PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Garkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michal Nojman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergei Garkov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Garkov
vs
Nojman

197 cm
27
210 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

189 cm
21
203 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Garkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michal Nojman!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garkov looks for a takedown but Nojman sprawls well.
Nojman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Garkov circles away.
Nojman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Garkov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Garkov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nojman is looking to clinch.
Sergei Garkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nojman goes for a double leg but Garkov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Garkov continues to drive forward.

Nojman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nojman shoots in but no luck this time.
Sergei Garkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michal Nojman.
Garkov keeps the fight on the outside.
Nojman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Garkov.
Garkov tries to bum rush Nojman with a series of wild strikes but Nojman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nojman throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Garkov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Garkov wants it to stay on the feet.
Nojman tries to clinch up.
Nojman is looking to clinch.
A jab lands there for Garkov.
Garkov connects with a right hand. Nojman shakes it off.
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!
Nojman fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garkov misses the shot to the body.
Nojman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Garkov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nojman somewhat.

Garkov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Nojman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Garkov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Garkov is trying to break free.
Garkov tries to circle away but Nojman has him pinned against the cage.
Nojman connects with a nasty looking knee right to Garkov's face.

It looks like Sergei Garkov has been cut.
Garkov wants to get back to striking at distance but Nojman won't allow it.
Nojman misses with a knee strike.
Nojman working Garkov over with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garkov is looking for a takedown.

Nojman jumps into guard, dragging Garkov to the mat.

Nojman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nojman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Garkov controlling from the top position.
Garkov wants to get up but he can't break Nojman's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garkov content to stall in guard here.

Nojman working for a triangle but Garkov defends it easily.
Garkov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garkov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Sergei Garkov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Garkov shoots in for a double leg but Nojman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nojman takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nojman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Garkov defends it nicely.
Garkov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nojman.

Garkov clinches up against the cage.
Garkov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garkov tries to throw a body punch but Nojman avoids it by throwing Garkov back against the cage.
Nojman wants a takedown but no success here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Nojman pulls Garkov into guard.
Garkov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Garkov wants to get up but he can't break Nojman's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Garkov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nojman trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garkov throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Garkov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sergei Garkov's cut.
That's time! Garkov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Garkov keeps the fight on the outside.
Nojman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Garkov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Garkov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Garkov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nojman circles away quickly and effectively.
Nojman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nojman fails with a takedown attempt.
Garkov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nojman has a takedown stuffed.
Sergei Garkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michal Nojman.
Nice takedown defense from Garkov. No joy for Nojman on that attempt.
Nojman tries to clinch there but Garkov circles away.
Garkov swinging wildly here.
Nojman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Garkov circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nojman takes the fight into the clinch.
Garkov can't get the takedown.
Garkov tries to score a body lock takedown but Nojman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Garkov is trying to break free.
Nojman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Garkov can't get the takedown.

Nojman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sergei Garkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Garkov stuffs the takedown.
Garkov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Garkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Nojman.
Garkov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Garkov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nojman fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nojman.
Nojman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Garkov avoids it really well and circles away.
Nojman is breathing heavily.

Garkov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nojman with a knee to the head.
Nojman is defending well against a takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garkov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Garkov is trying to break the clinch but Nojman is controlling him.
Garkov tries to pull guard but Nojman holds him up against the cage and eventually Garkov drops back down to his feet.

Garkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garkov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Nojman back to the cage. Garkov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Garkov throws the left hand but Nojman avoids the punch easily.
Garkov throws a series of punches but Nojman moves out of range.
Garkov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Garkov throws a series of punches but Nojman moves out of range.

Garkov closes the distance and pushes Nojman back into the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nojman looking to throw knees to the head but Garkov is blocking nicely.
Garkov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nojman after a bit of a struggle.
Nojman gets underhooks to prevent Garkov's takedown attempt.
Nojman is pressed up against the cage. Garkov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nojman down to the mat. Nojman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sergei Garkov is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garkov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Nojman counters with a leg kick.

Nojman closes the distance and clinches.

Nojman jumps into guard, dragging Garkov to the mat.

Nojman uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
No joy there for Garkov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Garkov throws a big shot that misses.
Nojman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Garkov's waist but Garkov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nojman off to one side.

Garkov rushes Nojman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Garkov wants to get back to striking at distance but Nojman won't allow it.
Garkov is trying to break the clinch but Nojman is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garkov can't get the takedown.
Nojman is defending well against a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sergei Garkov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sergei Garkov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nojman moves into the clinch successfully.
Garkov is trying to break free.
Nojman tries a body shot but Garkov blocks it.

Nojman pulls Garkov into guard.
Nojman is looking to stand up but Garkov isn't so interested in that idea.
Garkov wanted to stand there but Nojman had control of the position.
Nojman is looking to stand up but Garkov isn't so interested in that idea.
Garkov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nojman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garkov 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sergei Garkov.
Nojman drops his hands momentarily and Garkov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Garkov lands with a cross.
Garkov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Garkov scores with a three punch combo!
Nojman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nojman doesn't manage to clinch there - Garkov circles away.
Nojman tries to clinch up but Garkov circles away and keeps his distance.

Garkov moves into the clinch.
Garkov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nojman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nojman with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garkov looking to stall.
Nojman wants to stall.
Nojman leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nojman crunches a lovely knee into Garkov's ribcage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garkov goes for a takedown attempt but Nojman pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Garkov dives in and grabs Nojman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nojman pushes down on Garkov's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nojman clinches up against the cage.
Garkov is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Garkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garkov tries to pull guard but Nojman won't allow it.
Garkov tries to break the clinch but Nojman is controlling the position.
Garkov looking for a takedown.
Garkov is trying to push Nojman away but Nojman has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nojman tries a knee to the head but Garkov blocks it.
Michal Nojman seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Garkov working hard to break the clinch.

Nojman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Garkov misses the target.
Garkov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nojman stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nojman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nojman tries to clinch up.
Garkov fails to land with a series of punches.
Nojman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Garkov scores with a body shot.
Garkov cracks a nice hook into Nojman's ribs.
Garkov misses with a wild combination.
Garkov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garkov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garkov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nojman.
Nojman goes for a double leg but Garkov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Garkov continues to drive forward.
Nojman digs a right hand into Garkov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Garkov's gas tank.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Garkov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Garkov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight for Sergei Garkov!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Sergei Garkov!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Sergei Garkov!

Sergei Garkov wins by unanimous decision!