PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between George Bolt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Kovalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). George Bolt has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Bolt
vs
Kovalov

185 cm
23
183 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
196 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, George Bolt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Kovalov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bolt avoids the body shot from Kovalov.
Bolt fails with the takedown.

Bolt feints and as Kovalov raises his hands in defense, Bolt changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bolt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bolt is looking to work some ground and pound but Kovalov has wrist control.
Bolt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bolt tries to free his leg and advance position but Kovalov is retaining full guard.
Bolt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bolt postures up.
Kovalov keeping full guard, as Bolt tries to pass.
Bolt is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kovalov punishes Bolt's body with a nice straight punch.
Kovalov throws a sloppy head kick and Bolt moves out of range easily.

Kovalov moves into the clinch.
Kovalov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Kovalov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kovalov misses the shot to the body.
Kovalov misses with a body kick.
Bolt shoots in but Kovalov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kovalov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Bolt looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Bolt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bolt is breathing heavily.
Kovalov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bolt.
Kovalov scores with a body shot.
Kovalov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kovalov with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from Kovalov does no damage.
Kovalov throws a series of strikes that have Bolt backpedaling.
Bolt shoots in but Kovalov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kovalov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bolt takes one to the side of the head.
Kovalov swinging wilding here.
Kovalov looks to land a body kick but Bolt moved away.
Kovalov cracks Bolt with a good jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bolt.
Kovalov works Bolt's body with a nice hook.
Kovalov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bolt takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kovalov lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Bolt sprawling to the canvas. Kovalov follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Bolt hang on?

Bolt is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovalov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kovalov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bolt with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bolt is not content to let Kovalov control the position.
Kovalov winds up and cracks Bolt with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov lands with a punch from half guard.
Kovalov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bolt keeps working.
Bolt is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kovalov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kovalov winds up and cracks Bolt with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nice strikes from Kovalov there.
Kovalov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kovalov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bolt on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kovalov lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bolt on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Horrible takedown by Bolt or perhaps it was just good defense by Kovalov which made him look bad.
Kovalov stalks Bolt and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bolt's face. Bolt staggers backwards, shaken.
Kovalov throws a right hand that Bolt ducks under and follows up with a left that Bolt also avoids with ease.
Kovalov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kovalov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kovalov just misses with a punch to the body.
Bolt blocks a head kick by Kovalov.
Kovalov throws a head kick but Bolt moves out of range.
Kovalov lands with a nice body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kovalov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Danga de danga de dang - Kovalov scores with a four punch combination!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovalov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Kovalov there.

Kovalov closes the distance and clinches.
Kovalov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kovalov breaks the clinch.
Kovalov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bolt.
Kovalov tries a head kick but it misses.
Kovalov swinging wilding here.
Kovalov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bolt moves forwards but Kovalov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Bolt shoots in for a double leg but Kovalov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kovalov throws a shot to the body.
Nice shot by Kovalov.
Kovalov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kovalov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kovalov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Some wild striking there from Kovalov.
Kovalov scores with a kick to the body.

Kovalov moves into the clinch.

Kovalov breaks the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Kovalov.
Kovalov looks to land a combination but Bolt avoids it well.
Kovalov lands a nice shot to the body.
Kovalov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov scores with a hook.
Kovalov scores with a one two! Bolt had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
George Bolt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovalov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kovalov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bolt was well out of range. Poor timing from Kovalov.

Kovalov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bolt!
Bolt tries to reverse the position but Kovalov maintains control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kovalov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kovalov landing strikes, looking to finish!
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!
A nice elbow there by Kovalov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kovalov is landing with some decent strikes but Bolt is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Bolt in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kovalov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Bolt really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kovalov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kovalov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kovalov with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Kovalov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bolt avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kovalov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bolt tries for a takedown but Kovalov circles away easily

and Kovalov counters with a left and a right that hurts Bolt! He wobbles and falls to the floor - he's in big trouble! Kovalov jumps into full mount!
Oh Bolt is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kovalov landing strikes from the mount.
Bolt is bucking up trying to escape but Kovalov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Bolt seems to have got his legs back now.
Kovalov breaks from Bolt's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kovalov landing shots from mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kovalov with the ground and pound from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovalov with good strikes from the mount here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalov unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Bolt wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Kovalov celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Antonio Kovalov!