PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Kovalev (ranked 997 p4p, 107 weight class) and Chris Runt (ranked 1053 p4p, 114 weight class). Chris Runt has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Vladimir Kovalev's chin.

Kovalev
vs
Runt

207 cm
24
260 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

205 cm
24
275 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Kovalev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Runt!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Runt misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kovalev.
Runt loads up on a big right hand but Kovalev slips the punch.
Kovalev moves out of range as Runt strikes.
An attempted straight right counter from Kovalev misses the target.

Kovalev moves into range and clinches up with Runt.
Kovalev tries a body shot but Runt blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Runt fails to land.
A right handed body shot lands from Kovalev.
Kovalev avoiding damage.
Runt lands a body shot.
A short left from Kovalev.
Kovalev misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kovalev.
Kovalev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kovalev lands a body shot.
A short left from Runt.
Runt swings away with an uppercut that misses.
I was talking to Kovalev's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Runt lands a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runt lands a body punch in the clinch.
Runt lands a shot to the body.
Runt misses with a punch on the inside.
Kovalev blocks a body shot from Runt.
Kovalev controlling the action here for a moment.
Kovalev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Runt lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Runt swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovalev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kovalev lands a left hand.
Runt lands with a right to the head.
Runt misses with a body punch.
Runt misses with some punches.
Runt lands a shoulder strike.
Kovalev prevents a body shot from Runt.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovalev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runt struggles to land a body shot inside as Kovalev controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Runt.
Runt misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovalev.
A nice right hand lands inside from Runt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovalev is stalling here.
We've been informed that Runt has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Kovalev misses with the head strike.
Kovalev just leaning against Runt, taking a breather.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Runt as Kovalev tries to tie him up.
Kovalev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovalev misses with some punches.
Runt misses with the head strike.
A short right from Runt on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Kovalev as the two fighters clinch.
Kovalev tries to throw a body punch but Runt avoids it by throwing Kovalev back against the cage.
Runt scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Runt.
Runt pushes Kovalev back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Runt swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovalev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Runt misses with a punch to the body.
Runt struggles to land a body shot inside as Kovalev controls his hands.
Runt working aggressively here.
Kovalev blocks an uppercut.
Kovalev working aggressively here.
Runt lands a hook that snaps the head of Kovalev backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Runt.
Kovalev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kovalev is struggling to control the position.
Runt gets through Kovalev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kovalev digs a right hand into Runt's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Runt's gas tank.
Kovalev effectively controlling the action here.
Runt misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Runt is working Kovalev over against the cage.
Kovalev is breathing heavily.
Kovalev has Runt pressed against the cage.
Runt throws a punch but it's blocked by Kovalev.
Runt working some nice short punches in the clinch.
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!
Kovalev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Runt lands a right hand.
A head punch on the inside from Kovalev fails to land.
Runt misses with a body punch.
Runt misses with a short punch on the inside.
Runt lands with a right to the head.
Kovalev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Runt backwards.
Kovalev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Runt struggles to land a body shot inside as Kovalev controls his hands.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kovalev - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kovalev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Runt dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Runt misses with a looping right.
An attempted straight right counter from Kovalev misses the target.
Runt misses with a hook. Kovalev ducked under it nicely.
Runt misses with a series of wild punches.
Kovalev lands a body shot.
Kovalev with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Runt to score with a decent uppercut.
Kovalev throws a jab when Runt was well out of range.
Runt scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kovalev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Runt in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Runt misses.
Runt throws a hook but Kovalev blocks it.
A quick step to the side and Kovalev tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Runt misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Runt rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kovalev counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kovalev closes the distance and pushes Runt back into the cage.
Runt digs a right hand underneath Kovalev's ribcage. Kovalev let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kovalev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Kovalev on the inside.
Runt letting Kovalev take a breather here.
Runt struggles to land a body shot inside as Kovalev controls his hands.
Kovalev misses with the head strike.
Kovalev trying to control the position but instead, Runt has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kovalev into the cage.
A short left from Runt.
Kovalev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Chris Runt seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Runt.
Kovalev is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Runt tries to throw a body punch but Kovalev avoids it by throwing Runt back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev tries to throw a body punch but Runt avoids it by throwing Kovalev back against the cage.
Runt makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Kovalev.
Runt lands a nice shot to the body.
Kovalev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kovalev working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Runt swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovalev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Runt misses with some punches.
Runt scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kovalev dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kovalev stalling.
A nice left hand lands by Runt.
Runt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Runt lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kovalev.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A head punch on the inside from Runt fails to land.
Kovalev trying to control the position but instead, Runt has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kovalev into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev prevents a body shot from Runt.
A shot in the inside from Runt.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kovalev takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kovalev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Runt's elbow.
Runt scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kovalev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Runt misses with some punches.
Runt swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovalev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Runt lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kovalev backwards.

Kovalev is rocked!
Runt swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Oh Kovalev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Runt softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Runt unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Kovalev! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Runt is unloading with more strikes now! Kovalev drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chris Runt!
Chris Runt decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.