PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Slava Vitruk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasily Novikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Vitruk
vs
Novikov

192 cm
25
260 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
206 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Slava Vitruk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vasily Novikov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novikov wants to clinch.
Vasily Novikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Novikov stuffs the takedown.
Novikov fails to land with a series of punches.
Novikov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vitruk swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Novikov wants to clinch.
Novikov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vitruk swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Vitruk throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Novikov was covering up waiting for the punch and Vitruk finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Vitruk won't allow Novikov to sweep him here.
Vitruk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Novikov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Novikov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Vitruk trying to control but Novikov is working from the bottom.
Vitruk throwing strikes from guard but Novikov blocks nicely.
Vitruk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vitruk wants to get up but he can't break Novikov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Vitruk scoring with punches to the head and body.
Novikov has control of Vitruk's left arm, preventing Vitruk from doing any damage.

Novikov is working an open guard so Vitruk takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Vitruk is trying hard to land a takedown here. Novikov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vitruk avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Novikov wants to clinch.
Novikov has his takedown stuffed

and Vitruk counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Novikov wants to stand and escape but Vitruk is having none of it.

Vitruk stands and steps away. Novikov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Novikov looks gassed!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vitruk is defended easily by Novikov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slava Vitruk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Novikov wants to clinch

and Vitruk counters with a single leg into guard. Novikov didn't expect that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vitruk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vitruk 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.

Novikov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vitruk defends well.
Vitruk is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Vitruk gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Novikov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Vitruk counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novikov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Vitruk is pushing down on Novikov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Novikov is fighting to maintain full guard but Vitruk has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vitruk is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Novikov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Vitruk.
Novikov wants to improve his position but Vitruk is controlling well.
Vitruk stalling.
Vitruk lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novikov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Vitruk throwing shots but Novikov is blocking nicely.
Vitruk is keen to just control but Novikov is a slippery customer.
Vitruk not doing much here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vitruk drops an elbow to the side of Novikov's head.
Vitruk working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Vitruk gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Novikov looks to land a combination but Vitruk avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Vitruk shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Vitruk stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Novikov to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slava Vitruk dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vitruk looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Vitruk is looking for a kimura here.
Vitruk could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Vitruk tries to pass to full mount but Novikov defends it.
Novikov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Novikov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vitruk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Novikov is breathing heavily.
Vitruk is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vitruk decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Vitruk dives in and grabs Novikov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Novikov pushes down on Vitruk's head and hops out.

Novikov rushes Vitruk and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Novikov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Vitruk backwards.
Novikov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Novikov misses with a knee to the head.
Novikov tries to pull guard but Vitruk holds him up against the cage and eventually Novikov drops back down to his feet.
Novikov has a couple of punches blocked by Vitruk.

Vitruk pulls guard.
Vitruk has a closed guard, preventing Novikov from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novikov wants to control from the top but Vitruk keeps moving.
Vitruk is adopting a defensive guard.
Vitruk has a closed guard, preventing Novikov from standing up.
Novikov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Vitruk is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novikov gets underhooks to prevent Vitruk's takedown attempt.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Novikov.
Novikov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vitruk wants to get back to striking at distance but Novikov won't allow it.
Vitruk fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slava Vitruk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Novikov has a couple of punches blocked by Vitruk.
Novikov misses with the head strike.

Vitruk gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Novikov regains guard.
Vitruk controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vitruk preventing the sweep.
Novikov keeping full guard, as Vitruk tries to pass.
Vitruk stands up over Novikov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novikov wants to sweep but no luck.
Novikov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Vitruk 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.
Vitruk controls from within his opponent's guard.
Novikov trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Vitruk feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Vitruk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Novikov is trying to keep Vitruk in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slava Vitruk dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Vitruk drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Vitruk creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Novikov sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Vitruk working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Novikov manages to get back to half guard.

Vitruk stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Vitruk swings for the body but Novikov moves out of range.
Vitruk has a takedown stuffed.

Vitruk tries to keep at a distance but Novikov has taken the fight into the clinch.

Novikov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Novikov tries to clinch but Vitruk moves away

and Vitruk counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Novikov!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vitruk looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov is looking to get to half guard.
Vitruk tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Novikov tries to lock up and control but Vitruk gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Novikov tries to buck Vitruk off but he can't manage it.
Vitruk connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Vitruk is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Novikov has managed to escape the submission attempt.

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

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Novikov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Novikov throws a leg kick that misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vitruk.

Vitruk decides to stand back up.

Vitruk shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Novikov is trying to defend but Vitruk finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vitruk seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Novikov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Novikov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vitruk pulls his head out easily.
Vitruk sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Vitruk prevents Novikov from standing back up.
Novikov tries to roll over but Vitruk keeps him under control.
Vitruk lands with a punch from half guard.
Vitruk lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Novikov trying to control here.
Vitruk has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Vitruk closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Vitruk lands in his opponent's guard.
Slava Vitruk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vitruk passes into half guard.
Vitruk controlling the pace.
Vitruk prevents Novikov from improving his position.
Vitruk working the head and body with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vitruk perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Vasily Novikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Slava Vitruk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vitruk, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Slava Vitruk!