PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Kovalev (ranked 4221 p4p, 3823 weight class) and Hammed Morgan (ranked 519 p4p, 0 weight class). Kovalev's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Daft punk get lucky . Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kovalev
vs
Morgan

195 cm
24
200
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
24
265
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jason Kovalev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hammed Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Kovalev misses
and Morgan counters with a nice uppercut.
Kovalev tries to bum rush Morgan with a series of wild strikes but Morgan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
It seemed like Morgan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kovalev throws a left and a right that both miss
and Morgan counters with a straight right hand.
Kovalev swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Morgan counters with a nice uppercut.
Kovalev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Morgan to counter with a crisp jab.
Kovalev throws a leg kick but Morgan sees it coming and moves out of range.
Morgan throws out a counter right but Kovalev avoids it with no problem.
Kovalev wants to clinch but Morgan slips to the side
and Morgan counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Morgan!
Kovalev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kovalev misses with a right hand
and Morgan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovalev misses with a hook
and Kovalev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev tries to clinch up
and Morgan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Morgan manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Kovalev does no damage.
Kovalev tries to score with a low kick but Morgan moves his leg out of the way.
Jason Kovalev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kovalev has managed to clinch.
Morgan stops a takedown attempt from Kovalev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Morgan breaks from the clinch.
Kovalev misses with a combination
and Morgan counters with a nice uppercut.
Morgan lands a jab.
Morgan slips a jab and a cross from Kovalev.
Morgan blocks a leg kick.
Kovalev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Morgan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Morgan might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalev tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Morgan counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morgan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morgan with a hook.
Kovalev misses with a right hand
letting Morgan counter with a right hand.
Morgan dips to his left and cracks Kovalev with an uppercut!
Kovalev swings widly with a right hand
and Morgan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hammed Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovalev throws a combination that misses
and Morgan counters with a nice uppercut.
Morgan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Morgan throws the left hand but Kovalev avoids the punch easily.
Morgan misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev misses with a double jab
letting Morgan counter with a right hand.
Kovalev throws a combination that misses
and Morgan counters with a stiff right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovalev misses with a right hand
and Morgan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kovalev takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kovalev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Morgan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kovalev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Morgan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Morgan thuds a left hand into Kovalev's body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hammed Morgan dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Morgan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kovalev.
Kovalev misses with a body punch
and Morgan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Morgan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kovalev on the side of the head.
Kovalev looks to clinch
and Morgan counters with a nice uppercut.
Kovalev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Morgan counters with a nice uppercut.
Kovalev throws a nice looking combination but Morgan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Morgan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalev misses with a double jab
and Morgan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kovalev throws a head kick that Morgan semi-blocks.

It looks like Hammed Morgan has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Morgan counters with a straight right hand.
Morgan misses with a right hand
and Kovalev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kovalev throws a head kick that misses
letting Morgan counter with a right hand.
Morgan checks a low kick from Kovalev.
Kovalev looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Morgan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kovalev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Morgan, as that shot connected.
Kovalev tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Morgan counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Morgan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Morgan throws a combination. Kovalev tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Morgan lands with a nice body punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovalev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Morgan counters with a nice uppercut.
Morgan connects with a looping right hand.
Kovalev gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Morgan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev tries to clinch up.
Kovalev misses with a leg kick
and Morgan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Kovalev is rocked!
Kovalev walks straight into a right hand from Morgan - that's dropped him! Morgan jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Kovalev from any more punishment! Kovalev complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Hammed Morgan!
Hammed Morgan was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
Jason Kovalev was interviewed post fight and said 'He was the better man'.