PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Isaac Hamm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilya Kovalchuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hamm
vs
Kovalchuk

188 cm
22
184 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

184 cm
19
189 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Conviction

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Isaac Hamm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ilya Kovalchuk!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hamm shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nice sprawl there from Kovalchuk as Hamm shoots in.
Hamm uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hamm.
Hamm throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kovalchuk.
Hamm tries for a takedown but Kovalchuk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaac Hamm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hamm fails with the takedown.
Hamm moves away from the strike by Kovalchuk.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hamm.
Ilya Kovalchuk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovalchuk takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kovalchuk thuds a left hand into Hamm's body.
Kovalchuk cracks Hamm with an open hand slap.
Hamm will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kovalchuk lands a really nice looking cross but Hamm seems unphased.
Hamm shoots in for a takedown but Kovalchuk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hamm slips a jab and a cross from Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk connects with a looping right hand.
Hamm throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kovalchuk's waist but Kovalchuk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hamm off to one side.
A big right from Kovalchuk misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalchuk slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kovalchuk misses with a low kick.
Kovalchuk throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kovalchuk rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hamm moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hamm walks into a jab.
Hamm shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hamm takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Hamm looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hamm is breathing heavily.
Hamm not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kovalchuk trying to control but Hamm postures up.
Kovalchuk has his hands clasped together around Hamm's back. He's all about the action.
Kovalchuk is looking to control Hamm's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kovalchuk avoid being mounted?
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hamm connects with a nice short shot to Kovalchuk's temple.
Kovalchuk is looking to control Hamm's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kovalchuk avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalchuk keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Hamm not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kovalchuk lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kovalchuk turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hamm uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kovalchuk.
Hamm takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hamm fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ilya Kovalchuk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovalchuk lands a nice shot to the body.
Kovalchuk fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovalchuk uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kovalchuk throws a right hand that Hamm ducks under and follows up with a left that Hamm also avoids with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hamm.
Kovalchuk scores with a jab. Hamm acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalchuk swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A left lands for Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk connects with a body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Kovalchuk as Hamm shoots in.
Kovalchuk chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kovalchuk lands with a nice combination. Hamm backs away looking to recover.
A jab lands there for Kovalchuk.
Hamm shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kovalchuk but Kovalchuk pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hamm takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kovalchuk lands a jab to the nose.
Kovalchuk is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Hamm had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovalchuk with a hook.
Kovalchuk tests Hamm's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hamm walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hamm looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kovalchuk scores with a body shot.
Kovalchuk throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kovalchuk moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Horrible takedown by Hamm or perhaps it was just good defense by Kovalchuk which made him look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalchuk scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hamm in his tracks.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kovalchuk!
Kovalchuk misses with a straight right.
Kovalchuk throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hamm stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hamm tries to move into range but Kovalchuk moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hamm walks into a left hand.
Jab by Kovalchuk.

Hamm is rocked!
Kovalchuk drops Hamm with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Hamm! Kovalchuk dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (strikes). Ilya Kovalchuk!