PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jack Kronic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arkadi Novikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kronic
vs
Novikov

170 cm
20
168 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

174 cm
21
164 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Kronic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arkadi Novikov!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kronic stalks Novikov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Novikov's face. Novikov staggers backwards, shaken.
Kronic thows a body shot but no joy.
Novikov tries to clinch up but Kronic circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice takedown defense from Novikov. No joy for Kronic on that attempt.
Novikov looks to score with a jab to the body but Kronic is just out of range.

Kronic drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Novikov working a defensive guard here.
Kronic not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kronic won't allow Novikov to sweep him here.
Kronic postures up in Novikov's guard and throws a big left but Novikov blocks it.
Kronic trying to control but Novikov is working from the bottom.
Kronic throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kronic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Novikov tries to clinch there but Kronic circles away.
No joy there for Kronic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Novikov closes the distance and clinches up with Kronic, looking for a takedown. Novikov pushes Kronic against the cage but Kronic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Novikov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Novikov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Novikov wants to control but Kronic is keeping him busy.
An elbow from Novikov crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kronic is looking for a sweep.
Novikov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Kronic is trying to improve his position.
An elbow from Novikov crashes against the mat.
Novikov scoring with punches from side control.
Novikov in side control, throwing shots but Kronic defends.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kronic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Novikov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Novikov thows a big elbow that misses.
Kronic is trying to keep Novikov in close.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novikov wants to control from the top but Kronic keeps moving.
Novikov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Novikov preventing the sweep.
Novikov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kronic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Novikov wants to control from the top but Kronic keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Novikov slips a jab and a cross from Kronic.

Novikov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kronic's guard.
Novikov working some strikes from top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Novikov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kronic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Novikov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Novikov throwing strikes but missing.
Kronic trying to control the position.
Kronic keeping moving, preventing Novikov from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Novikov stays in close to Kronic's body and controls the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kronic takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Kronic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Novikov, pushing him back against the cage.
Novikov gets underhooks to prevent Kronic's takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arkadi Novikov 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.

Novikov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kronic looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kronic can't do much from the bottom here.
Kronic takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Kronic wants to control but Novikov postures up.
Novikov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kronic defending against the ground and pound.
Kronic is trying to get back to half guard.
Novikov tries to score with some ground and pound. Kronic controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The strikes coming from Novikov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Novikov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kronic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kronic scores a takedown into full mount!
Novikov is looking to get to half guard.
Kronic tries to push Novikov's head away but Novikov is holding on tight.
Novikov tries to hold on but Kronic postures up.
Novikov is squirming around, avoiding Kronic's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novikov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Novikov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kronic postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Novikov looks a forlorn figure.
Novikov tries to hold on but Kronic postures up.

Kronic is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Novikov has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Novikov!
Kronic trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novikov throwing strikes from guard but Kronic blocks nicely.
Novikov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Novikov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Novikov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Novikov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Kronic has his feet on Novikov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Novikov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kronic circles away.
Kronic digs a good body shot into Novikov's ribs.
Novikov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jack Kronic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arkadi Novikov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kronic tries to clinch but Novikov moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Novikov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kronic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Novikov circles away quickly and effectively.
Novikov is looking to clinch.
Novikov closes the distance and clinches up with Kronic, looking for a takedown. Novikov pushes Kronic against the cage but Kronic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Novikov misses with the combination.
Novikov scores with a body shot.
Kronic misses with a hook to the body

and Novikov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kronic!
Novikov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kronic is looking to escape.
Novikov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arkadi Novikov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Novikov dives in and grabs Kronic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kronic pushes down on Novikov's head and hops out.

Kronic shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kronic wants to pass the guard but Novikov is defending well.
Novikov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kronic is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Novikov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kronic postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Novikov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kronic, into his guard.
Novikov is looking to work some ground and pound but Kronic has wrist control.
Novikov tries to free his leg and advance position but Kronic is retaining full guard.
Kronic wants to sweep but no luck.
Kronic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Novikov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Novikov throwing strikes but missing.
Novikov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

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.
Novikov trying to control but Kronic is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kronic.
A punch combination from Novikov misses.
Jack Kronic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kronic shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Novikov tries for a takedown but Kronic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Novikov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jack Kronic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arkadi Novikov.

Novikov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Novikov lands in his opponent's guard.
Kronic wants to stand and escape but Novikov is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kronic keeping moving, preventing Novikov from controlling successfully.
Kronic keeping full guard, as Novikov tries to pass.
Novikov throwing strikes from guard but Kronic blocks nicely.
Novikov landing with the ground and pound.
Novikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kronic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Novikov cracks Kronic with a solid left hand.

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.
Novikov landing with the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Novikov drives through and clinches with Kronic against the cage.
Novikov wants a takedown but no success here.

Kronic is trying to trip Novikov. He has hold of a leg but Novikov is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kronic persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Kronic with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Novikov pulls Kronic in close to his closed guard and prevents Kronic from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kronic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jack Kronic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kronic is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Novikov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Novikov has escaped and now he's on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Arkadi Novikov.
I've got Novikov 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arkadi Novikov!