range.
The fighters circling - Kovalenko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Joe Schmuckatelli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Schmuckatelli tries to clinch but Kovalenko moves out of range.
Schmuckatelli chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kovalenko can pounce on him.
Kovalenko throws a leg kick
and Schmuckatelli counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kovalenko swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Schmuckatelli.
The fighters circling - Kovalenko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Schmuckatelli has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Schmuckatelli takes a swing at Kovalenko's ribcage but misses.
Schmuckatelli takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Schmuckatelli's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kovalenko connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kovalenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Schmuckatelli.
Nikolai Kovalenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Schmuckatelli fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kovalenko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Kovalenko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kovalenko, 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Kovalenko!
Nikolai Kovalenko really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Russian Top Team Nutrition logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.