PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fabio Gurgel (ranked 57 p4p, 138 weight class) and Hrvoje Kovacevic (ranked 9 p4p, 19 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Gurgel
vs
Kovacevic

183 cm
30
215
15 - 7 - 0

188 cm
30
205
22 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabio Gurgel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hrvoje Kovacevic!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovacevic throws a jab when Gurgel was well out of range.
Gurgel takes one on the button.

It looks like Fabio Gurgel has been cut.
Gurgel takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gurgel moves out of range of the strikes.
Kovacevic cracks Gurgel with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Kovacevic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovacevic connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gurgel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kovacevic.
Kovacevic misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gurgel slips under a jab from Kovacevic.
Gurgel looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Gurgel avoids the body shot from Kovacevic.
Gurgel half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Kovacevic jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kovacevic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gurgel drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kovacevic sprawls and moves away.
The fighters circling - Kovacevic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gurgel appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kovacevic misses with an uppercut.
Gurgel changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nice defenses there by Gurgel.
Gurgel tries to counter with a takedown but Kovacevic is quick to defend against it.
Kovacevic just misses with a punch to the body.
Gurgel wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovacevic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gurgel was well out of range. Poor timing from Kovacevic.
Gurgel tries to counter by clinching up but Kovacevic breaks away and moves out of range.
Kovacevic misses the jab.
Gurgel attempts a counter takedown but Kovacevic avoids it well and moves away.
Gurgel on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kovacevic missing with a left hand there. Gurgel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kovacevic looks to throw the jab but Gurgel is out of range.
Kovacevic bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Fabio Gurgel's cut is getting worse.
Kovacevic scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gurgel walks into a stiff left hand from Kovacevic.
Kovacevic looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kovacevic throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Gurgel counters by moving into the clinch.
Gurgel tries to pull guard but Kovacevic won't allow it.
Kovacevic lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Gurgel pulls Kovacevic into guard.
Kovacevic sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Gurgel looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kovacevic has picked Gurgel up and slammed him! Gurgel can't keep hold of the triangle and Kovacevic manages to pass to side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kovacevic controls the position from side control.
Gurgel is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovacevic controlling from side mount.
Gurgel regains half guard.
Gurgel is pressing down on Kovacevic's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kovacevic is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Gurgel is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Kovacevic frees his head nicely. Oh but Gurgel has switched to an armbar! Kovacevic is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Fabio Gurgel!
Fabio Gurgel retains his light heavyweight title!