PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niko Sirkiä (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Kovalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sirkiä comes to the cage accompanied by Thergothon - Elemental. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sirkiä
vs
Kovalenko

178 cm
29
231 lbs
24 - 5 - 0

205 cm
32
260 lbs
35 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Merciless Gladiators

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 24 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Sirkiä!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kovalenko!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovalenko throws a shot from downtown. Sirkiä moves away and avoids it.
Kovalenko throws a head kick but Sirkiä moves out of range.
Kovalenko has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Sirkiä is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Kovalenko goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kovalenko misses with a series of wild punches.
Kovalenko throws a lazy right hand but Sirkiä sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kovalenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kovalenko lands a lovely overhand right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kovalenko misses with a straight right.
Kovalenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Kovalenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kovalenko goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sirkiä counters with a two punch combo.
Kovalenko connects with a crisp jab.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kovalenko.
A bone on bone clash there as Sirkiä blocks the leg kick.
Kovalenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sirkiä moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kovalenko throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kovalenko throws a hook but Sirkiä avoids it easily.
Kovalenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sirkiä cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovalenko misses with a body shot
and Sirkiä counters with a stiff right hand.
Kovalenko misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kovalenko misses with a looping right.
Kovalenko lands a really nice looking cross but Sirkiä seems unphased.
Kovalenko throws a series of punches but Sirkiä moves out of range.
Kovalenko thows a leg kick but Sirkiä checks it

and Sirkiä moves into the clinch.
Kovalenko wants to break free but Sirkiä has control.
Kovalenko is trying to break free.
Kovalenko has had enough of the clinch but Sirkiä keeps him there for the moment.
Sirkiä is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kovalenko to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sirkiä drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kovalenko pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Sirkiä. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kovalenko throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kovalenko throws a front kick that sends Sirkiä stumbling back into the cage.
Kovalenko moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sirkiä blocks a head kick by Kovalenko.
Sirkiä keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sirkiä looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalenko throws a body kick that misses.
Sirkiä moves out of range of the body kick from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko misses with a leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovalenko scores with a head kick. Sirkiä tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kovalenko fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sirkiä is out of range.
Kovalenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Sirkiä tries to move into range but Kovalenko moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kovalenko is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that Sirkiä avoids nicely.
Kovalenko misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kovalenko dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kovalenko tries to work over Sirkiä's front leg with a kick but Sirkiä checks it.
Kovalenko scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kovalenko has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kovalenko misses with a hook.
Niko Sirkiä is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovalenko cracks Sirkiä with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Sirkiä takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kovalenko punishes Sirkiä's body with a nice straight punch.
An inside leg kick lands from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko misses with a kick to the body.

Kovalenko drops Sirkiä with a beautiful combination! Sirkiä stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Kovalenko is looking for the KO!
Kovalenko throws a right and a left that Sirkiä avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A telegraphed right hand from Kovalenko misses the target.
Kovalenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kovalenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Kovalenko throws a leg kick but Sirkiä checks it.
Sirkiä blocks a head kick by Kovalenko.
Nikolai Kovalenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kovalenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kovalenko lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kovalenko throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sirkiä holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sirkiä has Kovalenko pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä is looking for a takedown.
Sirkiä slowing the pace effectively.

Kovalenko breaks the clinch.
Kovalenko throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kovalenko throws a combination. Sirkiä tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalenko throws a head kick that misses

and Sirkiä holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä leaning against his opponent.
Kovalenko tries to break free but Sirkiä pushes him back against the cage.
Kovalenko wants to break free but Sirkiä has control.

Kovalenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kovalenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kovalenko misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kovalenko throws a big shot that misses.
Kovalenko throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Sirkiä counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kovalenko!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sirkiä tries to score with some ground and pound. Kovalenko controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sirkiä with the ground and pound but Kovalenko regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Sirkiä trying to mount his opponent but Kovalenko defends it.
Sirkiä thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sirkiä has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sirkiä is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kovalenko tries to kick Sirkiä off but Sirkiä keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kovalenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sirkiä's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kovalenko looks for the body kick but Sirkiä saw that one coming.
Kovalenko lands with a slapping head kick.
Kovalenko fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sirkiä looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sirkiä checks a leg kick.
Kovalenko goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kovalenko lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A swing and a miss from Kovalenko.
Kovalenko lands a head kick!
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Kovalenko! Sirkiä is out on his feet! Kovalenko rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Sirkiä is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Sirkiä is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nikolai Kovalenko!
After the big win, Nikolai Kovalenko made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Milwaukee's Best 160 and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.