PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Romanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joilton Novim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Romanov
vs
Novim

185 cm
19
220 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

199 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Very confident

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valentin Romanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joilton Novim!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romanov avoids the head kick by Novim.
Novim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Novim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Romanov moves in looking to clinch but Novim pushes him off.
Novim tries a head kick but it misses.
An inside leg kick from Romanov misses.
Novim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Romanov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Novim plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Novim throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Romanov's head.
Novim keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Romanov fails with the takedown.
Romanov avoids the head kick by Novim.
Novim throws a head kick that misses.
Novim throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Romanov.
Novim tries a head kick but it misses.
Romanov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valentin Romanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Novim.
Romanov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Novim lands a head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novim goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Romanov shoots in but Novim avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Novim plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Novim staying out of range there.
Joilton Novim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Novim throws a head kick but Romanov moves out of range.
Novim throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Novim throws a head kick that misses.
Novim plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Romanov shoots for a double leg takedown but Novim sprawls well. He's pushed Romanov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Romanov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Novim throws a sloppy head kick and Romanov moves out of range easily.
Romanov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Novim circles away quickly and effectively.
Novim pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Novim throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Novim.
Novim tries a head kick but it misses.
Novim throws a head kick but Romanov moves out of range.
Romanov blocks a head kick by Novim.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novim takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Novim throws a sloppy head kick and Romanov moves out of range easily.
Novim pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Romanov connects with a single shot there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Romanov blocks a head kick by Novim.
Novim scores with a head kick.
Novim throws a head kick but Romanov moves out of range.

Romanov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Romanov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romanov trying to control the position but Novim is working away.
Novim is trying to buck Romanov off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romanov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Romanov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romanov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Novim keeps working.
Romanov throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

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.
Romanov wants to take a breather but Novim manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Romanov.
Romanov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Novim works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Romanov wants to control from the top but Novim keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Romanov moves into the clinch successfully.
Novim wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Romanov has him pressed against the cage.
Novim has had enough of the clinch but Romanov keeps him there for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romanov prevents Novim from breaking the clinch.
Novim wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Novim's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Novim has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joilton Novim 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.

Novim connects with a high kick.
Novim throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Romanov blocks a head kick by Novim.
Novim misses with a head kick.
Novim misses with a head kick.
Novim throws a head kick that Romanov semi-blocks.
Romanov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Novim throws a head kick but Romanov moves out of range.
Novim throws a head kick that misses.

Romanov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Novim's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Novim lands with a slapping head kick.
A head kick misses from Novim.
Romanov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Romanov blocks a head kick by Novim.
Novim dodges the punch combination from Romanov.
Novim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Romanov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Joilton Novim seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Novim tries a head kick but it misses.
Romanov blocks a head kick by Novim.
Romanov avoids the head kick by Novim.
Novim throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Novim throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Novim.

Novim gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Romanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Romanov 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.
Romanov tries to free his leg and advance position but Novim is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romanov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Novim's guard.
Romanov is trying to control the action in half guard but Novim is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Novim is breathing heavily.
Romanov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Romanov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Novim defending well though.
Novim pushes Romanov off looking to stand but Romanov dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romanov is looking for a kimura here.

Romanov 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.

Romanov is working for a submission of some sort.

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.
Romanov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joilton Novim will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A right-left combo lands from Romanov.
Valentin Romanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Novim throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Romanov's head.
Novim misses with a head kick.
Novim goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Novim connects with a high kick.
Romanov shoots in for a takedown but Novim shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Novim throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Novim pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Romanov throws a right hand that Novim ducks under and follows up with a left that Novim also avoids with ease.
Novim throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Romanov throws a leg kick that misses.
Novim throws a sloppy head kick and Romanov moves out of range easily.
Novim misses with a head kick.

Romanov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Romanov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Romanov fails to move to back control.

Romanov moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Novim has worked his arm free - good work by Novim!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romanov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Romanov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Novim rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Romanov's guard! Nice work there by Novim!
Novim wants to get up but he can't break Romanov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Romanov pulls Novim in to control the position.
Novim tries to stand but Romanov is controlling from the bottom.

Romanov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Novim wants to stand but Romanov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Valentin Romanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanov striking off his back but it's not causing Novim any problems.
Novim trying to stand up but can't free himself from Romanov's guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Romanov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Romanov controlling from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romanov is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Novim looks calm but he's in trouble here. Romanov gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Novim is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Romanov lets go of the hold and Novim can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Valentin Romanov!