PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Haritonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kovalenko
vs
Haritonov

205 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
22
254 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kovalenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Haritonov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nice combo by Haritonov! Oh, that's hurt him - Kovalenko falls to the canvas and Haritonov follows him into side control.

Kovalenko is rocked!

It looks like Nikolai Kovalenko has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The strikes coming from Haritonov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Oh Kovalenko is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kovalenko avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Haritonov.
Sloppy strikes there by Haritonov.
Kovalenko seems to have got his legs back now.
Haritonov throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Kovalenko works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Haritonov with the ground and pound but Kovalenko uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Haritonov throwing strikes but missing.
Haritonov throws a strike but Kovalenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kovalenko preventing the sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Haritonov can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haritonov wants to get back to his feet but Kovalenko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Haritonov is adopting a defensive guard.

Kovalenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haritonov scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Kovalenko moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Haritonov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kovalenko looks to land a combination but Haritonov avoids it well.
Kovalenko slips a jab and a cross from Haritonov.
Haritonov tries to bum rush Kovalenko with a series of wild strikes but Kovalenko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Haritonov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Haritonov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kovalenko circles away quickly and effectively.
Haritonov fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Kovalenko does no damage.
Haritonov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kovalenko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab
and Haritonov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kovalenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Haritonov circles away quickly and effectively.
Kovalenko misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Haritonov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Haritonov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nikolai Kovalenko's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Haritonov misses with a looping left.
Kovalenko dodges the punch combination from Haritonov.
Haritonov misses with a double jab.
Kovalenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Haritonov misses with a series of wild punches.
Nikolai Kovalenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Haritonov does no damage.
Kovalenko misses with a double jab.
Haritonov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kovalenko is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

A jab-cross combination lands for Haritonov and sends Kovalenko crashing to the mat! Haritonov follows him down to the mat - Kovalenko regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Haritonov seems to be looking for submissions.
Haritonov prevents Kovalenko from standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Haritonov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Haritonov.
Haritonov throws and elbow that misses. Kovalenko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Haritonov's guard. Nice move by Kovalenko!
Haritonov trying to control the position here.

That's two 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.
Haritonov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haritonov is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Kovalenko dives into side control.
Haritonov tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Kovalenko easily slips into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Haritonov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kovalenko wants to finish this one by submission but Haritonov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kovalenko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Haritonov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nikolai Kovalenko's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kovalenko scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Haritonov misses with an uppercut.
Haritonov throws out a loose jab but Kovalenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kovalenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nikolai Kovalenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Haritonov misses with the combination.
Haritonov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice straight punches there by Haritonov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Haritonov.
Kovalenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Haritonov scores with a counter punch that sends Kovalenko to the canvas! Haritonov smells blood - he's punishing Kovalenko with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Kovalenko has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sergei Haritonov!