PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Koslov Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stare Bengal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stare Bengal has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kovalenko
vs
Bengal

181 cm
26
216 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

194 cm
21
217 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Koslov Kovalenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stare Bengal!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Franklyn Lucas and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bengal moves into the clinch.
Kovalenko is pushing Bengal up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Come on Kovalenko - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Bengal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bengal shoots and misses
and Kovalenko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kovalenko cracks Bengal with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kovalenko darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Bengal looks to score with a jab to the body but Kovalenko is just out of range.
Kovalenko appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nice defenses there by Bengal.
Bengal throws a series of punches but Kovalenko avoids them all with ease.
Kovalenko tries to counter with a takedown but Bengal is quick to defend against it.
Bengal looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bengal shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kovalenko as he jumps to the side.
Bengal tries for a takedown but Kovalenko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Koslov Kovalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stare Bengal.
Bengal shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kovalenko has been working on his balance at Lovelair Muay Thai/MMA, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Bengal.
Bengal thows a leg kick but Kovalenko checks it

and Kovalenko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kovalenko not doing much here.
Bengal trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kovalenko lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kovalenko controlling the action here.
Kovalenko is thwarting Bengal's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bengal wants to control but Kovalenko is keeping busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kovalenko in particular looking to stall.
Bengal trying to control but Kovalenko postures up.
Kovalenko controlling the action here.
Kovalenko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kovalenko could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko controlling the action here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bengal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kovalenko changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kovalenko lands with a straight right. Bengal didn't see that one coming.
Kovalenko lands with an uppercut that bounces Bengal off the cage and back into range.
Bengal falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kovalenko counters with a single leg into guard. Bengal didn't expect that.
Kovalenko advances position into side control!
Kovalenko is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bengal will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko working away.
Kovalenko controls the position.
Kovalenko throws a strike aimed at the side of Bengal's head but Bengal avoids it well.
Kovalenko controlling the position.
Kovalenko scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Bengal to see if he's OK.
Kovalenko controlling the position.
Bengal tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kovalenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kovalenko is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Bengal's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koslov Kovalenko dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kovalenko.
Kovalenko taking a breather here.
Kovalenko has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Kovalenko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalenko in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Bengal is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko grinds an elbow into Bengal's temple.
Kovalenko controlling the position.
Bengal is pushing Kovalenko's head away, looking to escape. Kovalenko manages to hold on to the position though.
Kovalenko in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Bengal seems a little lost for a moment, as Kovalenko dominates the positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bengal tries to buck Kovalenko off but Kovalenko is having none of it.
Kovalenko creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Bengal trying to remain calm as Kovalenko controls from the top position.
Bengal taking punishment in the form of punches.
Bengal struggling a bit here.
You can see the frustration on Bengal's face as Kovalenko controls the position.
Kovalenko advances to mount.
Kovalenko looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko lands a couple of good shots and Bengal has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Bengal wants to get back to his feet.
Kovalenko controlling from the back.
Kovalenko lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Kovalenko working for the choke.
Kovalenko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bengal can do to turn this around?
Bengal trying to control the hands but Kovalenko won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Kovalenko has Bengal flattened out and is raining down punches.
Kovalenko controlling the position well here. Bengal rolled but Kovalenko kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Kovalenko seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bengal for as long as he can get away with.
Kovalenko lands a shot to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bengal tries to escape the position.
Bengal breaks Kovalenko's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koslov Kovalenko dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Bengal dives in and grabs Kovalenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kovalenko pushes down on Bengal's head and hops out.
Kovalenko attempts a counter takedown but Bengal avoids it well and moves away.
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that Bengal avoids nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bengal is defended easily by Kovalenko.
Kovalenko feinted with a counter takedown.
Bengal has a takedown stuffed.
Koslov Kovalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stare Bengal.
Bengal misses with a takedown
and Kovalenko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalenko scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bengal in his tracks.
Bengal throws a lazy head kick
and Kovalenko counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bengal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head kick by Bengal misses

and Kovalenko counters with a single leg into guard. Bengal didn't expect that.

Bengal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute 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 passes into half guard.
Kovalenko content to control rather than advance.
Kovalenko'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.
Bengal tries to kick Kovalenko off but Kovalenko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two 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.
Kovalenko is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Further stalling from Kovalenko.
Koslov Kovalenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kovalenko continues to hold on tight.

Kovalenko is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bengal has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kovalenko working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko trying to control the pace.
Kovalenko continues to stall.
Kovalenko winds up and cracks Bengal with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Kovalenko there.
Bengal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kovalenko drops an elbow to the side of Bengal's head.
Kovalenko is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Kovalenko manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bengal on his heels. He'll look to pass Bengal's guard now, I'm sure.
Kovalenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kovalenko controlling from the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Koslov 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Koslov Kovalenko!
Stare Bengal was interviewed post fight and said 'poor wrestlers'.