PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andor Kovacs (ranked 1892 p4p, 2069 weight class) and Sergej Kusnemirpow (ranked 251 p4p, 275 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Andor Kovacs has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Andor Kovacs seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Kovacs
vs
Kusnemirpow

182 cm
36
192
18 - 13 - 1

193 cm
24
197
5 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

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 18 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Andor Kovacs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergej Kusnemirpow!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Skip Squint and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kovacs gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kusnemirpow is looking for a takedown.
Kovacs throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kovacs has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kusnemirpow is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kovacs tries to work over Kusnemirpow's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Kusnemirpow pulls Kovacs into guard.
Kovacs might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kovacs is standing up over Kusnemirpow. Kusnemirpow looks to escape but Kovacs dives into side control.
Kusnemirpow tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kusnemirpow looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kovacs wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kusnemirpow keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovacs taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovacs trying to control the position but Kusnemirpow is working away.
Kusnemirpow tries to buck Kovacs off but Kovacs is having none of it.
Kovacs trying to control the position but Kusnemirpow is working away.
Kusnemirpow is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kovacs's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kusnemirpow is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Kusnemirpow looking for submissions off his back.
Kovacs tries to pass to full mount but Kusnemirpow defends it.
Kusnemirpow desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Kusnemirpow is looking for a sweep. Kovacs is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kovacs trying to control the action but Kusnemirpow is working from the bottom.
Kusnemirpow trying to control from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck for Kusnemirpow with that takedown attempt.
Nice jab there from Kovacs.
Kusnemirpow shoots for a takedown but Kovacs saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've been told by Kovacs's head coaches at Gold Samurai's Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Andor Kovacs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergej Kusnemirpow.
Kovacs fails with an attempt to clinch.

Kovacs rushes Kusnemirpow and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kovacs swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kusnemirpow working hard to break the clinch.
Kusnemirpow takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Sergej Kusnemirpow has been cut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kovacs.
Kovacs is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kusnemirpow is defending well for now.
Kovacs taking a breather.
Kovacs tries to work over Kusnemirpow's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice elbow from Kovacs.
Kovacs displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kusnemirpow up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kovacs fails to pull guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andor Kovacs dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sergej Kusnemirpow's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Kusnemirpow closes the distance and clinches up with Kovacs, looking for a takedown. Kusnemirpow pushes Kovacs against the cage but Kovacs circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kovacs is looking to counter punch.
Andor Kovacs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kusnemirpow drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kusnemirpow avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kovacs tries to clinch up.
Kovacs tries to clinch up.
Kovacs tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kusnemirpow swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kovacs moves into the clinch.
Kovacs landing knees to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovacs just leaning against Kusnemirpow, taking a breather.
Kusnemirpow takes an elbow to the forehead.
A short uppercut from Kovacs.
Kovacs lands a good knee to the midsection. Kusnemirpow won't want to take too many of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovacs misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kovacs lands a nice uppercut.
Kusnemirpow goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kovacs prevents it.
Kusnemirpow on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kovacs leaning against his opponent.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kovacs gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Kovacs gets through Kusnemirpow's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kusnemirpow drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Andor Kovacs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergej Kusnemirpow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Kovacs misses with the head strike.
Kovacs stalling against the cage.
Kovacs lands a shoulder strike.
Kovacs fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kusnemirpow blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kusnemirpow wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusnemirpow looking for a takedown.
Kovacs misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kovacs has a couple of punches blocked by Kusnemirpow.
A shot in the inside from Kovacs.
Kovacs fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Andor Kovacs has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kovacs lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kovacs lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kovacs stalling the fight.
Kusnemirpow jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kovacs walks away with a smile on his face. Kusnemirpow gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kusnemirpow circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kusnemirpow appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kovacs tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kusnemirpow with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Kovacs closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Kusnemirpow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kusnemirpow circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Kusnemirpow counter with a right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kovacs fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kovacs tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kusnemirpow counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andor Kovacs dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sergej Kusnemirpow's cut.
That's time! Kovacs's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kusnemirpow fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Kovacs forces Kusnemirpow back against the cage and clinches.
Kovacs scores with a shoulder strike.
Kovacs lands a nice elbow.

Kusnemirpow manages to break the clinch.
Kovacs tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kusnemirpow manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kusnemirpow circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kusnemirpow makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovacs stuffs the takedown attempt from Kusnemirpow. Kusnemirpow gets slowly back to his feet.
A lazy left from Kusnemirpow finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovacs tries to close the distance and clinch but Kusnemirpow swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kovacs is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kovacs doesn't manage to clinch there - Kusnemirpow circles away.
Kovacs darts in trying to clinch
and Kusnemirpow cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kusnemirpow swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kovacs connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kusnemirpow shoots and misses
and Kovacs counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Andor Kovacs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergej Kusnemirpow.

Kovacs fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kusnemirpow, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kovacs is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kusnemirpow can do to turn this around?
Kovacs taking a breather.
Kovacs working aggressively here.
A nice left hand lands by Kovacs.

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

Kovacs looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kusnemirpow advances position into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kusnemirpow trying to control the position but Kovacs is working away.
You can see the frustration on Kovacs's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kusnemirpow tries for a kimura but Kovacs is defending well.

Kusnemirpow looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kovacs is trying to get back to his feet.

Kusnemirpow working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kusnemirpow advances to full mount.

That's four 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.
Kovacs prevents Kusnemirpow from taking his back.
Kovacs working to try and regain half guard.
Kovacs stops Kusnemirpow from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Kovacs tries to hold on but Kusnemirpow pushes him away.
Kusnemirpow sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Kusnemirpow is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kovacs has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Andor Kovacs is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sergej Kusnemirpow has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kovacs is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Andor Kovacs.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kovacs, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andor Kovacs!
Andor Kovacs tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.