PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evgeni Novikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santa Clause (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Novikov
vs
Clause

190 cm
19
287 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

195 cm
23
275 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Santa Clause!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Clause or perhaps it was just good defense by Novikov which made him look bad.
Novikov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Novikov stuffs the takedown.

Clause scores a takedown into full mount!
Novikov is trying desperately to improve position.
Novikov is squirming around, avoiding Clause's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Clause looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Novikov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Clause.
Novikov really is a fat lump.

Clause is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Novikov has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Novikov!
Clause keeping moving, preventing Novikov from controlling successfully.
Clause keeping full guard, as Novikov tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov is working hard here to advance position.

Clause escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Novikov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Clause keeping moving, preventing Novikov from controlling successfully.
Novikov is really struggling to control Clause but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Novikov tries to free his leg and advance position but Clause is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Clause looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Clause looks gassed!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Novikov has closed the distance and engaged Clause in a clinch.
Clause is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Novikov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Evgeni Novikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santa Clause.

Novikov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Clause is refusing to be controlled, as Novikov sits in half guard.

Novikov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clause is looking to control Novikov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Clause avoid being mounted?
Novikov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Clause taking some punishment here, with Novikov in his half guard.
Novikov passes the guard and advances to mount!

Novikov is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Clause can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Novikov looking for a guillotine from mount but Clause is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Novikov wants to finish this one by submission but Clause is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Novikov.
Clause regains half guard.

Clause is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Novikov pulls his head out easily.
Clause trying to control but Novikov postures up.

Clause is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Novikov pulls his head out easily.
Novikov moves into full mount! Clause won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novikov wants to control the pace but Clause is squirming around nicely.

Novikov working for a guillotine from mount but Clause is in no mood to give up.
Clause working to try and regain half guard.

Novikov working for a guillotine from mount but Clause is in no mood to give up.
Clause is desperately trying to improve his position but Novikov has a good base and remains in mount.
Novikov tries to control but Clause wriggling away.
Clause working to try and regain half guard.

Novikov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Novikov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Clause shoots in but Novikov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Clause closes this distance looking for a takedown but Novikov circles away.
Clause will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Evgeni Novikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santa Clause.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clause.
Novikov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Novikov is looking to clinch but Clause is avoiding it.

Clause closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Novikov to the mat! Novikov manages to get full guard.
Novikov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clause must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Novikov had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Clause is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Novikov Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Clause's back instead.
Clause is in bad spot here.
Clause is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clause is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Clause trying to control the position but Novikov manages to sink in the hooks.
Clause tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Clause really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Novikov looking to secure an arm triangle but Clause defends it well.
Clause is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Clause wants to control but Novikov is having none of it.
Clause is desperately trying to improve his position but Novikov has a good base and remains in mount.
Clause sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Clause looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Clause tries to roll over but Novikov keeps him under control.
Novikov is nestled in close to Clause, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Clause is in trouble now - Novikov has advanced to mount!
Clause is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Novikov is working for a guillotine from mount but Clause frees his head quite easily.
Clause is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Evgeni Novikov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Clause defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Novikov.
Clause is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Clause slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Clause regains full guard. Nicely done.

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

Clause is looking for a triangle here but Novikov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clause is looking for a sweep.

Novikov tries for a kimura but Clause is defending well.
Clause pushes Novikov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Novikov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Novikov working away.
Novikov gets to mount! Clause was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Clause is in all sorts of trouble here.
Clause has given up his back. Will we see Novikov going for some submissions?
Clause breaks Novikov's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Novikov dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Clause drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Clause tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on Novikov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Clause trying to control the position but Novikov is working away.
Novikov is trying to improve his position.

Clause is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Novikov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Clause is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Novikov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Novikov prevents Clause from improving his position.

Clause is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Novikov pulls his head out easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Novikov throws a sloppy head kick and Clause moves out of range easily.

Clause feints and as Novikov raises his hands in defense, Clause changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Clause trying to stand up but can't free himself from Novikov's guard.

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

Clause is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clause tries to free his leg and advance position but Novikov is retaining full guard.
Novikov looking for a sweep. Not yet Novikov, not yet.
Clause postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Novikov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Clause or perhaps it was just good defense by Novikov which made him look bad.
Novikov is looking to clinch.
Clause tries for a takedown but Novikov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Novikov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Evgeni Novikov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Novikov has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clause has Novikov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Novikov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Evgeni Novikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santa Clause.
Clause gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Novikov.

Clause escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Clause shoots for a double leg takedown but Novikov sprawls well. He's pushed Clause's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Clause shoots in but Novikov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Novikov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Novikov stuffs the takedown.
Clause fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Clause fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Clause closes the distance and clinches up with Novikov, looking for a takedown. Clause pushes Novikov against the cage but Novikov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Novikov has closed the distance and engaged Clause in a clinch.
Novikov lands a hook that snaps the head of Clause backwards.
Novikov looking to stall.
Novikov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Clause has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Santa Clause has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novikov prevents the takedown attempt.
Novikov lands a nice knee to the body.
Clause changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Novikov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Clause shoots in and drives through. Novikov sprawls well.

Novikov closes the distance and clinches.
Clause is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Novikov is pressed up against the cage. Clause has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Novikov down to the mat. Novikov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Clause fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Novikov doesn't manage to clinch there - Clause circles away.
Clause misses with a wild combination.
Clause tries to bum rush Novikov with a series of wild strikes but Novikov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Clause shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Novikov pinned against the cage. Novikov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evgeni Novikov showed his dominance in that final round.
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 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

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