PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Kovalev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koya Molar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kovalev
vs
Molar

172 cm
20
135 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

163 cm
26
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Héritage!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexei Kovalev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Koya Molar!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovalev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kovalev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kovalev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Molar.
Kovalev swings for the body but Molar moves out of range.
Kovalev slips a jab and a cross from Molar.
Molar misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kovalev counters with a three punch combo that has Molar backing up. Molar nods at Kovalev to acknowledge the strikes.
Kovalev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kovalev lands a nice shot to the body.
Kovalev is looking to wear down Molar with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kovalev tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Molar is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Molar throws a lazy uppercut
and Kovalev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
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!
Molar throws a hook but Kovalev blocks it.
Kovalev scores with a crisp jab that stopped Molar in his tracks.
Kovalev definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Kovalev moves into range and clinches up with Molar.
Kovalev makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kovalev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kovalev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kovalev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kovalev throws a punch but it's blocked by Molar.
Molar misses with a punch to the body.
Kovalev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Molar backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev lands a right hand.
Kovalev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kovalev - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kovalev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Molar backwards.
Molar lands a hook to the side of the head.
Molar blocking some punches.
Molar wants to break free but Kovalev has control.
Molar blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
Kovalev blocking some punches.
Kovalev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Molar.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Kovalev fails to land.
Kovalev throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Molars head.
Kovalev keeps control of Molar as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Molar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kovalev throws a punch but it's blocked by Molar.
Kovalev scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molar misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice left hand lands by Kovalev.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
Kovalev misses with a punch on the inside.
Kovalev misses with some punches.
Molar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovalev.
Kovalev working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Molar blocking some punches.
Kovalev is pushing Molar up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Molar misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kovalev wants to stall.
Kovalev misses with a punch on the inside.
Kovalev misses with the head strike.
Molar blocks an uppercut.
Kovalev lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Kovalev.
Molar is trying to force a seperation but Kovalev has the dominant position.
A head punch on the inside from Kovalev fails to land.
Kovalev just leaning against Molar, taking a breather.
Molar working aggressively here.
Kovalev has a couple of punches blocked by Molar.
Molar blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Molar fails to land.
Molar throws a head punch that misses.
Molar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kovalev holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kovalev pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
Kovalev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short uppercut from Kovalev.
Molar misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molar is looking to break free of the clinch but Kovalev has double underhooks.
Kovalev lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kovalev lands a hook to the side of the head.
Molar is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kovalev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kovalev lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovalev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Molar backwards.
Kovalev lands with a short shot to the head.
Kovalev misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Molar.
Molar wants to break free but Kovalev has control.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kovalev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Molar blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovalev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Molar backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovalev lands a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Kovalev scores with a nice short uppercut.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Molar looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Kovalev dominated that round.
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.

Kovalev jabs at Molar's body.
Molar is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kovalev.
Kovalev with a nice cross.
Kovalev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Molar misses the jab.
A slow jab from Molar misses its intended target.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Molar.
Molar misses the shot to the body.
Kovalev is looking to chop away at Molar's legs.
Molar misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kovalev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kovalev with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalev connects with a nice looking jab.
Kovalev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Molar manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Molar.
Molar throws a shot from downtown. Kovalev moves away and avoids it.
Molar throws a body punch but Kovalev moves out of range.
Kovalev scores with the left hand. Molar knows he should have avoided that one.
Koya Molar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Molar's hands.

Kovalev instigates a clinch.
Kovalev displaying some good clinch control by pressing Molar up against the cage.
Molar is trying to break the clinch but Kovalev is controlling him.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovalev.
Kovalev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Molar is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Molar is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Molar misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've been informed that Molar has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Kovalev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Molar struggles to land a body shot inside as Kovalev controls his hands.
Molar misses with the head strike.
Kovalev working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kovalev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Molar's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch on the inside from Kovalev fails to land.
Kovalev misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
Molar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Molar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Molar is trying to break free.
Kovalev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Alexei Kovalev has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kovalev's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Molar is trying to maintain a safe position but Kovalev gets an underhook and turns Molar into the cage.
Kovalev misses with a short punch on the inside.

Molar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kovalev lands a right hook to the body.
Kovalev fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kovalev cracks Molar with a good jab.

Molar tries to keep at a distance but Kovalev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Molar tries to work over Kovalev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molar wants to stall.
Molar's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kovalev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Molar backwards.
Molar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kovalev lands with a short shot to the head.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
Come on Kovalev - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Molar is looking to break free of the clinch but Kovalev has double underhooks.
Kovalev lands a right hand.
Kovalev lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kovalev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kovalev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Still in the clinch, Kovalev scores with a nice short uppercut.
Molar looking to stall.
Kovalev lands a hook that snaps the head of Molar backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Kovalev fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Molar lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Molar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kovalev's elbow.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
Molar misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kovalev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Molar blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Molar.
Kovalev is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Molar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kovalev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Kovalev scores with a nice short uppercut.
Molar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kovalev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Molar throws a head punch that misses.
Kovalev lands with a short shot to the head.
Molar's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kovalev scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovalev scores with a shoulder strike.
Kovalev misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Kovalev dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Molar throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kovalev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Molar slips a jab and a cross from Kovalev.
A jab from Molar misses.
Molar misses with a series of wild punches.
Kovalev looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Kovalev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Molar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Molar throws out a loose jab but Kovalev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Molar misses with a right hand
letting Kovalev counter with a right hand.
Kovalev just misses with a punch to the body.
Good exchange - Kovalev coming out on top.
Molar misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Molar scores with a hook to the body. Kovalev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice uppercut lands for Kovalev. That snapped Molar's head back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kovalev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Molar throws a sloppy body shot
and Kovalev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kovalev scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molar throws a sloppy body shot
and Kovalev counters with a right hand to the body.
Molar throws the left hand but Kovalev avoids the punch easily.
Kovalev scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kovalev connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nice shot lands for Kovalev.

Molar is rocked!
Molar tries for a takedown but Kovalev circles away easily
and Kovalev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Molar is still on wobbly legs! Can Kovalev finish him?
Kovalev moves away from the strike by Molar.
Molar seems to have recovered his senses.
Nice cross by Kovalev.
Molar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kovalev lands a lovely overhand right.
Kovalev moves away from the strike by Molar.
Kovalev seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Kovalev lands a slapping body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovalev fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Molar takes a swing at Kovalev's ribcage but misses.
Molar takes one to the chin there.
Alexei Kovalev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev tries to clinch but Molar moves out of range.
Molar doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Molar throws a body shot but no joy.
Molar throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kovalev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kovalev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Kovalev moves into the clinch.
Kovalev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kovalev keeps control of Molar as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Molar.
Kovalev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kovalev is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Molar blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molar misses with a punch to the body.
Kovalev gets through Molar's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kovalev has Molar pressed against the cage, preventing Molar from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Molar misses with a punch on the inside.
Molar trying to control the position but instead, Kovalev has worked for underhooks and has pushed Molar into the cage.
Molar blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Molar blocking some punches.
Molar has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Molar stalling in the clinch but Kovalev improves position.
Kovalev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Koya Molar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Molar stalling in the clinch but Kovalev improves position.
Kovalev throws a punch but it's blocked by Molar.
Molar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Molar is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kovalev is keeping busy.
Kovalev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kovalev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovalev throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovalev.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexei Kovalev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kovalev 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexei Kovalev!