PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Muhammad Novik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Bordin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Mauricio Bordin enters the cage!

Novik
vs
Bordin

172 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
21
154 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Muhammad Novik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Bordin!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novik looks for a takedown but Bordin sprawls well.
Bordin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Novik moves in looking to clinch but Bordin pushes him off.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Novik.
No luck for Bordin with that takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bordin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Novik fails with a takedown attempt.
Bordin shoots in and drives through. Novik sprawls well.
Novik fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Muhammad Novik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bordin throws a head kick that Novik semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novik with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bordin counters by moving into the clinch.

Novik breaks the clinch.
Bordin throws a leg kick but Novik checks it.
Bordin lands a jab to Novik's midsection.
Bordin tries to work over Novik's front leg with a kick but Novik checks it.
Bordin shoots in for a takedown but Novik shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bordin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Novik throws a head kick that misses

and Bordin counters with a shoot takedown. Novik fights it but they end up in guard.
Bordin trying to control but Novik is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Novik trying to strike off his back.
Novik knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bordin on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bordin is stalling in the full guard.
Bordin trying to control the position from guard on top but Novik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mauricio Bordin hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bordin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Novik closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bordin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Novik tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Novik jumps guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novik utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Novik not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Novik is breathing heavily.
Bordin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mauricio Bordin.

Bordin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bordin working for a submission but Novik is keeping him at bay.
Bordin looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Novik wants to hold on but Bordin pushes him away.
Bordin landing strikes, looking to finish!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bordin working for a guillotine from mount but Novik is in no mood to give up.

Bordin has control of Novik's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Novik regains control of the situation pretty easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bordin trying to control but Novik is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Bordin dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Novik tries to clinch but Bordin moves out of range.
Bordin misses with a wild combination.
Bordin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Novik defends it nicely.
Bordin has his takedown stuffed
and Novik makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Bordin really felt that one!
Bordin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Novik counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Novik misses with a two punch combination.
Novik tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bordin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Novik fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bordin fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bordin is defended easily by Novik.
Muhammad Novik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Bordin.
Bordin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Novik pinned against the cage. Novik gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bordin is breathing heavily.
Novik is looking to clinch.
Novik tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bordin swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Bordin pushes Novik up against the cage in a clinch.
Novik is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bordin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Novik up against the cage.
Novik has Bordin pressed against the cage, preventing Bordin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Novik gets control of Bordin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Novik will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Bordin wants to control from the top but Novik keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bordin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Novik throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Novik 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.
Bordin passes Novik's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bordin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bordin working over Novik with some ground and pound. Novik looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Bordin frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bordin is working for a guillotine from mount but Novik frees his head quite easily.
Novik is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Bordin jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Novik is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Novik and Bordin has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Bordin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Novik knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bordin misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Bordin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Bordin shoots in looking for a takedown but Novik manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bordin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Novik fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Novik tries to clinch up.
Bordin misses with a takedown attempt - Novik sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Novik tries to close the distance and clinch but Bordin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Novik keeps the fight on the outside.
Novik lands a jab to the nose.
Bordin swings for the body but Novik moves out of range.
Novik shoots in and drives through. Bordin sprawls well.

Bordin moves into the clinch.

Novik breaks from the clinch.

Bordin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Novik manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bordin stands and throws Novik's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Novik is trying to escape the position but Bordin is controlling the position.

Bordin is trying to get an arm triangle but Novik is defending well.
Bordin staying calm.
Novik is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novik is looking to get back to is feet but Bordin passes into side control.
Bordin passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Novik!
Bordin lands a nice shot to the head.
Bordin wants to control the pace but Novik is squirming around nicely.
Novik is bucking up trying to escape but Bordin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bordin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bordin raining down hammerfists from mount.
Bordin controlling his opponent.
Bordin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bordin controlling his opponent.
Novik is trying to reverse the position but instead Bordin has taken his back - oops!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bordin scores with punches and elbows.
Novik is in bad spot here.
Novik prevents Bordin from getting a body triangle.
Bordin biding his time, controlling Novik.
Mauricio Bordin has got the better of the ground game so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Bordin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bordin 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauricio Bordin!