PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Damien Wayne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Byron Novak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Damien Wayne has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Wayne
vs
Novak

185 cm
25
196 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

202 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Self confident

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damien Wayne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Byron Novak!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Summer Carpenter and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wayne misses with a wild body shot.
Wayne stuffs the takedown attempt from Novak. Novak gets slowly back to his feet.
A combination from Wayne does no damage.
Novak closes the distance and clinches up with Wayne, looking for a takedown. Novak pushes Wayne against the cage but Wayne circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Novak avoids a punch combination nicely.
Novak is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wayne shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Novak as he avoids it easily.

Novak throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Wayne was covering up waiting for the punch and Novak finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Novak makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Novak is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Wayne wants to stand and escape but Novak is having none of it.
Novak throws a big right hand that misses.
Novak chips away with some ground and pound.
Novak stands up over Wayne, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novak postures up and lands a big shot to Wayne's brow.
Wayne knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Novak on the ground.
Novak wants to pass the guard but Wayne is keeping the position.
Novak postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Novak in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Novak throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Novak prevents Wayne from getting back to his feet.
Novak with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wayne utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Novak stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wayne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wayne is breathing heavily.
Novak chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Wayne preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Novak postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Novak is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Novak distracts Wayne with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Novak cracks Wayne with a solid left hand.
Novak in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Novak works over Wayne with some ground and pound from guard.
Wayne is trying to keep Novak in close.
Novak working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wayne preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Novak landing with the ground and pound.
Novak missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novak with a flurry of punches that miss.
Novak cracks Wayne with a solid left hand.
Novak chips away with some ground and pound.
Novak working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Novak chips away with some ground and pound.
Novak throwing strikes but missing.
Novak with a flurry of punches that miss.
Novak keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Wayne's head.
Wayne trying to keep a closed guard but Novak is proving a slippery customer.
Novak chips away with some ground and pound.
Novak has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

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 stops Wayne from standing up.
Novak is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Novak landing some decent shots from guard.
Novak postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Novak postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Novak makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Novak stops Wayne from standing up.
Novak scoring with some ground and pound.
Wayne working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Novak.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Novak accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Novak lands a couple of elbows.
Novak with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Novak dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Novak bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Wayne tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Novak wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Novak working the ground and pound.
Novak scoring with punches and elbows.

Novak looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Novak lands an elbow.
Novak in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Novak looks up at the clock and then as Wayne takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Novak smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Novak wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Wayne, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Novak scoring with punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novak working the ground and pound.
Novak scoring with punches and elbows.
Novak works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Wayne avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Novak.
The strikes coming from Novak are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Novak misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Wayne on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Wayne tries to get out of the position.
Novak throws an elbow but Wayne slips to the side and avoids it well.
Novak working the strikes but Wayne uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Novak working the head and body with strikes.
Novak missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Wayne is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Novak scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Novak working over Wayne with some ground and pound. Wayne looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Wayne blocking the ground and pound attempt from Novak.
Wayne keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wayne keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Novak 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.
Novak missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Novak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Novak looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Wayne might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Novak looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Novak not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Novak working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novak looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Wayne with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Novak thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Novak prevents Wayne from standing back up.
Nice strikes from Novak there.
Wayne blocking the ground and pound attempt from Novak.

Novak is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Wayne is just riding it out for now. Novak eventually gives up the hold.
Wayne pushes Novak off looking to stand but Novak dives back in and keeps control.
Novak lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novak not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Wayne is looking to control Novak's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wayne avoid being mounted?
Novak winds up and cracks Wayne with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Novak thows a huge punch but Wayne dodges it nicely.
Nice strikes from Novak there.
Novak throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Novak not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Novak throwing shots but Wayne is blocking nicely.
Novak scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Wayne has hold of Novak's hands but Novak slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Novak missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Novak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Novak looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wayne wants to get back to his feet.
Novak thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wayne is trying to stand.
Novak not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Novak lands with a punch from half guard.
Novak is nestled in close to Wayne, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Novak looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Wayne with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ground and pound from Novak.
Wayne blocking the ground and pound attempt from Novak.
Novak lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice strikes from Novak there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novak looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Novak looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Wayne with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Novak is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Novak 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.
Novak landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Wayne blocking the ground and pound attempt from Novak.
Wayne keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Novak looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Byron Novak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wayne trying to control from the bottom.
Novak throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wayne keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Byron Novak is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wayne trying to hold on to Novak's head to control him but Novak postures up.
Wayne is refusing to be controlled, as Novak sits in half guard.
Wayne is in trouble now - Novak has advanced to mount!
Wayne tries to hold on but Novak pushes him away.
Novak trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Novak is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Wayne can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Novak working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Wayne taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novak looking to finish Wayne with some ground and pound. This is bad for Wayne!
Wayne taking shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Novak cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Novak can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wayne is looking to escape.
Novak with shots to the head and body - Wayne looks very uncomfortable down there.
Novak lands a big elbow.
Novak tries to control but Wayne wriggling away.
Novak lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Wayne that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Novak connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Novak breaks from Wayne's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Novak trying to control but Wayne is having none of it.
Novak is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Damien Wayne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Novak landing strikes, looking to finish!

And that's the end of the fight!
Byron Novak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Novak 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Byron Novak!