PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kuzma Reznikov (ranked 6648 p4p, 2878 weight class) and Petar Novak (ranked 316 p4p, 164 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Reznikov
vs
Novak

150 cm
25
130
0 - 2 - 0

153 cm
25
135
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kuzma Reznikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Petar Novak!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Novak decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Reznikov trying to control from the bottom.
Novak passes to full mount!

Novak with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Reznikov is controlling an arm, preventing Novak from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Reznikov tries to reverse the position but Novak maintains control.
Reznikov wants to hold on but Novak pushes him away.
Reznikov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reznikov is looking to improve his position but Novak isn't that keen on the idea.
Novak content just to control the position here.

Novak goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Reznikov is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novak is trying to control the position but Reznikov postures up.
Reznikov wants to control from the top but Novak keeps moving.

Novak escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Reznikov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Reznikov is looking to advance position but Novak has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Novak with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reznikov is controlling an arm, preventing Novak from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Reznikov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Novak can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Reznikov is looking to escape.
Novak might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Reznikov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Reznikov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reznikov tries to hold on but Novak pushes him away.
Novak controlling the pace for now.
Novak trying to control but Reznikov is having none of it.

Novak jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Reznikov manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Novak looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Reznikov tries to improve position but can't.
Reznikov manages to get back to half guard.

Novak is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Reznikov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Novak.

Reznikov looking for submissions off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Novak is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Petar Novak 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.

Novak fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Reznikov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Novak has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Reznikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Novak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Novak is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Reznikov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reznikov advances position into side control!
Novak is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novak stops Reznikov from passing to mount.
Novak manages to get back to half guard.
Reznikov wants to take a breather but Novak is having none of it.
Novak is trying to control but can't.
Novak tries to roll over but Reznikov keeps him under control.
Novak has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Petar Novak has got the better of the ground game so far.

Reznikov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Novak trying to hold on to Reznikov's head to control him but Reznikov postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Reznikov is looking to take a break and control but Novak is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Novak holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Novak looking for submissions off his back.
Reznikov is thwarting Novak's attempts to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Reznikov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Novak on his heels. He'll look to pass Novak's guard now, I'm sure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novak can't keep his opponent in guard - Reznikov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Reznikov trying to control from half guard but Novak is working away.

Novak looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Novak wants to improve his position but Reznikov is controlling well.
Reznikov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Novak does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Novak looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Novak trying to control but Reznikov postures up.

Novak looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Reznikov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Reznikov is trying to control. Novak wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Novak controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Novak looking for submissions off his back.

Reznikov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Novak defends it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kuzma Reznikov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Novak darts in looking for a takedown but Reznikov gets double underhooks and turns Novak into the cage.

Reznikov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Novak's guard.

Novak is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Reznikov is aware though and is defending well.
Novak wants to sweep but no luck.

Novak throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Reznikov wants to pass the guard but Novak is keeping the position.

Reznikov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reznikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Novak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reznikov throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reznikov trying to control but Novak is working from the bottom.

Novak had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Reznikov defends it easily.
Reznikov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Novak looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Reznikov has picked Novak up and slammed him! Novak can't keep hold of the triangle and Reznikov manages to pass to side control!
Novak looks to move to half guard but instead Reznikov has passed into mount! Damn!
Novak tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Reznikov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Novak is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reznikov thowing shots but they're missing.
Reznikov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Novak is looking to escape.
Novak blocking the ground and pound.
Reznikov prevents Novak from getting the reversal.
Novak keeps trying to improve his position.
Novak is still trying to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novak holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Reznikov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Novak working to try and regain half guard.
Novak manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Novak is trying to get back to full guard.

Novak is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Reznikov pulls his head out easily.
Novak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Novak makes his way to full guard, as Reznikov worked for a kimura.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Novak can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reznikov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Novak is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Reznikov is aware though and is defending well.
Reznikov wants to pass the guard but Novak is keeping the position.
Reznikov wants to control from the top but Novak keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Novak looking for a guillotine here but Reznikov defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kuzma Reznikov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Reznikov 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kuzma Reznikov!
During a confident post fight interview, Kuzma Reznikov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.