PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Igor Zveroboy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artur Nowak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. The key to victory for Igor Zveroboy has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Zveroboy
vs
Nowak

185 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

195 cm
25
210 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Zveroboy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artur Nowak!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nowak misses with a head kick.
Zveroboy is breathing heavily.
Zveroboy shoots in for a takedown but Nowak shows good takedown defense.

Zveroboy tries to keep at a distance but Nowak has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zveroboy tries for a takedown. No joy.
Zveroboy stops a takedown attempt from Nowak.

Nowak breaks the clinch.

Nowak scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zveroboy pushes Nowak off looking to stand but Nowak dives back in and keeps control.
Nowak prevents Zveroboy from improving his position.
Nowak tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zveroboy knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nowak takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Let's hope that Nowak has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Artur Nowak hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Nowak scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Zveroboy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nowak wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zveroboy keeps working.
Zveroboy is trying to buck Nowak off.
Nowak in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Zveroboy is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zveroboy is trying to get back to half guard.
Zveroboy can't do much from the bottom here.
Nowak misses with the ground and pound.
Nowak in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Zveroboy struggling a bit here.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zveroboy avoids the head kick by Nowak.
Nowak shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zveroboy counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nowak!
Nowak blocking the ground and pound.
Nowak tries to reverse the position but Zveroboy maintains control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zveroboy cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zveroboy lands a nice shot to the head.
Zveroboy lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Nowak is desperately trying to improve his position but Zveroboy has a good base and remains in mount.

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

Zveroboy looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nowak has picked Zveroboy up and slammed him! Zveroboy can't keep hold of the triangle and Nowak manages to pass to side control!
Zveroboy is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Nowak dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nowak throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zveroboy's waist but Zveroboy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nowak off to one side.
Nowak wants to clinch.
Nowak shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zveroboy counters with a shoot takedown. Nowak fights it but they end up in guard.
Zveroboy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zveroboy wants to control from the top but Nowak keeps moving.
Nowak wants to sweep here but Zveroboy controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zveroboy being controlled here momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zveroboy throwing strikes from guard but Nowak blocks nicely.
Zveroboy looking to pass the guard.
Nowak manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Zveroboy is trying to escape the mount.
Artur Nowak has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Zveroboy is working hard here to advance position.

Nowak with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Zveroboy is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zveroboy tries to lock up and control but Nowak gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zveroboy blocking the ground and pound.
Zveroboy really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Zveroboy sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nowak is keen to just control but Zveroboy is a slippery customer.
Zveroboy is looking for a sweep. Nowak is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zveroboy trying to hold on to Nowak's head to control him but Nowak postures up.
Nowak is taking a breather. Zveroboy says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Zveroboy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Zveroboy actively working from the bottom here.
Zveroboy is trying to stand back up but Nowak is controlling him

Zveroboy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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.
Zveroboy tries to kick Nowak off but Nowak keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Zveroboy is looking for a sweep. Nowak is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nowak perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Zveroboy is looking to get back to full guard here but Nowak has managed to pass to side control instead.
Zveroboy is looking to improve his position but Nowak isn't that keen on the idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nowak controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Igor Zveroboy will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Nowak tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Zveroboy counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Zveroboy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nowak keeping moving, preventing Zveroboy from controlling successfully.
Nowak bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zveroboy's guard.
Nowak slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zveroboy is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zveroboy tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Nowak keeps control of the position easily here as Zveroboy tries to buck him off.
Nowak keeps control of the position as Zveroboy tries to break free.

Nowak is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Zveroboy defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Zveroboy is really stuck here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nowak throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Zveroboy trying to get back to his feet but Nowak is in full control for now.
Nowak keeps control of the position easily here as Zveroboy tries to buck him off.
Nowak throws strikes from the back but Zveroboy rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Zveroboy.
Nowak controlling from the top position.

Zveroboy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zveroboy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zveroboy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nowak works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Zveroboy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nowak missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nowak passes to full mount!
Nowak sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zveroboy wants to control but Nowak is having none of it.
Zveroboy is working to get back to half guard.
Nowak lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Zveroboy is looking to get to half guard.
Nowak avoids the attempt from Zveroboy to control.
Zveroboy working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artur Nowak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nowak 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artur Nowak!