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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shael Connen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mika Kovalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mika Kovalainen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.
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| 185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0 |
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190 cm
22
198 lbs
0 - 4 - 0 |
Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Shael Connen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mika Kovalainen!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Steven Brown and James Ackerman.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovalainen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Connen quickly recovers to half guard.
Kovalainen is trying to control the action in half guard but Connen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Connen is controlling Kovalainen's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Connen is looking to improve his position.
Connen controlling the position for now.
Kovalainen trying to control from half guard but Connen is working away.
Mika Kovalainen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Connen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kovalainen shoots in but no luck this time.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kovalainen is defended easily by Connen.
Connen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Connen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kovalainen was covering up waiting for the punch and Connen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Connen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Connen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kovalainen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shael Connen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Connen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kovalainen was well out of range. Poor timing from Connen.
Kovalainen fails to land the takedown.
Shael Connen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mika Kovalainen.
Kovalainen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Connen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Connen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Connen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kovalainen has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Connen remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connen laying and praying for a moment but Kovalainen takes advantage and regains half guard.
Kovalainen is trying to maintain the position but Connen is very close to passing his half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Connen in particular looking to stall.
Kovalainen trying to control here.
Connen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connen is pressing down on Kovalainen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kovalainen is holding on for now.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Shael Connen wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Connen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kovalainen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Connen drops an elbow to the side of Kovalainen's head.
Kovalainen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Shael Connen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Connen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kovalainen sprawls well initially but Connen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kovalainen wants to control but Connen is keeping busy.
Connen trying to control the pace.
Kovalainen manages to get to full guard.
Connen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kovalainen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Connen landing some decent shots from guard.
Connen stays in close to Kovalainen's body and controls the position.
Kovalainen working a defensive guard here.
Connen controlling from the top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kovalainen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Connen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Connen wants to pass the guard but Kovalainen is keeping the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kovalainen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Connen has Kovalainen in his guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovalainen wants to control from the top but Connen keeps moving.
Kovalainen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Connen controlling Kovalainen's posture.
Connen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Connen tries to get out of the position.
Connen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Connen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kovalainen did well to prevent Connen getting side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kovalainen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Connen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kovalainen is keeping the position for now.
Kovalainen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Connen!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connen tries to lock up and control but Kovalainen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Connen is trying to escape the mount.
Connen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kovalainen prevents Connen from improving his position.
Kovalainen wants to take a breather but Connen is having none of it.
Connen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kovalainen is working away from the top position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kovalainen stalling away here and it's allowed Connen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Shael Connen dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Connen rushes Kovalainen and presses him up against the cage.
Kovalainen is looking for a takedown.
Connen turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Connen manages to end up in side control.
Connen controlling the position from side mount.
Kovalainen tries to bench press Connen off him but Connen keeps the position.
Connen cracks Kovalainen with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Connen wants to control but Kovalainen is keeping him busy.
Connen staying calm.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Connen tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kovalainen is trying to improve his position.
Connen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kovalainen tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Connen easily slips into full mount!
Connen wants to control but instead Kovalainen manages to regain half guard.
Kovalainen works his way to full guard. Good work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalainen keeping full guard, as Connen tries to pass.
Connen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kovalainen controls Connen momentarily but Connen frees himself.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalainen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Connen controls the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Connen looking to sit in guard and control but Kovalainen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Connen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Connen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Connen doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connen keeping full guard, as Kovalainen tries to pass.
Connen keeping moving, preventing Kovalainen from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kovalainen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Connen pulls Kovalainen in close to his closed guard and prevents Kovalainen from doing any damage or advancing position.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Connen gets the takedown into side control.
Mika Kovalainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
You can see the frustration on Kovalainen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovalainen striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
And that's the end of the fight!
Shael Connen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Connen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shael Connen!
A determined Shael Connen didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
48% |
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