PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Everett Covington (ranked 1303 p4p, 932 weight class) and Mousa Ndombele (ranked 179 p4p, 127 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Covington
vs
Ndombele

177 cm
33
174
13 - 5 - 0

180 cm
35
170
11 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Decent elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Everett Covington!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mousa Ndombele!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Covington wants to clinch
and Ndombele counters with a good low kick that Covington was not able to check.

Covington manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ndombele on his heels. He'll look to pass Ndombele's guard now, I'm sure.
Ndombele avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Covington trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Covington working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Ndombele trying to control but Covington is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ndombele slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Covington can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Covington tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ndombele wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ndombele working away.
Covington is looking for a sweep.
Covington is working hard here to advance position.
Ndombele working the body and head with strikes.
Ndombele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Covington keeps working.
Covington gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ndombele missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ndombele wants to control but Covington is keeping him busy.
Covington is looking to improve his position.
Covington gets full guard.

Covington working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ndombele doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ndombele manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Covington is looking for a triangle here but Ndombele uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Ndombele in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Ndombele is putting a hurting on Covington here, landing some big shots from side control.
Ndombele cracks Covington with a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Covington is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ndombele takes a little break here. Covington wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Ndombele landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ndombele working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ndombele wants to control but Covington is keeping him busy.
Covington sneaks back into half guard.
Ndombele lands with a punch from half guard.
Covington works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Covington isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ndombele stacks Covington on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ndombele!
Covington is looking for a sweep.
Ndombele trying to control the action but Covington is working from the bottom.
Covington tries to buck Ndombele off but Ndombele is having none of it.
Covington is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ndombele working away.
Covington is looking to regain half guard here but Ndombele keeps moving and retains side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mousa Ndombele dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ndombele wants to land a leg kick but Covington is out of range.
Covington tries to close the distance and clinch but Ndombele swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ndombele takes a swing at Covington's ribcage but misses.
Ndombele looks to land a right hand but Covington moved out of range.
Covington has a takedown stuffed.
Ndombele appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Covington tests Ndombele's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Covington wants to clinch up but Ndombele keeps it at a distance.
Ndombele tries to work over Covington's front leg with a kick but Covington checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Covington jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Covington keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ndombele.
Ndombele wants to land a leg kick but Covington is out of range.
Ndombele walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mousa Ndombele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Covington checks the leg kick nicely there.
Covington keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ndombele.
Covington ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Covington gets the takedown into side control.
Ndombele is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Covington wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ndombele, who protects the arm well.

Covington is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ndombele knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Covington creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ndombele sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Mousa Ndombele has got the better of the ground game so far.
Covington trying to control the position but Ndombele is working away.
Ndombele is pushing Covington's head away, looking to escape. Covington manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Covington throws a strike aimed at the side of Ndombele's head but Ndombele avoids it well.

Covington working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Covington prevents Ndombele from escaping the position.

Covington goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Ndombele rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Covington's guard! Nice work there by Ndombele!
Ndombele trying to control the position from guard on top but Covington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ndombele is looking to stand up but Covington won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Covington keeping moving, preventing Ndombele from controlling successfully.

Covington is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ndombele defends well.
Covington keeping moving, preventing Ndombele from controlling successfully.

Covington looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Covington is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Covington throwing shots but Ndombele is blocking nicely.

Covington seems to be working for a kimura but Ndombele defends the submission attempt.
Covington sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ndombele defending well though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Everett Covington dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ndombele ducks under a wild hook from Covington.
Ndombele fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Covington.
Covington shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ndombele tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ndombele tries to close the distance and clinch up but Covington swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Covington appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ndombele scores with a jab to the body.
Ndombele cracks Covington with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ndombele misses with a wild body shot.
Covington appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ndombele shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Covington drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ndombele sprawls and moves away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Covington.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ndombele is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Ndombele parries the strikes from Covington easily there. Covington is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ndombele to escape.
Covington throws an elbow but Ndombele slips to the side and avoids it well.
Covington controls the position.
Covington with the ground and pound but Ndombele regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Covington is stalling here. Ndombele is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Covington seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ndombele has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Ndombele has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Covington!
Covington is bucking up trying to escape but Ndombele cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Covington tries to reverse the position but Ndombele maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ndombele trying to control but Covington is having none of it.
Ndombele has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Covington wants to control but Ndombele is having none of it.
Ndombele looking to finish Covington with some ground and pound. This is bad for Covington!
Ndombele cracks Covington with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Covington tries to lock up and control but Ndombele gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Covington taking shots to the head.
Covington tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ndombele is stalling here but it's allowed Covington to get half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Covington looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ndombele wants to control but Covington is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Covington tries to get to full guard but Ndombele has control of the leg.
Ndombele wants to stand but Covington has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Ndombele prevents Covington from improving his position.
Ndombele slips a nice elbow through Covington's hands, connecting with Covington's forehead.
Ndombele working Covington over with strikes.
Covington has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ndombele is working away from the top position though.
Ndombele trying to control from half guard but Covington is working away.

That's four 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.
Ndombele is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Covington is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ndombele pulls his head out easily.
Covington is looking for a sweep. Ndombele is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ndombele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Covington keeps working.
Ndombele working the head and body with strikes.
Covington trying to hold on to Ndombele's head to control him but Ndombele postures up.

Covington actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Covington wants to control but Ndombele is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Covington looks to score with a jab to the body but Ndombele is just out of range.
Ndombele feints the counter takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mousa Ndombele really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Donk. Ndombele catches Covington right on the button with a cross.
Ndombele tries to clinch up.
Ndombele lands with a shot to the body.
Covington ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ndombele moves away.
A slow jab from Ndombele misses its intended target.
Covington falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ndombele counters with a takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Covington is trying to control Ndombele's posture but Ndombele avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Covington takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Covington is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Ndombele is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Ndombele trying to control but Covington is having none of it.
Ndombele breaks from Covington's wrist control and lands an elbow.
A nice elbow there by Ndombele.
Covington in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Covington is squirming around, avoiding Ndombele's attempts to control the action.
Ndombele working Covington over with strikes here.
Covington is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ndombele working Covington over with strikes here.
Covington tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ndombele in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Covington working to try and regain half guard.
Ndombele looking to control but Covington is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Covington wants to control but Ndombele is having none of it.
Ndombele raining down shots from the mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ndombele cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Covington regains half guard.

Covington looking for submissions off his back.

Covington looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Ndombele seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Covington does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Covington manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Covington trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ndombele trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Covington keeping moving, preventing Ndombele from controlling successfully.
Covington wants to sweep but no luck.

Covington has his foot on Ndombele's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ndombele works his way back into a safe position though.
Ndombele postures up in Covington's guard and throws a big left but Covington blocks it.
Ndombele engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Covington not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Covington looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ndombele wants to control from the top but Covington keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mousa Ndombele dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ndombele with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mousa Ndombele seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice shot lands for Ndombele.
Ndombele scores with the left hand. Covington knows he should have avoided that one.
A slow jab from Ndombele misses its intended target.
Covington is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Ndombele.
Covington scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ndombele in his tracks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ndombele gets tackled into the cage by Covington. Covington maintains the clinch.
I was talking to Covington's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Covington swings wildly with an uppercut but Ndombele uses good head movement to avoid it.
Covington pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ndombele can't find room to land a body shot as Covington controls the action.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ndombele creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ndombele misses with a short punch on the inside.
Covington's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Covington tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ndombele tries to work over Covington's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ndombele lands a nice shot to the body.
Covington swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Covington has Ndombele pressed against the cage.
Covington just leaning against Ndombele, taking a breather.
Ndombele working aggressively here.
Covington tries a body shot but Ndombele blocks it.
Ndombele lands a right hand that snaps the head of Covington backwards.
Ndombele tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Covington tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Everett Covington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mousa Ndombele is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Covington.
Covington looking for a takedown.
Ndombele blocking some punches.
Covington misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ndombele.
Covington lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Covington can't find room to land a body shot as Ndombele controls the action.
Ndombele cracks Covington with a nice body shot.
Ndombele cracks Covington with a nice body shot.
Ndombele lands a left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Covington is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ndombele is defending well.
Covington swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Covington struggles to land a body shot inside as Ndombele controls his hands.
Covington stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Covington throws a punch but it's blocked by Ndombele.
Covington misses with a punch on the inside.
Covington misses with a hook to the ribs.
Covington misses with a body punch.
Ndombele gets underhooks to prevent Covington's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Everett Covington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Covington tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Covington is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ndombele is keeping busy.
Ndombele throws a punch but it's blocked by Covington.
Ndombele prevents a body shot from Covington.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Covington misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ndombele swings wildly with an uppercut but Covington uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ndombele blocking some punches.
Ndombele misses with a short punch on the inside.
Covington tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ndombele's elbow.
Ndombele misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Covington.
With the fighters up against the cage, Covington throws an elbow but misses.
A body shot lands from Ndombele.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Covington tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ndombele blocking some punches.
Covington throws a punch but it's blocked by Ndombele.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mousa Ndombele.
I think Ndombele 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 46:49
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 46:49
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mousa Ndombele!
Mousa Ndombele is the new welterweight champion!
After the fight, Mousa Ndombele was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
Everett Covington spoke after the fight, saying 'Aw crap!'.