PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between MATT SERRA (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Noven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rob Noven has the eye of the tiger tonight.

SERRA
vs
Noven

170 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, MATT SERRA!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rob Noven!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Dean Styles and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Noven gets in close and instigates a clinch.
SERRA is trying to drag Noven to the mat but Noven just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Noven wants to break the clinch but can't.
SERRA keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Noven's efforts to push away.

SERRA has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Noven regains guard immediately.
Noven is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
SERRA wants to stand but Noven has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
SERRA slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
SERRA wants to control from the top but Noven keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
SERRA stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Noven swivels though and keeps the full guard.
SERRA might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Noven has momentary wrist control but SERRA slips an elbow through the middle.
Noven really doesn't want to stay on the ground with SERRA. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
SERRA pushing down on Noven's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
SERRA is pressing down on Noven's thigh, looking to free his foot. Noven is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Noven tries to push off, looking to stand up, but SERRA manages to move to mount!
SERRA trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Noven tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
SERRA lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
SERRA trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Noven can do anything to dispel that myth.
Noven is looking to improve his position but SERRA isn't that keen on the idea.
Noven tries to control the position but SERRA now has his back.
Noven holding both SERRA 's hands and preventing any damage.
A lull in the action here.
SERRA is breathing heavily.
Noven trying to control the hands but SERRA won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noven is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Noven tries to break free.
SERRA is not going to allow Noven to sit and survive in this position.
SERRA has the hooks in. Noven is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

SERRA is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Noven has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

SERRA is persistently looking for the submission but Noven is defending it well.
Noven is trying to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Noven looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
SERRA trying to control momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

MATT SERRA dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Noven misses with a series of wild punches.
SERRA falls off balance throwing a combination
and Noven counters with a left and a right that stings SERRA.
SERRA leaves Noven with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Noven shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has SERRA pinned against the cage. SERRA gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Noven fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with SERRA, pushing him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Noven throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Noven taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Noven has dropped down and is working for a takedown. SERRA is trying to keep an underhook but Noven manages to get the takedown into half guard.
SERRA is refusing to be controlled, as Noven sits in half guard.
SERRA trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
SERRA is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Noven wants to take a breather but SERRA is having none of it.
Noven tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Noven working over SERRA with some ground and pound. SERRA looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
SERRA wants to control but Noven is keeping busy.

That's two 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Noven has SERRA up against the cage in a clinch.
Noven softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
SERRA tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Noven tries to break the clinch but SERRA is controlling the position.
Noven lands a body punch.
Noven drops down looking for an ankle pick but SERRA pulls his leg out and moves away.
MATT SERRA has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Noven.

Noven changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. SERRA looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
SERRA gets back to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Noven lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noven wants to get back to his feet.
SERRA looks like he's trying to stand up.
SERRA tries to roll over but Noven keeps him under control.
SERRA is looking to control Noven's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can SERRA avoid being mounted?
Ground and pound from Noven.
SERRA on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Noven perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
SERRA is trying to stand.

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

Noven clinches with his opponent.

Noven is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. SERRA can't fight it off and eventually Noven manages to take the fight to the floor. SERRA looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Noven lands a couple of elbows.
SERRA lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Noven!
SERRA prevents Noven from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Noven showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Noven tries to clinch there but SERRA circles away.
SERRA wants to clinch.
Noven fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but SERRA avoids it really well and circles away.
Noven fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Noven is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
SERRA throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
SERRA shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Noven sprawls well. Noven wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. SERRA gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
SERRA has his takedown stuffed

and Noven counters with a nice double leg into side control. SERRA won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noven wants to stand but SERRA is controlling his arm.

Noven wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by SERRA, who protects the arm well.
SERRA is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
SERRA isn't going anywhere.
SERRA tries to improve position but can't.
SERRA is not content to let Noven control the position.
SERRA tries to bench press Noven off him but Noven keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Noven is looking to take a break and control but SERRA is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Noven takes the fight into the clinch.
Noven has SERRA pushed against the cage.

Noven tightens his grip and picks SERRA up, before dumping him to the ground. SERRA manages to land in guard.
Noven wants to control from the top but SERRA keeps moving.
SERRA is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noven would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

SERRA is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
SERRA can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for MATT SERRA. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noven is trying to work for a single leg takedown but SERRA pulls him back up using the underhooks.
SERRA is looking to control Noven's arms but Noven gets an underhook and turns him. Now SERRA has his back to the cage.
Noven is working for takedown but SERRA is calmly controlling the position for now.

SERRA pulls Noven into guard.
SERRA wants to sweep but no luck.
Noven wants to control from the top but SERRA keeps moving.
Noven won't allow SERRA to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

SERRA has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Noven can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Noven trying to control but SERRA is working from the bottom.
Noven missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Noven gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and SERRA counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Noven tries to kick SERRA off but SERRA keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rob Noven.
Well Noven has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Noven!