PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kris Novak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dick Slapp (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.

Novak
vs
Slapp

190 cm
20
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Lightning Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kris Novak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dick Slapp!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Steven Brown and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novak throws a lazy right hand but Slapp sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Novak fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Novak changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Slapp tries to avoid it but Novak manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Slapp to the ground. Slapp escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Novak fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kris Novak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Novak shoots in and drives through. Slapp sprawls well.
Novak closes this distance looking for a takedown but Slapp circles away.
Slapp stuffs the takedown attempt from Novak. Novak gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novak looks for a takedown but Slapp sprawls well.
Slapp stuffs the takedown attempt from Novak. Novak gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slapp misses with a double jab.

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

Slapp decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Slapp throws a nice looking combination but Novak bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Slapp misses with a wild combination.
Novak doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Slapp counters with a three punch combo that has Novak backing up. Novak nods at Slapp to acknowledge the strikes.
Novak is breathing heavily.
Slapp throws a right and a left that both miss.
Novak misses with a takedown
and Slapp counters with a series of strikes. Novak will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Slapp.
Kris Novak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Slapp throws a series of punches but Novak avoids them all with ease.
Slapp misses with a double jab.
Novak keeps the fight on the outside.
Slapp throws a chopping leg kick but Novak manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Slapp is looking to chop away at Novak's legs.

Slapp bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Slapp decides to stand back up.
Novak tries to close the distance and clinch but Slapp swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Novak tries to clinch up but Slapp circles away and keeps his distance.
Novak lands a high kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slapp fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Novak avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Novak with a poor takedown

and Slapp counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Novak!
Slapp content just to control the position here.
Slapp throwing strikes here but Novak is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Slapp looking to control and managing it successfully.
Novak blocking the ground and pound.
Novak can't escape the position.
Slapp looking to control but Novak is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Novak wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Slapp.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Slapp is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Novak can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Slapp lands a heavy elbow.

Slapp with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Slapp throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Novak because Slapp loaded up on that one.
Slapp punching from mount but Novak doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Slapp trying to control but Novak is having none of it.

Slapp working for a guillotine from mount but Novak is in no mood to give up.
Slapp has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Novak working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Slapp dominated that round.
That's time! Novak's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Slapp throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Novak shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Slapp counters with a series of strikes. Novak will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kris Novak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Novak is looking to land body kicks.
Novak tries for a takedown but Slapp circles away easily

so Slapp counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Slapp wants to stand but Novak is controlling his posture from full guard.
Slapp wants to control from the top but Novak keeps moving.
Novak is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Novak is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Slapp stands and steps away. Novak gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Slapp moves in looking to clinch but Novak pushes him off.
A combination from Slapp does no damage.
Slapp attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Slapp misses with a series of wild punches.

Slapp scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
An elbow from Slapp crashes against the mat.

Slapp is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Novak has escaped the position, nice work there.

Slapp decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slapp scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Novak cracks the inside of Slapp's front leg.
Slapp looks to land a combination but Novak avoids it well.
Novak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Novak throws a lazy uppercut

so Slapp counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Slapp is pushing down on Novak's leg trying to pass to half guard. Novak is fighting to maintain full guard but Slapp has managed to sneak the leg through.

Slapp decides to stand and escape the position.
An inside leg kick lands from Novak.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Novak shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Slapp counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Novak!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kris Novak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slapp thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slapp throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Novak is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slapp avoids the attempt from Novak to control.
Novak is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Slapp looking to finish Novak with some ground and pound. This is bad for Novak!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Novak blocking the ground and pound.
Novak is in all sorts of trouble here.
Slapp thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Novak is trying desperately to improve position.
Slapp can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Novak is looking to escape.
Slapp throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Novak because Slapp loaded up on that one.

That's four 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.
Slapp lands a big elbow.

Slapp goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Novak turns into him and now he's in Slapp's guard.

Slapp pushes Novak off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Novak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Novak misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Novak throws a leg kick but Slapp checks it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Novak.
Slapp throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Slapp showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jab from Slapp.
Novak tries for a takedown but Slapp sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Slapp. No joy for Novak on that attempt.
Slapp tries to bum rush Novak with a series of wild strikes but Novak uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Slapp looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Novak throws a head kick but Slapp moves out of range.
Slapp fails in his attempt to clinch.
Slapp is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Slapp gets a takedown into half guard.
Slapp controlling the action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Slapp not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novak is looking for a sweep. Slapp is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Slapp decides to stand and escape the position.
No joy there for Slapp, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Slapp tries to clinch but Novak moves away
and Novak counters with a low kick, right behind Slapp 's knee.
Novak dodges the punch combination from Slapp.
Novak misses with a takedown

so Slapp counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kris Novak. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Slapp stands up and waves to Novak to follow him.

Novak gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak working a defensive guard here.
Novak is looking to stand up but Slapp isn't so interested in that idea.
Novak manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Slapp is squirming around, avoiding Novak's attempts to control the action.
Slapp really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Novak tries to control but Slapp wriggling away.
Slapp really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slapp is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Novak pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Slapp tries to lock up and control but Novak gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Slapp is squirming around, avoiding Novak's attempts to control the action.
Slapp trying desperately to get to his feet.
Novak lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Novak get's back to his feet.
Novak throws a head kick but Slapp moves out of range.
Novak tries to close the distance and clinch up but Slapp swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Novak with a poor takedown

and Slapp counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Novak's guard now.
Slapp tries to stand but Novak is controlling from the bottom.
Novak working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Slapp.
Novak tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Slapp trying to control but Novak is working from the bottom.
Slapp looking to sit in guard and control but Novak gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Slapp has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Novak gets to his feet. Slapp looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Slapp with a jab.

Novak takes the fight into the clinch.
Slapp can't break the clinch.
Kris Novak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Slapp tries to break the clinch but Novak is controlling the position.
Slapp wants to get back to striking at distance but Novak won't allow it.
Slapp is trying to break the clinch but Novak has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dick Slapp comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Slapp 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Dick Slapp!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Dick Slapp!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Dick Slapp!

Dick Slapp wins by unanimous decision!