PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evgeni Novikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Landon Kaplan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaplan has chosen Of Wolf And Man by Metallica as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Novikov
vs
Kaplan

190 cm
25
282 lbs
17 - 12 - 0

199 cm
19
285 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Decent elbows
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Evgeni Novikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Landon Kaplan!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaplan takes one to the side of the head.

It looks like Landon Kaplan has been cut.
Novikov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Evgeni Novikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Novikov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kaplan misses the body punch

and Novikov counters with a takedown into side control.

Novikov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Novikov tries for a kimura but Kaplan is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Novikov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Novikov in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's two 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.
Novikov trying to control the action but Kaplan is working from the bottom.

Novikov stands up.
Kaplan takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novikov misses with a looping right.
Novikov throws a wild body kick that Kaplan sees coming a mile off.
Novikov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kaplan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kaplan looks gassed!
Novikov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Novikov lands a lovely overhand right.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Novikov throws a sloppy body shot

and Kaplan moves into the clinch.

Novikov has hold of one of Kaplan's legs. Kaplan is fighting the takedown attempt but Novikov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Novikov stands and throws Kaplan's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novikov tries to move to mount but Kaplan blocks the move with his legs.
Kaplan takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Kaplan takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Novikov works to advance to full mount. Kaplan defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Novikov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Landon Kaplan's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kaplan tries to clinch but Novikov moves away
and Novikov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Novikov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kaplan's head.
Evgeni Novikov is winning the standup battle so far.
Kaplan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Novikov closes the distance and pushes Kaplan back into the cage.
Kaplan misses with a punch to the body.
Kaplan takes a knee to the side of the body.
Novikov lands a damaging elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Novikov.
Novikov lands with a light punch inside.
Novikov lands an elbow inside that Kaplan shrugs off.
Novikov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kaplan can do to turn this around?
Novikov digs a right hand underneath Kaplan's ribcage. Kaplan let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Still in the clinch, Novikov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kaplan is breathing heavily.
Novikov gets through Kaplan's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Knees to the body from Novikov.
Nice elbow from Novikov.
Novikov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov lands an elbow inside.
Novikov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kaplan's defenses.
Novikov landing knees to the body.
Novikov blocks a body shot from Kaplan.
Novikov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Novikov lands a left hand.
Novikov lands a hook that snaps the head of Kaplan backwards.
Knees in the clinch landing for Novikov.
Novikov lands a body shot.
Kaplan takes an elbow to the temple.
Novikov crunches a lovely knee into Kaplan's ribcage.
Kaplan throws a head punch that misses.
Novikov pushes Kaplan back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kaplan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Novikov's elbow.
Novikov lands with a short shot to the head.
Novikov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kaplan looking to stall.
Nice elbow from Novikov.
Kaplan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Novikov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Novikov lands a head kick. Kaplan smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novikov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Novikov counters with a nice body kick.
Novikov misses the shot to the body.
Novikov lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novikov moves in looking to clinch but Kaplan pushes him off.
Kaplan tries to clinch but Novikov moves away
and Novikov counters with a low kick, right behind Kaplan 's knee.
Novikov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kaplan moves away.
Novikov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Novikov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kaplan can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Novikov is trying to get an arm triangle but Kaplan is defending well.
Novikov working the strikes but Kaplan uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Novikov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Landon Kaplan's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A punch combination from Novikov misses.
Novikov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Novikov misses with a jab, cross combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Novikov. Kaplan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Novikov lands a slapping body shot.
Novikov misses with a shot to the body
and Kaplan counters with a nice body shot.
Kaplan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Novikov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaplan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Evgeni Novikov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kaplan with a couple of short strikes.
Novikov is squirming around, avoiding Kaplan's attempts to control the action.
Kaplan avoids the attempt from Novikov to control.
Kaplan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Evgeni Novikov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Novikov is bucking up trying to escape but Kaplan cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kaplan tries to control but Novikov wriggling away.
Novikov regains half guard.
Novikov is refusing to be controlled, as Kaplan sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan trying to control from Novikov's half guard. Novikov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Novikov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kaplan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Novikov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kaplan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kaplan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

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.
Kaplan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Novikov is on top in guard.
Novikov is looking to advance position but Kaplan has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Landon Kaplan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Novikov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:26
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:26
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evgeni Novikov!