PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyle Novacek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilyha Porunov (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.

Novacek
vs
Porunov

190 cm
22
217 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

195 cm
20
200 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lyle Novacek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilyha Porunov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novacek looks for a takedown but Porunov sprawls well.

Novacek scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Porunov can't do much from the bottom here.
Novacek in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Novacek grinds an elbow into Porunov's temple.
Porunov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Novacek. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Porunov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Novacek.

Novacek decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Novacek tries for a takedown but Porunov circles away easily
and Porunov counters with a straight right hand.
Porunov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Novacek scores with a takedown into Porunov's guard.
Novacek is in close to Porunov's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porunov wants to stand up but Novacek is controlling him.
Porunov keeping moving, preventing Novacek from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Novacek throwing strikes from guard but Porunov blocks nicely.

Novacek decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Porunov, up you get!
Porunov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Novacek counters with a shoot takedown. Porunov fights it but they end up in guard.
Porunov wants to sweep but no luck.
Porunov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Novacek wants to control but Porunov is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novacek is in all sorts of trouble here.
Novacek on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Novacek tries to get out of the position.
Porunov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Novacek wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Porunov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novacek is trying to escape the mount.
Porunov controlling the position easily from mount.
Novacek tries to hold on but Porunov pushes him away.

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.
Porunov tries to control but Novacek wriggling away.
Porunov can't control as he wanted to and Novacek manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Novacek is controlling Porunov's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Lyle Novacek has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Porunov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyle Novacek dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Porunov shoots and misses

and Novacek counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Porunov!
Porunov is bucking up trying to escape but Novacek cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Novacek looking to control but Porunov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Novacek putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Novacek in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Novacek lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Novacek pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Novacek postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Porunov bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Novacek and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lyle Novacek!