PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Kovalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hella Alapaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hella Alapaa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kovalov
vs
Alapaa

170 cm
25
196 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

186 cm
26
195 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Kovalov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hella Alapaa!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alapaa tries to close the distance and clinch but Kovalov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kovalov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alapaa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Kovalov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Alapaa keeping moving, preventing Kovalov from controlling successfully.
Kovalov wants to pass the guard but Alapaa is keeping the position.
Kovalov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alapaa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kovalov throws and elbow that misses. Alapaa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kovalov's guard. Nice move by Alapaa!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alapaa wants to stand but Kovalov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kovalov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kovalov is looking to sweep but instead, Alapaa has passed into half guard.
Kovalov trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Alapaa manages to pass to mount!
Alapaa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kovalov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Alapaa wants to control the pace but Kovalov is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Kovalov is working to get back to half guard.
Kovalov is working hard here to advance position.
Kovalov wants to hold on but Alapaa pushes him away.
Kovalov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Alapaa controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov is trying desperately to improve position.
Alapaa controlling from mount.
Kovalov is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kovalov is squirming around, avoiding Alapaa's attempts to control the action.
Kovalov is working to get back to half guard.
Alapaa controlling the pace for now.
Kovalov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hella Alapaa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Alapaa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kovalov postures up and lands a big shot to Alapaa's brow.
Kovalov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alapaa keeping moving, preventing Kovalov from controlling successfully.
Alapaa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kovalov manages to get himself to full guard.
Kovalov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Alapaa is now in half guard.
Kovalov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Alapaa sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalov is striking off his back. Alapaa thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Alapaa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kovalov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kovalov punching from the bottom.
Alapaa trying to control the pace.
Alapaa is trying to control. Kovalov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kovalov wants to control but Alapaa is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Alapaa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kovalov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Kovalov clinches up against the cage.
Alapaa looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Alapaa trying to land knees to the body.
Alapaa lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Antonio Kovalov has been cut.
Kovalov looking for a takedown.
With the fighters up against the cage, Alapaa throws an elbow but misses.
Alapaa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Alapaa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kovalov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Alapaa has him pressed against the cage.
Alapaa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Alapaa landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Alapaa has Kovalov pressed against the cage, preventing Kovalov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Kovalov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kovalov. Alapaa does a little dance to reset his feet.

Kovalov clinches with his opponent.
Kovalov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Alapaa looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Alapaa tries a knee to the head but Kovalov blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Alapaa pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kovalov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Alapaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alapaa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kovalov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kovalov clinches.
Alapaa lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alapaa trying to land knees to the body.
Kovalov avoiding damage as Alapaa throws knees to the body.
Alapaa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kovalov being controlled against the cage.
Alapaa is pressed up against the cage. Kovalov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Alapaa down to the mat. Alapaa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Kovalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kovalov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Alapaa regains half guard, as Kovalov was trying to land strikes.
Kovalov with the ground and pound but Alapaa uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alapaa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kovalov is one step ahead there.
Alapaa pulls Kovalov in close to prevent any damage.
Alapaa wants to stand and escape but Kovalov is having none of it.
Kovalov throws and elbow that misses. Alapaa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kovalov's guard. Nice move by Alapaa!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hella Alapaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Antonio Kovalov's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A slow jab from Kovalov misses its intended target.

Kovalov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kovalov showed some decent athleticism there.
Kovalov wants to advance to full mount but Alapaa doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Kovalov throws a strike but Alapaa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Alapaa stopping the sweep attempt from Kovalov.
Kovalov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alapaa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kovalov wants to sweep but no luck.
Alapaa trying to control but Kovalov is working from the bottom.
Kovalov wants to sweep but no luck.
Alapaa slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Kovalov.
Kovalov has a hand on Alapaa's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Alapaa takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kovalov gets back to half guard.
Alapaa trying to control from half guard but Kovalov is working away.
Alapaa trying to control the pace.
Kovalov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kovalov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Alapaa prevents Kovalov from improving his position.
Kovalov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kovalov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alapaa is stalling in the full guard.
Alapaa trying to control but Kovalov is working from the bottom.
Alapaa preventing the sweep.
Alapaa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kovalov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hella Alapaa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Alapaa wants to get up but he can't break Kovalov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Alapaa stopping the sweep attempt from Kovalov.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Alapaa shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kovalov throws a series of punches but Alapaa moves out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alapaa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Alapaa counters with a lovely straight right hand!

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 Antonio Kovalov.
I think Alapaa 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hella Alapaa!