PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Aguiar (ranked 3906 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Kovalev (ranked 7312 p4p, 286 weight class). Paulo Aguiar has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aguiar
vs
Kovalev

161 cm
26
140 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

150 cm
24
135 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Aguiar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Kovalev!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kovalev.
Kovalev looks to clinch

and Aguiar counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Aguiar.
Aguiar controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kovalev thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalev wants to control the position but Aguiar says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Aguiar looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kovalev with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Aguiar controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev has hold of Aguiar's hands but Aguiar slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Aguiar lands strikes from half guard.
Aguiar working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kovalev 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.
Kovalev is trying to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Aguiar.
Kovalev wants to control the action here but instead Aguiar manages to pass to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aguiar content just to control the position here.
Aguiar lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Aguiar landing strikes from the mount.
Kovalev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Aguiar lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Aguiar landing punches.

Kovalev is rocked!
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!
The referee warns Kovalev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kovalev is still in real trouble! Can Aguiar finish him?
Aguiar looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aguiar is landing with some decent strikes but Kovalev is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Aguiar tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kovalev takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Aguiar's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Paulo Aguiar!
Paulo Aguiar decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.