PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pierre Sackho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danijel Novak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Novak has chosen Dubioza kolektiv - Kažu as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Sackho
vs
Novak

168 cm
21
143 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

160 cm
21
133 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pierre Sackho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Danijel Novak!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Aafke Stam and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novak is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Novak misses with a series of wild punches.
Novak falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sackho counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sackho.

Sackho gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Sackho stops Novak from getting back to his feet.
Sackho is pressing down on Novak's thigh, looking to free his foot. Novak is holding on for now.
Novak felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Novak is trying to stand up here but Sackho is controlling him well.
Sackho controlling the action here.
Novak is trying to stand.
Still in half guard, Sackho seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pierre Sackho has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Sackho has taken the fight to the clinch.
Novak has had enough of the clinch but Sackho keeps him there for the moment.

Sackho pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Novak tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sackho manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Novak misses with a double jab
and Sackho counters with a head kick.
Novak looks winded!

Novak gets caught flat footed, as Sackho shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Novak being controlled here, momentarily.
Sackho seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Novak for as long as he can get away with.
Novak wants to get back to his feet but Sackho passes into half guard.
Sackho controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak looks like he's trying to stand up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sackho slows the pace down in half guard.
Novak looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sackho seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

We're going to have a standup here because Pierre Sackho wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Novak tries to clinch up
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Sackho counters with a body kick that stops Novak in his tracks momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novak tries to clinch but Sackho is having none of it.
Novak falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sackho counters with a head kick. That will keep Novak thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Novak tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Danijel Novak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sackho throws a head kick that Novak semi-blocks.

Sackho closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sackho lands in his opponent's guard.

Novak is rocked!
Sackho seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pierre Sackho wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sackho tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Novak paws at him with a jab and circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sloppy strikes from Novak. Those never looked like landing.
Novak moves in looking to clinch but Sackho pushes him off.

Sackho shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Novak's guard.
Novak wants to get back to his feet but Sackho passes into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Novak is looking to get back to is feet but Sackho passes into side control.
Novak wants to get back to his feet but Sackho drags him back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Sackho dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Novak tries to clinch
and Sackho counters with a big head kick but Novak shrugs it off.
Novak is still on wobbly legs! Can Sackho finish him?
Novak throws a series of punches but Sackho moves out of range.
Sackho lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Novak at a distance.
Novak seems to have recovered his senses.
Novak moves in looking to clinch but Sackho pushes him off.
Novak wants to clinch.
Novak tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sackho cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Novak wants to clinch up but Sackho keeps it at a distance.

Sackho decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sackho with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Novak is looking to escape.
Novak is breathing heavily.
Sackho is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Pierre Sackho just wasn't active enough.

Sackho manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Novak on his heels. He'll look to pass Novak's guard now, I'm sure.
Novak being controlled here, momentarily.
Pierre Sackho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sackho won't allow Novak to get back to his feet.
Sackho sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Novak is looking to stand back up but Sackho counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Novak.
Novak looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Sackho seems content to control.
Sackho uses his free foot to push down on Novak's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Novak.
Sackho content just to control the position here.
Novak trying desperately to get to his feet.
Sackho controlling from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pierre Sackho has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Sackho looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Novak!
Sackho cracks Novak with a big right hand but Novak just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Novak tries to escape but Sackho is in control.
Sackho in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Sackho decides to stand up, so the ref orders Novak to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sackho changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Novak looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sackho taking a breather here.
Novak is pushing Sackho's head away, looking to escape. Sackho manages to hold on to the position though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Novak trying to remain calm as Sackho controls from the top position.
Novak is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Sackho is controlling him well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Novak seems a little lost for a moment, as Sackho dominates the positioning.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Pierre Sackho just wasn't active enough.

Sackho rushes Novak and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Sackho breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Sackho dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Novak wants to clinch but Sackho slips to the side
and Sackho counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Novak thinking.
Pierre Sackho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sackho closes the distance and pushes Novak back into the cage.
Novak lands a right hand.

Novak manages to break the clinch.
Sackho swinging wildly here.
Novak tries to clinch up but Sackho circles away and keeps his distance.
Sackho scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Sackho keeps the fight on the outside.
Novak moves to clinch but Sackho breaks away
and Sackho counters with a head kick.
Novak misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Novak fails to land with a series of punches.
Novak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sackho moves into the clinch.
Sackho prevents Novak from breaking the clinch.
Novak has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sackho breaks the clinch.
Sackho throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Novak tries to clinch up but Sackho circles away and keeps his distance.
Novak swinging wildly here.
Novak doesn't manage to clinch there - Sackho circles away.

Novak closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sackho has Novak pressed against the cage, preventing Novak from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Sackho manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Novak stopping the sweep attempt from Sackho.
Novak wants to stand but Sackho has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sackho is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sackho drives through with a takedown into Novak's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Novak wants to stand and escape but Sackho is having none of it.
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!
Sackho content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pierre Sackho wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sackho scores with a head kick.
Novak tries to clinch
and Sackho counters with a solid body kick.
Novak misses with a double jab.
Novak closes the distance but Sackho moves to the side

and Sackho counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sackho is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sackho stops Novak from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sackho slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Pierre Sackho.

Sackho closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Novak did well to prevent Sackho getting side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Novak tries to kick Sackho off but Sackho keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sackho controlling the action here.

Sackho is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Danijel Novak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pierre Sackho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Novak is trying to stand up here but Sackho is controlling him well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pierre Sackho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sackho 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pierre Sackho!