PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charles Barkley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Walter Kovacs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Barkley
vs
Kovacs

200 cm
43
184 lbs
31 - 19 - 0

215 cm
50
193 lbs
30 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Charles Barkley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Walter Kovacs!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barkley connects with a body shot that sends Kovacs's belly button to the back.

Barkley rushes Kovacs and presses him up against the ropes.
Kovacs wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kovacs's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Kovacs breaks the clinch.
Barkley changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kovacs on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Kovacs gets tackled into the ropes by Barkley. Barkley maintains the clinch.

Barkley has clasped his hands together around Kovacs's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Barkley has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Kovacs wants to clinch.
Kovacs has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Barkley finds it's way round the side to connect with Kovacs's head.
Kovacs wants to clinch.

Barkley closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barkley has clasped his hands together around Kovacs's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Barkley controls the position.
Barkley lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kovacs wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kovacs being controlled for a moment.
Barkley's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs is not content to let Barkley control the position.
Kovacs is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Barkley asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
We've been hearing good reports from Barkley's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kovacs is working to avoid the ground and pound but Barkley connects with a decent elbow.

Barkley working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Barkley is looking to take a break and control but Kovacs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barkley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kovacs is pushing Barkley's head away, looking to escape. Barkley manages to hold on to the position though.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kovacs looks to land a combination but Barkley avoids it well.

Barkley closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Barkley - that landed with a thud.
Barkley lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kovacs backwards.
Kovacs is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Barkley lands a nice shot to the body.
Barkley lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kovacs looks winded!
Barkley lands a nice uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Barkley.
A shot in the inside from Barkley.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Barkley wants a takedown but no success here.
Barkley works on Kovacs's body with a couple of short punches.

Barkley has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Kovacs clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Barkley scores with punches and elbows.
Kovacs trying to get back to his feet but Barkley is in full control for now.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Barkley has Kovacs flattened out and is raining down punches.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Barkley is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Kovacs is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Barkley controls the position.
A lull in the action here.
Kovacs trying to get back to his feet but Barkley is in full control for now.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs trying to control but not successfully.
Barkley has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Kovacs's body.
Kovacs is trying to stand back up.
Kovacs is covering up but some of the strikes from Barkley are getting through and doing damage.
Kovacs is trying to get back to his feet but Barkley has full control of the position and if anything, Kovacs has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's eight 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.
Kovacs is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Kovacs is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Barkley off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Barkley scores with punches from the back.

Barkley patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Kovacs is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Kovacs is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Barkley.
Barkley has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs prevents Barkley from getting a body triangle.
Kovacs is trying to stand back up.
Barkley trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Kovacs is trying to get back to his feet but Barkley has full control of the position and if anything, Kovacs has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Kovacs is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kovacs trying to get back to his feet but Barkley is in full control for now.
Barkley controlling the position well here. Kovacs rolled but Barkley kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Barkley dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barkley closes the distance and clinches.
Barkley lands a hook to the side of the head.
A frustrated look appears on Kovacs's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barkley lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kovacs looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Barkley lands a body shot.

Barkley lands a takedown into guard.
Kovacs wants to get back to his feet but Barkley passes into half guard.

Barkley sitting and controlling from the half guard.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Barkley.
Kovacs tries to kick Barkley off but Barkley keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley not doing much here.
Kovacs is looking to control Barkley's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kovacs avoid being mounted?
Barkley prevents Kovacs from improving his position.
Barkley is looking to advance position but Kovacs won't allow it.
Barkley is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kovacs wants to get back to his feet.
Kovacs tries to kick Barkley off in order to stand up. Barkley Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Kovacs trying to remain calm as Barkley controls from the top position.
Barkley is chipping away with strikes.
Barkley prevents Kovacs from escaping the position.
Barkley landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barkley wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barkley looks up at the clock and then as Kovacs takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Barkley smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Barkley landing strikes.
Barkley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kovacs keeps working.
Kovacs tries to escape but Barkley is in control.
Kovacs is breathing heavily.
Barkley working the ground and pound.
Barkley scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kovacs to see if he's OK.
Barkley controls the position.
Barkley continues to hold on tight.
Barkley working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkley controls the position.
Kovacs is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Barkley has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Kovacs wants to control but Barkley postures up.
You can see the frustration on Kovacs's face as Barkley controls the position.
Barkley trying to control the position but Kovacs is working away.
Barkley looks up at the clock and then as Kovacs takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Barkley smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Kovacs is trying to get back to half guard.
Kovacs is not content to let Barkley control the position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kovacs misses with the combination.

Kovacs tries to keep at a distance but Barkley has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barkley scores with a shot to the side of Kovacs's head.
Charles Barkley has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kovacs tries to pull guard but Barkley holds him up against the ropes and eventually Kovacs drops back down to his feet.
Kovacs working hard to break the clinch.

Barkley gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kovacs tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Barkley manages to move to mount!
Charles Barkley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barkley lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Barkley content just to control the position here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovacs throwing hammer fists to the chest of Barkley. What's that going to do exactly?
Barkley unloading with bombs!
The referee warns Kovacs that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Kovacs is rocked!
Barkley content just to control the position here.
Kovacs is still in real trouble! Can Barkley finish him?
Barkley connects with a bit shot that sees Kovacs covering up! More strikes from Barkley and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Barkley is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Charles Barkley!
Charles Barkley spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.