PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josias Ribeiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koslov Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Josias Ribeiro has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ribeiro
vs
Kovalenko

186 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

181 cm
25
216 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josias Ribeiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Koslov Kovalenko!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Lou da Vinci and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Kovalenko misses its intended target.

Kovalenko gets a clinch.
A short left from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kovalenko softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ribeiro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kovalenko has him pressed against the cage.
Kovalenko effectively controlling the action here.

Kovalenko turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Kovalenko misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kovalenko is working Ribeiro over with some ground and pound from side control.
Ribeiro struggling a bit here.
Kovalenko 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.
Kovalenko working the ground and pound but Ribeiro is defending the strikes.
Ribeiro is looking for a sweep.
Ribeiro can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Ribeiro is trying to get back to half guard.

Ribeiro bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Kovalenko connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ribeiro's hands.
Kovalenko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've been told by Ribeiro's head coaches at Elite Strikers that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Kovalenko gets a clinch.

Kovalenko has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ribeiro regains guard immediately.
Kovalenko throws a big elbow that misses.
Kovalenko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ribeiro wants to get back to his feet but Kovalenko passes into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko working over Ribeiro with some ground and pound. Ribeiro looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kovalenko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ribeiro looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kovalenko slips a nice elbow through Ribeiro's hands, connecting with Ribeiro's forehead.
Ribeiro wants to improve his position but Kovalenko is controlling well.
Kovalenko throwing shots but Ribeiro is blocking nicely.
Kovalenko is nestled in close to Ribeiro, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kovalenko drops an elbow to the side of Ribeiro's head.
Ribeiro is trying to control but can't.
Kovalenko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ribeiro's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kovalenko scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kovalenko lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kovalenko looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kovalenko lands with a punch from half guard.
Kovalenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kovalenko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kovalenko seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ribeiro pushes Kovalenko off looking to stand but Kovalenko dives back in and keeps control.
Kovalenko performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kovalenko drives through and clinches with Ribeiro against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Kovalenko scores with a nice short uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Kovalenko scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kovalenko lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short left from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Kovalenko scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kovalenko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short right from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko can't get the takedown.
Kovalenko is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ribeiro gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kovalenko makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kovalenko has Ribeiro pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ribeiro manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Josias Ribeiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Koslov Kovalenko.
Ribeiro is looking to break free of the clinch but Kovalenko has double underhooks.
Ribeiro can't break the clinch.
Kovalenko makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kovalenko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kovalenko scores with a shoulder strike.
Kovalenko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koslov Kovalenko dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kovalenko darts in and clinches Ribeiro up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kovalenko creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Kovalenko lands a takedown into guard.
Ribeiro keeping moving, preventing Kovalenko from controlling successfully.
Kovalenko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ribeiro's head.
Kovalenko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ribeiro's head.
Kovalenko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ribeiro is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ribeiro working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kovalenko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kovalenko works over Ribeiro with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kovalenko throwing strikes from guard but Ribeiro blocks nicely.
Kovalenko is working Ribeiro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kovalenko not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ribeiro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kovalenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Kovalenko drives through and clinches with Ribeiro against the cage.
Kovalenko lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kovalenko lands with a light punch inside.
Kovalenko scores with a shot to the side of Ribeiro's head.
Kovalenko lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ribeiro backwards.

Kovalenko has clasped his hands together around Ribeiro's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Kovalenko crashes against the mat.
Kovalenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kovalenko landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovalenko passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Ribeiro!
Ribeiro tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ribeiro is in a horrible position here. Kovalenko smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kovalenko raining down shots from the mount!
Koslov Kovalenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kovalenko unloading with bombs!
Kovalenko cracks Ribeiro with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ribeiro is desperately trying to improve his position but Kovalenko has a good base and remains in mount.
Kovalenko in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kovalenko raining down shots from the mount!
Kovalenko lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko with shots to the head and body - Ribeiro looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kovalenko scoring with strikes but Ribeiro is staying in there.
Ribeiro working to try and regain half guard.
Kovalenko scoring with strikes but Ribeiro is staying in there.
The referee warns Ribeiro that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kovalenko scoring with strikes but Ribeiro is staying in there.
Kovalenko landing strikes from the mount.
A nice elbow there by Kovalenko.
Ribeiro is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ribeiro is bucking up trying to escape but Kovalenko cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kovalenko with good strikes from the mount here!
Kovalenko raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kovalenko punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kovalenko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kovalenko working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kovalenko lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Kovalenko lands a nice shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ribeiro is trying to escape the mount.
Ribeiro tries to hold on but Kovalenko postures up.
Kovalenko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ribeiro can't escape the position.
Kovalenko lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koslov Kovalenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kovalenko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Kovalenko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Koslov Kovalenko seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kovalenko lands a hook that snaps the head of Ribeiro backwards.
Kovalenko has Ribeiro pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ribeiro manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kovalenko has Ribeiro pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ribeiro manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Josias Ribeiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Koslov Kovalenko.
Kovalenko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short left from Kovalenko.
Ribeiro prevents the takedown attempt.
Kovalenko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kovalenko lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kovalenko lands with a right to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalenko lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kovalenko wants to take the fight to the mat but Ribeiro manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kovalenko changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ribeiro fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ribeiro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ribeiro misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko slips a straight right by Ribeiro.
Nice defenses there by Kovalenko.
Ribeiro throws a series of punches but Kovalenko moves out of range.
Ribeiro keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Kovalenko drives through with a takedown into Ribeiro's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kovalenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ribeiro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kovalenko lands a couple of digs.
Ribeiro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kovalenko trying to control but Ribeiro is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kovalenko wants to control from the top but Ribeiro keeps moving.
Kovalenko sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ribeiro working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kovalenko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kovalenko lands with a right to the head.
Kovalenko lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ribeiro stops a takedown attempt from Kovalenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko just leaning against Ribeiro, taking a breather.
Ribeiro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kovalenko lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ribeiro wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kovalenko lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kovalenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ribeiro pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kovalenko fails to land the takedown.
Ribeiro throws a lazy right hand but Kovalenko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kovalenko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ribeiro.

Kovalenko clinches.
Ribeiro is trying to break the clinch but Kovalenko has him pressed against the cage.

Kovalenko gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ribeiro regains guard.
Ribeiro is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kovalenko is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is trying to keep Kovalenko in close.
Kovalenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ribeiro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kovalenko working some strikes from top position.
Kovalenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kovalenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Josias Ribeiro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ribeiro trying to keep a closed guard but Kovalenko is proving a slippery customer.
Kovalenko distracts Ribeiro with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kovalenko fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ribeiro to the ground. Kovalenko is now in Ribeiro's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovalenko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Koslov Kovalenko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Ribeiro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kovalenko defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Koslov Kovalenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kovalenko winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Koslov Kovalenko!