PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nir Sosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonic Novikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Nir Sosa has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sosa
vs
Novikov

180 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nir Sosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jonic Novikov!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sosa misses the shot to the body.
Novikov tries for a takedown but Sosa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Novikov takes one on the button.
Sosa stuffs the takedown.

Novikov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sosa is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Novikov throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Novikov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sosa tries to buck Novikov off but Novikov is having none of it.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Novikov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Novikov happy to just control the position for now.

Novikov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Novikov slows the pace down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sosa tries to bench press Novikov off him but Novikov keeps the position.
Sosa struggling a bit here.
Sosa is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Sosa's face as Novikov controls the position.

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

Novikov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sosa manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Novikov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sosa wants to control but Novikov is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Novikov decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Jonic Novikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Novikov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sosa wants to improve his position but Novikov is controlling well.
Sosa trying to control here.
Novikov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sosa trying to hold on to Novikov's head to control him but Novikov postures up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Novikov drives through with a takedown into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Novikov throws a big right hand that misses.

Sosa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Novikov defends it easily.
Novikov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sosa is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonic Novikov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Novikov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sosa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sosa lands a jab to Novikov's midsection.
Sosa lands with an uppercut that bounces Novikov off the cage and back into range.
Sosa scores with a jab.

It looks like Jonic Novikov has been cut.
Novikov takes one to the chin there.
The crowd cheers as Sosa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Novikov doesn't seem phased though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Novikov has a takedown stuffed.
Novikov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sosa sprawls well. Sosa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Novikov gets slowly back to his feet.
Nir Sosa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonic Novikov.
Sosa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Novikov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sosa scores with a nice right hand.
Novikov walks into a jab.
Sosa lands a nice shot to the body.
Novikov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Novikov walks into a left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot to the liver by Sosa. Beautiful body shot.
Sosa catches Novikov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sosa connects with a crisp jab.
Sosa lands a body shot.
Sosa scores with a shot to the body.
Sosa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sosa scores with a body shot.
Sosa lands with a nice body punch.
Sosa throws a series of strikes that have Novikov backpedaling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sosa tests Novikov's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Novikov is rocked!

Sosa drops Novikov with a big left hand and mounts him. Novikov is in big trouble!
Novikov is still in real trouble! Can Sosa finish him?

That has opened up Jonic Novikov's cut even more.
Sosa avoids the attempt from Novikov to control.
Sosa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Novikov seems to have recovered his senses.
Sosa wants to take Novikov's back here but Novikov is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Sosa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Novikov is looking to escape.
Sosa is really struggling to control Novikov but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Novikov tries to reverse the position but Sosa maintains control.
Sosa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Novikov is looking to escape.

Sosa 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!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sosa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Nir Sosa wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sosa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Novikov doesn't seem bothered though.
Sosa throws a series of punches but Novikov avoids them all with ease.
Sosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Novikov moves away.
Some wild striking there from Sosa.
Nir Sosa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Novikov.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Novikov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sosa circles away.
Sosa fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Novikov on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nir Sosa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jonic Novikov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Novikov shoots for a double leg takedown but Sosa sprawls well. He's pushed Novikov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sosa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Novikov.
Nice cross by Sosa.
Novikov fails to land the takedown.
Nir Sosa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonic Novikov.
Decent striking displayed by Sosa there.
Sosa cracks Novikov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Novikov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sosa pinned against the cage. Sosa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Novikov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sosa but Sosa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sosa, as that shot connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nice combo by Sosa! Oh, that's hurt him - Novikov falls to the canvas and Sosa follows him into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov trying to control but Sosa flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Novikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Novikov is keeping busy.
Novikov trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
I really don't envy Novikov right now.

Novikov showing good submission defense here.
Sosa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Novikov can do to turn this around?
Novikov looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Sosa is looking to control Novikov but Novikov is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sosa is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Novikov staying busy and making it hard for Sosa to control.
Novikov trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Sosa is looking to control Novikov but Novikov is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Sosa is trying to control but Novikov is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Novikov bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Novikov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sosa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Novikov defends well.
Novikov is stalling in the full guard.
Sosa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Novikov tries to free his leg and advance position but Sosa is retaining full guard.
Novikov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jonic Novikov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sosa scores with a hook to the body. Novikov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sosa lands a nice shot that snaps Novikov's head back.
Sosa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sosa scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Sosa scores with a punch to the head.

The cut above Jonic Novikov's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Novikov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sosa is trying to maintain the position but Novikov is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
Nir Sosa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sosa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nir Sosa!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Nir Sosa waved his t-shirt featuring TFP Graphics - Pit Inc's logo in front of the cameras.