PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Abrodolf Lincler (ranked 5383 p4p, 485 weight class) and Kobe Covington (ranked 5863 p4p, 508 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Lincler
vs
Covington

187 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

183 cm
26
177 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Abrodolf Lincler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kobe Covington!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lincler misses with a combination

and Covington holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Covington is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lincler is defending well.

Covington gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Lincler is looking to improve his position.
Covington working over Lincler with some ground and pound. Lincler looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lincler keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Covington controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Covington stalling away here and it's allowed Lincler to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Lincler being controlled here, momentarily.
Covington postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Covington is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lincler trying to control the position.
Covington pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lincler is keeping the position for now.
Lincler is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Covington is stalling in the full guard.
Lincler is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.
Lincler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Covington swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lincler cracks a nice hook into Covington's ribs.
Lincler throws a looping overhand right but Covington ducks down to avoid it.

Covington gets the takedown into side control.
Covington wants to stand but Lincler is controlling his arm.
Lincler manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Lincler tries to stand but can't do so whilst Covington controls his leg.
Covington is trying to control but can't.
Covington won't allow Lincler to pass to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Covington can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lincler controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lincler wants to stand up but Covington is controlling the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lincler is thwarting Covington's attempts to control the position.
Lincler trying to control the action but Covington is working from the bottom.
Lincler stops Covington from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Covington manages to get to full guard.

Covington looking for a guillotine here but Lincler defends easily.
Lincler wants to control from the top but Covington keeps moving.
Covington keeping full guard, as Lincler tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lincler trying to control but Covington is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Abrodolf Lincler will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lincler throws an overhand right that lands on Covington's shoulder, as Covington tries to avoid the shot.
Lincler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Lincler misses.
Abrodolf Lincler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lincler throws an off balance right hand
and Covington counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Covington drives through and clinches with Lincler against the ropes.

Covington has clasped his hands together around Lincler's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Covington tries to stand but Lincler is controlling his head.
Covington wants to control but Lincler is keeping him busy.
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.
Lincler wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Covington lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Lincler struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobe Covington has got the better of the ground game so far.
Covington wants to stand but Lincler has his arm trapped.
Covington content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Lincler is looking to reverse the position.
Check out the look on Covington's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Covington is staying tight to Lincler's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Covington working away.

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.
Covington lands some shots froms side control.
Lincler is trying to control Covington's posture but Covington avoids it.
Lincler manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Covington has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lincler wants to control but Covington is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Covington is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lincler is just riding it out for now. Covington eventually gives up the hold.
Lincler wants to control but Covington is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Covington tries to stand and escape but Lincler is controlling the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Lincler wants to control but Covington is keeping busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A telegraphed right hand from Lincler misses the target.
Lincler sets himself, and Covington steps forward looking for the clinch! Lincler avoids it this time.
Some wild striking there from Lincler.
Lincler swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lincler scores with a nice head shot.

Covington closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ground and pound from Covington.
Covington trying to mount his opponent but Lincler defends it.
Covington works his foot free and advances to mount.

Covington is working for a guillotine from mount but Lincler frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lincler keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Lincler looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Covington working Lincler over with strikes here.
Lincler is working to get back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Covington looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Covington takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Covington 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 hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lincler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lincler displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Covington.
Lincler stuffs the takedown.
Sloppy strikes from Lincler. Those never looked like landing.
Covington avoids the body shot from Lincler.
Covington slips a jab and a cross from Lincler.
Covington unleashes a big counter combination but Lincler bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Covington shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lincler's guard.
Covington keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lincler's head.
Covington trying to control the position from guard on top but Lincler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lincler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lincler is trying to hold Covington in close to prevent damage but Covington has managed to pass into half guard.

Covington is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lincler doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Covington.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lincler gets back to full guard.
Lincler wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Covington is now in half guard.
Covington is taking a breather. Lincler says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lincler wants to control but Covington is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lincler tries to roll over but Covington keeps him under control.
Covington wants to stand up but Lincler has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Lincler is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Covington jumps into side control!
Covington tries to move into full mount but can't pass Lincler's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Covington seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The referee asks Covington politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Covington prefers to stall for the moment though.
Lincler is not content to let Covington control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Covington working the head and body with strikes.
Lincler can't do much from the bottom here.
Lincler tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Covington takes a little break here. Lincler wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Covington closes the distance and clinches up with Lincler, looking for a takedown. Covington pushes Lincler against the ropes but Lincler circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Abrodolf Lincler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kobe Covington.

Covington closes the distance and clinches.

Covington breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lincler throws a head kick that misses

and Covington counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Covington.
Covington is looking to take this one to the mat.

Lincler is fighting off a takedown attempt but Covington is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Lincler to the mat. Lincler regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Lincler is wriggling around but Covington manages to pass to half guard.
Covington takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Covington wants to take a breather but Lincler is having none of it.
Lincler is trying to control but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kobe Covington comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Covington has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kobe Covington!