PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mack Ua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valentin Shovkovskyj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valentin Shovkovskyj has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ua
vs
Shovkovskyj

190 cm
29
200 lbs
3 - 10 - 0

180 cm
24
195 lbs
6 - 10 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 3 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mack Ua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Valentin Shovkovskyj!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shovkovskyj feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ua is adopting a defensive guard.

Shovkovskyj drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shovkovskyj jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shovkovskyj preventing the sweep.
Shovkovskyj trying to control but Ua is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shovkovskyj postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Shovkovskyj drops back looking for a leg! Ua is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ua manages to kick Shovkovskyj off! Shovkovskyj jumps back into Ua's guard.
Ua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shovkovskyj connects with a couple of short punches.
Ua is trying to control the position but Shovkovskyj postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ua holds on and takes a little breather.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Shovkovskyj thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Shovkovskyj trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ua gets a clinch.

Shovkovskyj gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Shovkovskyj being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shovkovskyj trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Shovkovskyj drops back looking for a leg! Ua is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ua manages to kick Shovkovskyj off! Shovkovskyj jumps back into Ua's guard.
Shovkovskyj passes Ua's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ua knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shovkovskyj on the ground.
Ua tries to get to full guard but Shovkovskyj has control of the leg.
Shovkovskyj trying to control the action but Ua is working from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shovkovskyj is looking for a kimura but Ua is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shovkovskyj to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ua is looking to improve his position.
Shovkovskyj blocks the strikes from Ua.

Shovkovskyj seems to be looking for submissions.
Ua tries to get to full guard but Shovkovskyj has control of the leg.
Ua controlling the position well.

Shovkovskyj is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ua defends it well.

Shovkovskyj is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four 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.
Ua flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Shovkovskyj is looking for a kimura here.

Shovkovskyj is looking for a kimura but Ua is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shovkovskyj to get the leverage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shovkovskyj is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ua controlling the position well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Shovkovskyj dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ua fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shovkovskyj, pushing him back against the cage.

Shovkovskyj drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ua stands up over Shovkovskyj, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ua trying to control the position from guard on top but Shovkovskyj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ua throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ua postures up.
Shovkovskyj trying to control the position here.
Shovkovskyj trying to keep a closed guard but Ua is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ua throws an elbow that misses. Shovkovskyj uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ua's guard. Nice move by Shovkovskyj!

Ua not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ua wants to sweep here but Shovkovskyj controlling him for the moment.
Ua wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ua seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Shovkovskyj looking to pass the guard.
Shovkovskyj throwing strikes but missing.

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.

Shovkovskyj drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ua dives on top into guard.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Shovkovskyj holds on and takes a little breather.
Ua chips away with some ground and pound.
Ua working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shovkovskyj working a defensive guard here.
Ua trying to control the position from guard on top but Shovkovskyj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ua throwing strikes but missing.
Shovkovskyj avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ua's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shovkovskyj has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ua working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shovkovskyj preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shovkovskyj has control of Ua's left arm, preventing Ua from doing any damage.
Shovkovskyj not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shovkovskyj has Ua pulled in close to control his posture.
Ua connects with a couple of short punches.
Ua is in close to Shovkovskyj's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ua working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ua throws an elbow that misses. Shovkovskyj uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ua's guard. Nice move by Shovkovskyj!

Ua pulls Shovkovskyj in close to his closed guard and prevents Shovkovskyj from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shovkovskyj thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ua controlling the position.
Ua preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shovkovskyj slips nicely into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shovkovskyj is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Ua is defending against the submission attempts here by Shovkovskyj.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mack Ua dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ua forces Shovkovskyj back against the cage and clinches.

Shovkovskyj gets control of Ua's arms and successfully pulls guard. Shovkovskyj will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ua is looking to advance position but Shovkovskyj has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Ua tries to improve his position but Shovkovskyj has taken his back! Shovkovskyj has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Ua tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Shovkovskyj pushes Ua away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Valentin Shovkovskyj!
An out of breath Valentin Shovkovskyj thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.