PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evgeni Novikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunnar Edvard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Evgeni Novikov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Novikov
vs
Edvard

190 cm
22
287 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

195 cm
24
275 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Decent elbows
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Evgeni Novikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gunnar Edvard!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novikov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Edvard keeps the fight on the outside.
Novikov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Edvard. That did some damage!
Novikov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Edvard swivels and escapes.

Edvard drives through with a takedown into guard.

Edvard stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Edvard clinches with his opponent.
Novikov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Edvard.
Novikov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Edvard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Novikov digs a right hand underneath Edvard's ribcage. Edvard let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Edvard takes a knee right on the jaw!
Knees in the clinch landing for Novikov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Novikov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Novikov - that landed with a thud.
Novikov tries to throw a body punch but Edvard avoids it by throwing Novikov back against the cage.
Edvard manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Edvard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Novikov is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edvard prevents a body shot from Novikov.
Edvard tries to stall but Novikov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Novikov has Edvard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Edvard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Novikov lands a knee to the head.

Edvard is trying to trip Novikov. He has hold of a leg but Novikov is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Edvard persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Edvard trying to control the position from guard on top but Novikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Edvard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Novikov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Edvard has managed to get both his arms back between Novikov's legs - danger averted.

Novikov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Novikov is breathing heavily.
Edvard wants to stand but Novikov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Edvard landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edvard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Edvard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Edvard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Novikov keeping moving, preventing Edvard from controlling successfully.
Novikov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Edvard stands up over Novikov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Novikov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Edvard is one step ahead there.
Edvard slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Edvard is looking to take a break and control but Novikov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Edvard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novikov is looking for a sweep.
Edvard has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Edvard working for a guillotine from mount but Novikov is in no mood to give up.
Edvard is landing with some decent strikes but Novikov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Edvard has hold of Novikov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Novikov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Novikov working to try and regain half guard.
Edvard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novikov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Edvard scoring with strikes but Novikov is staying in there.
Edvard prevents Novikov from getting the reversal.
Edvard working the ground and pound effectively.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Edvard lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Novikov hang on?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Edvard controlling from mount.
Novikov is looking to get to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Edvard working for a guillotine from mount but Novikov is in no mood to give up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Edvard dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Edvard takes the fight into the clinch.
Novikov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Edvard avoiding damage as Novikov throws knees to the body.
Novikov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Edvard trying to stall but Novikov improves his position.
Edvard blocks an elbow strike.
Novikov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Edvard is keeping busy.
Edvard trying to control the position but instead, Novikov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Edvard into the cage.
Novikov struggles to land a body shot inside as Edvard controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edvard has had enough of the clinch but Novikov keeps him there for the moment.

Edvard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Edvard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Edvard moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov working Edvard over with knees to the body.
Edvard lands a nice uppercut.
Novikov tries to land knees in the clinch but Edvard avoids the damage to the body.
A short left from Edvard.
Novikov missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Novikov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Edvard.
Novikov trying to land knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Novikov.
Novikov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Novikov can't find room to land a body shot as Edvard controls the action.
Novikov trying to stall but Edvard improves his position.
Edvard blocks an uppercut.
Edvard dodges an elbow strike from Novikov.
Novikov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Edvard has Novikov pushed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Edvard is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Edvard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Novikov misses with a hook to the ribs.

Novikov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Novikov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Edvard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Edvard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Edvard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Edvard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Novikov wants to sweep but no luck.
Novikov controls Edvard momentarily but Edvard frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edvard wants to control from the top but Novikov keeps moving.
Edvard pushing down on Novikov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Novikov is in trouble now - Edvard has advanced to mount!

Edvard jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Novikov manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Edvard is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Novikov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Edvard thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Edvard passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Novikov!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edvard with a couple of short strikes.
Edvard lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Edvard lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Novikov hang on?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Edvard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gunnar Edvard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Novikov can't escape the position.
Edvard with the ground and pound from mount.

Edvard goes for an armbar but Novikov turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Novikov.

Edvard looking for a guillotine here but Novikov defends easily.
Edvard wants to improve his position but instead Novikov has moved into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Edvard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Novikov has managed to clinch.
Novikov tries to land knees in the clinch but Edvard avoids the damage to the body.
Novikov tries a knee to the head but Edvard blocks it.

Novikov pulls guard.

Edvard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Edvard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Edvard lands a couple of digs.

Novikov is looking for a triangle but Edvard pushes his legs off easily.

Novikov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Edvard defends it easily.
Edvard is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edvard trying to control the position from guard on top but Novikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Edvard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Novikov looking for a sweep. Not yet Novikov, not yet.
Edvard slips nicely into half guard.
Edvard wants to take a breather but Novikov is having none of it.
Edvard is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Novikov!

Edvard is working for a guillotine from mount but Novikov frees his head quite easily.
Evgeni Novikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edvard pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Novikov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Edvard.

Edvard is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Novikov is surviving well by controlling Edvard's body position as best he can.
Edvard tries to control but Novikov wriggling away.
Edvard throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Novikov is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Edvard wants to finish this one by submission but Novikov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Edvard.
Edvard is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Novikov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Edvard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Edvard looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edvard prevents Novikov from standing back up.
Edvard is keen to just control but Novikov is a slippery customer.
Edvard scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Edvard passes to full mount!
Gunnar Edvard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Edvard working for a guillotine from mount but Novikov is in no mood to give up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gunnar Edvard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Edvard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gunnar Edvard!