PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henrique Bernardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Silas Nova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bernardo
vs
Nova

175 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Henrique Bernardo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Silas Nova!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bernardo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bernardo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nova. That did some damage!
The fight stays on the outside here - Bernardo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bernardo walks into a straight right hand from Nova.
Bernardo stuffs the takedown attempt from Nova. Nova gets slowly back to his feet.
Nova misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nova has a takedown stuffed.
Nice takedown defense from Bernardo. No joy for Nova on that attempt.
Henrique Bernardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Silas Nova.
Bernardo tries a head kick but it misses.
Bernardo misses with a head kick.
Bernardo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bernardo misses with a series of wild punches.
Nova will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nova tests Bernardo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nova shoots for a double leg takedown but Bernardo sprawls well. He's pushed Nova's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Nova closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bernardo has Nova pressed against the cage, preventing Nova from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nova can't break the clinch.
Bernardo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nova.
Bernardo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Bernardo has Nova pressed against the cage, preventing Nova from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bernardo taking a breather.
Nova is looking to break free of the clinch but Bernardo has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernardo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nova smiles and moves away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nova!
Nova has a takedown stuffed.
Bernardo is looking to clinch.
Bernardo dives in and grabs Nova's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nova pushes down on Bernardo's head and hops out.
Bernardo throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Silas Nova has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bernardo shoots in for a takedown but Nova shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nova shoots in for a double leg but Bernardo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bernardo shoots for a takedown but Nova saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bernardo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bernardo ducks under a wild hook from Nova.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bernardo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nova pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bernardo is breathing heavily.
Nova tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bernardo swivels and escapes.
Bernardo throws a nice head kick!
Bernardo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nova finds it's way round the side to connect with Bernardo's head.
Bernardo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nova swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Nova clinches.
Nova tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bernardo's elbow.
Nova tries to circle away but Bernardo has him pinned against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nova has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Bernardo gets control of Nova's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bernardo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Nova throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bernardo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bernardo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nova.
Nova tries to free his leg and advance position but Bernardo is retaining full guard.
Nova must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bernardo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nova is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Henrique Bernardo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Silas Nova's cut.
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.

Nova stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nova wants it to stay on the feet.
Bernardo slaps away a takedown attempt from Nova, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bernardo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bernardo avoids the head kick by Nova.
Nova lands a glancing blow to the side of Bernardo's head.
Bernardo shoots in for a double leg but Nova sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henrique Bernardo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nova fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bernardo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nova swivels and escapes.
Nova shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jab, jab by Nova - just one landing.
Bernardo scores with a head kick. Nova tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nova looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nova wants to get up but he can't break Bernardo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernardo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nova's guard.
Bernardo looking to pass the guard.
Bernardo throwing strikes from guard but Nova blocks nicely.
Nova has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Bernardo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Silas Nova.
Nova misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bernardo stuffs the takedown.
Bernardo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bernardo wants it to stay on the feet.
Nova keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nova avoids a kick to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nova.
Henrique Bernardo is winning the standup battle so far.
Bernardo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nova.
Silas Nova seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernardo shoots in and drives through. Nova sprawls well.
Nova shoots in for a double leg but Bernardo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bernardo shoots in and drives through. Nova sprawls well.
Nova connects with a body shot that sends Bernardo's belly button to the back.
A head kick misses from Bernardo.
Bernardo needs to keep his hands up - Nova had a free shot at his head there.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nova!
Nova will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Some wild striking there from Bernardo.

Nova closes the distance and pushes Bernardo back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernardo has had enough of the clinch but Nova keeps him there for the moment.
A right hand to the body from Bernardo.

Bernardo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bernardo dodges the punch combination from Nova.
Nova fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Nova tries to keep at a distance but Bernardo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bernardo tries to pull guard but Nova forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bernardo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Bernardo seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Nova is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Silas Nova showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Silas Nova's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nova scores with a three punch combo!
Bernardo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nova wants to land a leg kick but Bernardo is out of range.
Nova fails with a takedown attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bernardo enables Nova to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bernardo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Bernardo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nova can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nova throwing strikes from guard but Bernardo blocks nicely.

Bernardo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernardo 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.
Nova trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bernardo's guard.
Nova 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.
Nova wants to stand and escape but instead Bernardo has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Bernardo stops Nova from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nova pushes Bernardo off and gets back to his feet.
Nova rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bernardo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bernardo takes a jab right on the kisser.
Bernardo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nova is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nova lands with a nice combination. Bernardo backs away looking to recover.
Nova lands a right hook to the body.
Nova shoots in for a takedown but Bernardo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bernardo has a takedown stuffed.
Nova shoots in for a takedown but Bernardo shows good takedown defense.
Henrique Bernardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Silas Nova.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nova shoots in for a double leg but Bernardo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nova shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bernardo pinned against the cage. Bernardo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bernardo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nova bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bernardo's head.
Bernardo looks for a takedown but Nova sprawls well.
Nova misses with the combination.
Nova has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nova swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Bernardo closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nova wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bernardo has him pressed against the cage.

Bernardo breaks from the clinch.
Nova goes for a double leg but Bernardo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bernardo continues to drive forward.
Bernardo is stalling here.
Nova has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nova stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Silas Nova comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nova has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight for Silas Nova!
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight for Silas Nova!
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight for Silas Nova!

Silas Nova wins by unanimous decision!