PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Right Cheek (ranked 972 p4p, 101 weight class) and Vladimir Kovalev (ranked 1521 p4p, 161 weight class). Right Cheek is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Cheek
vs
Kovalev

195 cm
32
275 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

207 cm
25
260 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
RAGS of a RONIN

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Right Cheek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Kovalev!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cheek looks to land a left hand but Kovalev moved out of range nicely.
Kovalev has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Cheek is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Kovalev lands a nice shot that snaps Cheek's head back.

It looks like Right Cheek has been cut.
Cheek walks into a straight right hand from Kovalev.
Cheek misses with a left hand
letting Kovalev counter with a right hand.

Kovalev clinches up with Cheek and pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cheek.
Cheek has a couple of punches blocked by Kovalev.
Cheek goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kovalev struggles to land a body shot inside as Cheek controls his hands.
Kovalev effectively controlling the action here.
Kovalev is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Kovalev receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Cheek lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cheek has a couple of punches blocked by Kovalev.
Kovalev leaning against his opponent.
A nice left hand lands by Kovalev.
Kovalev taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev lands with a left to the head.
Kovalev blocks a body shot from Cheek.
I was talking to Cheek's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kovalev leaning his opponent against the cage.
Cheek can't find room to land a body shot as Kovalev controls the action.
Kovalev scores with a shot to the side of Cheek's head.
A hook to the body from Kovalev.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovalev.
Cheek misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cheek misses with a body punch.
Kovalev lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cheek.
Kovalev lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Right Cheek's cut is getting worse.
Cheek lands with a light punch inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cheek.
The referee calls for Kovalev to work.
Kovalev misses with a body punch.
Kovalev content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cheek lands a nice uppercut.
Kovalev scores with a nice hook to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cheek misses with a body punch.
A short body shot lands from Kovalev as the two fighters clinch.
Kovalev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kovalev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cheek fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Cheek.
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.
Kovalev blocking some punches.
Kovalev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cheek goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kovalev makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cheek swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovalev uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev trying to stall but Cheek improves his position.
Cheek doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A left hand lands to the body for Kovalev.
Kovalev stalls.
Cheek misses with the head strike.
Kovalev is stalling here.
Kovalev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kovalev lands a shoulder strike.
Kovalev blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Cheek fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Cheek fails to land.
Kovalev is pushing Cheek up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cheek pushes Kovalev back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Cheek misses with a shot to the kidneys.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kovalev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev stalling in the clinch but Cheek improves position.
Kovalev lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cheek.
Cheek throws a punch but it's blocked by Kovalev.
A body shot lands from Kovalev.
Cheek tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kovalev's elbow.
Kovalev struggles to land a body shot inside as Cheek controls his hands.
Cheek misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cheek scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kovalev effectively controlling the action here.
Cheek has a couple of punches blocked by Kovalev.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cheek.
Kovalev misses with a punch to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kovalev will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cheek up against the cage.
Cheek prevents a body shot from Kovalev.
Kovalev stalls.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Kovalev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Right Cheek's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cheek uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kovalev.
Good standup being displayed there by Kovalev as he connects with a hook.
Right Cheek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cheek throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cheek takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kovalev throws a big shot that misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Cheek misses its target.
Kovalev has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Cheek misses with a body punch
and Kovalev counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Kovalev closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Cheek swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovalev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kovalev blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cheek lands a right hand.
Cheek has a couple of punches blocked by Kovalev.
Kovalev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cheek's elbow.
Kovalev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cheek backwards.
Kovalev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kovalev blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cheek.
Kovalev stalling against the cage.
Kovalev tries to throw a body punch but Cheek avoids it by throwing Kovalev back against the cage.
Kovalev takes a shot to the head.
A body shot lands from Cheek.
Kovalev is leaning against Cheek and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kovalev pushes Cheek back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Cheek on the inside.
Cheek lands a left hand.
Vladimir Kovalev seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cheek can't find room to land a body shot as Kovalev controls the action.
Kovalev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovalev misses with a punch to the body.
A short left from Kovalev.

Right Cheek's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Cheek doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kovalev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kovalev is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kovalev tries a body shot but Cheek blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cheek creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cheek prevents a body shot from Kovalev.
Cheek tries a body shot but Kovalev blocks it.
Kovalev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cheek scores with a hook to the body.
Kovalev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kovalev lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kovalev misses with the head strike.
Cheek misses with some punches.
Kovalev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kovalev trying to stall but Cheek improves his position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cheek.
Cheek lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kovalev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Cheek.
A short left from Kovalev.
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.
Kovalev's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Kovalev is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalev is looking to control Cheek's arms but Cheek gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kovalev has his back to the cage.
Kovalev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cheek misses with some punches.
Kovalev digs a right hand into Cheek's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cheek's gas tank.
Cheek fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cheek throws a head punch that misses.
Kovalev tries to work over Cheek's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cheek tries to work over Kovalev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kovalev effectively controlling the action here.
Cheek misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cheek misses with the head strike.
Cheek throws a punch but it's blocked by Kovalev.
Kovalev pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kovalev stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cheek misses with a punch to the body.
Kovalev lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right from Kovalev on the inside.
Cheek throws a punch but it's blocked by Kovalev.
Cheek misses with the head strike.
Kovalev blocking some punches.
Cheek has a couple of punches blocked by Kovalev.
Cheek lands a body punch.
Cheek misses with a punch to the body.
Kovalev is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cheek is keeping busy.
Cheek works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cheek swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cheek swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cheek tries to throw a body punch but Kovalev avoids it by throwing Cheek back against the cage.
Cheek takes a shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vladimir Kovalev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Right Cheek's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cheek rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cheek takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kovalev misses with a double jab.
Cheek is looking to clinch.
Kovalev is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Cheek is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kovalev.
Kovalev throws a big shot that misses.
Cheek defending well as Kovalev loads up on a big left hand.
Cheek misses with a left hand
and Kovalev counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kovalev swings for the body but Cheek moves out of range.
Cheek tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kovalev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kovalev looks to land a right hand but Cheek moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovalev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cheek.
Cheek throws a hook but Kovalev avoids it easily.
Cheek misses with a left hand
and Kovalev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kovalev scores with a nice strike.

Jeez, Right Cheek's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalev slips under a jab.
It seemed like Kovalev was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cheek is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Kovalev's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Cheek throws a sloppy body shot
and Kovalev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A big left from Cheek misses.
Cheek thuds a left hand into Kovalev's body.
Cheek takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Right Cheek's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Vladimir Kovalev!
Right Cheek spoke after the fight, saying 'I dont think that was a banana in his pocket...I think he enjoy the grappling to much...'.