PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eberhard Kovac (ranked 5210 p4p, 5733 weight class) and Bato Dela Rosa (ranked 0 p4p, 651 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Kovac
vs
Dela Rosa

186 cm
24
190
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
188
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eberhard Kovac!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bato Dela Rosa!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Daniel Franklin and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Dela Rosa or perhaps it was just good defense by Kovac, which made it look bad.
Dela Rosa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kovac shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dela Rosa pinned against the cage. Dela Rosa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kovac thuds his shin into the meat of Dela Rosa's side.
Kovac bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Dela Rosa's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovac will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dela Rosa tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kovac explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kovac fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eberhard Kovac. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kovac moves into the clinch.

Kovac has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dela Rosa uses from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovac is pulling down on Dela Rosa's head. It's preventing any offense from Dela Rosa, at least for the moment.

Kovac working for submissions but it's allowed Dela Rosa to get to half guard.
Dela Rosa winds up and cracks Kovac with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kovac wants to improve his position but Dela Rosa is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dela Rosa perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Dela Rosa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dela Rosa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovac makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kovac.
Dela Rosa being controlled here momentarily.
Dela Rosa chips away with some ground and pound.
Dela Rosa wants to stand but Kovac has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kovac pulls Dela Rosa in close to prevent any damage.
Kovac tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dela Rosa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kovac swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovac keeping moving, preventing Dela Rosa from controlling successfully.
Dela Rosa with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kovac scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Dela Rosa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kovac throws a big counter combination but Dela Rosa scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Kovac fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dela Rosa, pushing him back against the cage.
Kovac drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dela Rosa gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kovac jumps into guard, dragging Dela Rosa to the mat.
Dela Rosa trying to control but Kovac is working from the bottom.
Dela Rosa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dela Rosa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dela Rosa throws a big right hand that misses.
Kovac keeping moving, preventing Dela Rosa from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kovac wants to sweep here but Dela Rosa controlling him for the moment.
Dela Rosa scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dela Rosa shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dela Rosa showed some decent athleticism there.

Kovac makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Bato Dela Rosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dela Rosa tries for a takedown but Kovac sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Kovac closes the distance and clinches.
Kovac throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kovac tries to score a body lock takedown but Dela Rosa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kovac is pressed up against the cage. Dela Rosa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kovac down to the mat. Kovac avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kovac connects with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kovac shoots in looking for a takedown but Dela Rosa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kovac's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dela Rosa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kovac defends it nicely.
Eberhard Kovac has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bato Dela Rosa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovac works over Dela Rosa's head and body with a nice combination.
Some wild striking there from Kovac.

Dela Rosa tries to keep at a distance but Kovac has taken the fight into the clinch.

Dela Rosa is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Kovac can't fight it off and eventually Dela Rosa manages to take the fight to the floor. Kovac looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Kovac manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovac is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dela Rosa can do to turn this around?
Kovac tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dela Rosa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kovac pulls Dela Rosa into guard.
Dela Rosa trying to control but Kovac is working from the bottom.
Kovac pulls Dela Rosa in close to his closed guard and prevents Dela Rosa from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kovac is looking to stand up but Dela Rosa isn't so interested in that idea.

Dela Rosa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kovac has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dela Rosa has managed to get both his arms back between Kovac's legs - danger averted.
Kovac bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dela Rosa's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dela Rosa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kovac gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Kovac got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dela Rosa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kovac has managed to get both his arms back between Dela Rosa's legs - danger averted.
Dela Rosa looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Kovac drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dela Rosa dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dela Rosa postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kovac is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dela Rosa, into his guard.

Kovac controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kovac with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kovac stops Dela Rosa from standing up.

Kovac stands up from Dela Rosa's guard - Kovac perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eberhard Kovac dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Dela Rosa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dela Rosa stuffs the takedown attempt from Kovac. Kovac gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dela Rosa is defended easily by Kovac.
Dela Rosa fails with the takedown
and Kovac counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kovac or perhaps it was just good defense by Dela Rosa, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eberhard Kovac. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dela Rosa shoots in but no luck this time.
Dela Rosa takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Rosa has his takedown stuffed
and Kovac counters with a one-two to the body.
Dela Rosa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kovac gets a clinch.

Kovac breaks from the clinch.
Dela Rosa stuffs the takedown attempt from Kovac. Kovac gets slowly back to his feet.
Dela Rosa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Dela Rosa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kovac looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dela Rosa.
Kovac is looking to counter the offense by Dela Rosa and move into the clinch.
Dela Rosa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Dela Rosa fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovac shoots in but no luck this time.
Dela Rosa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kovac or perhaps it was just good defense by Dela Rosa, which made it look bad.
Kovac jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kovac scores with a spinning back kick!
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!
Kovac dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Dela Rosa. That did some damage!

Kovac rushes Dela Rosa and presses him up against the cage.
Kovac scores a nice knee to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kovac takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovac gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dela Rosa.

Kovac breaks the clinch.

Kovac closes the distance and clinches.

Kovac breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kovac goes for a double leg but Dela Rosa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dela Rosa continues to drive forward.
Kovac stalling.
Dela Rosa tries to score a body lock takedown but Kovac shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kovac lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kovac can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovac stalling in the clinch.
Dela Rosa can't get the takedown.
Kovac is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Dela Rosa tries for a takedown. No joy.

Kovac manages to break the clinch.
Kovac tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dela Rosa defends well and Kovac ends up having to push Dela Rosa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kovac gets underhooks to prevent Dela Rosa's takedown attempt.

Kovac pulls Dela Rosa into guard.
Dela Rosa wants to pass the guard but Kovac is keeping the position.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Eberhard Kovac showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kovac has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eberhard Kovac!