PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nedo Novkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tagushi Yotsuba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nedo Novkovic could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tagushi Yotsuba's chin.

Novkovic
vs
Yotsuba

176 cm
22
178 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

176 cm
23
170 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Nedo Novkovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Tagushi Yotsuba!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yotsuba swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Novkovic.
Yotsuba misses with a wild body shot.
Novkovic misses the shot to the body.
Novkovic lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Novkovic lands a nice leg kick that just misses Yotsuba's sensitive parts.
Novkovic tries to land a leg kick but Yotsuba saw it coming and moves away.
Novkovic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Yotsuba lands a head shot.
Novkovic does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Yotsuba avoids the head kick by Novkovic.
Novkovic tries to land a leg kick but Yotsuba saw it coming and moves away.
Novkovic throws a hook but Yotsuba blocks it.
Yotsuba takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Novkovic slips under a jab from Yotsuba.
Yotsuba's coach down at Soul Supremacy - UK was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Yotsuba's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yotsuba lands with a straight right. Novkovic didn't see that one coming.
Yotsuba lands with an overhand left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novkovic wants to slow Yotsuba down by chopping away at his legs.
Nedo Novkovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Novkovic throws a lazy right hand but Yotsuba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Novkovic falls off balance throwing a combination
and Yotsuba counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Novkovic throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Novkovic misses with a low kick.
Novkovic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Novkovic slips under a jab from Yotsuba.
Yotsuba with a hook.
Yotsuba misses the jab.
Jab from Yotsuba.
Yotsuba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Novkovic moves away.
Yotsuba lands a jab to Novkovic's midsection.
Novkovic tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Yotsuba is able to avoid easily.

Novkovic lands a big head kick that sends Yotsuba tumbling to the mat! Novkovic takes a step backwards and waves Yotsuba back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Tagushi Yotsuba has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Novkovic lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Yotsuba takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Novkovic throws a body punch but Yotsuba moves out of range.
Novkovic misses with a low kick.
Novkovic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yotsuba misses with a body shot.
Novkovic tries to work over Yotsuba's front leg with a kick but Yotsuba checks it.
Novkovic connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Yotsuba. That snapped Novkovic's head back.
Yotsuba feints a jab promting Novkovic to slip. Yotsuba then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Novkovic slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Novkovic is rocked!
Novkovic pivots, looking for a leg kick but Yotsuba is out of range and Novkovic settles back down.
Oh Novkovic is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Novkovic slips under a jab.
Novkovic seems to have got his legs back now.
Novkovic slips a straight right by Yotsuba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Novkovic lands a big head kick that sends Yotsuba tumbling to the mat! Novkovic takes a step backwards and waves Yotsuba back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Yotsuba is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A swing and a miss from Novkovic.
Yotsuba is still on wobbly legs! Can Novkovic finish him?

Novkovic cracks Yotsuba with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Yotsuba looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Novkovic finish him?
Novkovic throws a half hearted mid kick.
Novkovic throws a head kick but Yotsuba moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Novkovic. Yotsuba does a little dance to reset his feet.
Novkovic pivots, looking for a leg kick but Yotsuba is out of range and Novkovic settles back down.
Yotsuba seems to have recovered his senses.
Nice defenses there by Novkovic.
Novkovic throws a chopping leg kick but Yotsuba manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A solid body kick from Novkovic.
Yotsuba looks to land a combination but Novkovic avoids it well.
Novkovic misses with a body kick.
Novkovic misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Novkovic lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Yotsuba has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Yotsuba and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Novkovic throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Yotsuba has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Novkovic.
The fighters circling - Novkovic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Novkovic throws a wild body kick that Yotsuba sees coming a mile off.
Yotsuba moves out of range as Novkovic throws a body kick.
Novkovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Novkovic connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Yotsuba momentarily.
A swing and a miss from Novkovic.
Novkovic is looking to chop away at Yotsuba's legs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Novkovic throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Novkovic misses with a low kick as Yotsuba jumps back.
Yotsuba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Novkovic.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Yotsuba, as that shot connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nedo Novkovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tagushi Yotsuba's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Yotsuba checks the leg kick.
Yotsuba checks a leg kick.
Novkovic lands with a kick to the temple. Yotsuba shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Yotsuba might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Novkovic has got the better of the exchanges.
Novkovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Novkovic throws a leg kick
and Yotsuba counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Novkovic throws a hook to the side of Yotsuba's head but Yotsuba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Novkovic thows a body shot but no joy.
Novkovic throws a sloppy head kick and Yotsuba moves out of range easily.
Novkovic takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Yotsuba misses with a few strikes there.
Novkovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Novkovic lands a head shot.
Yotsuba on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Novkovic. Novkovic obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Novkovic scores with a push kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novkovic moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Yotsuba just misses with a punch to the body.
Yotsuba throws an overhand right that lands on Novkovic's shoulder, as Novkovic tries to avoid the shot.
Novkovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Novkovic throws a lazy right hand but Yotsuba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yotsuba throws a right and a left that Novkovic avoids nicely.
Novkovic misses with a low kick.
Novkovic throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Yotsuba moves out of range of the strikes.
Novkovic swings for the body but Yotsuba moves out of range.
Yotsuba throws a hook to the side of Novkovic's head but Novkovic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Novkovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yotsuba avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novkovic lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Novkovic throws a lazy right hand but Yotsuba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Novkovic, right into the meat.
Yotsuba moves out of range of the body kick.
Novkovic throws a low kick but Yotsuba avoids it.
Yotsuba moves out of range of the body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab from Yotsuba misses.
Yotsuba throws a big shot that misses.
Yotsuba checks a low kick from Novkovic.
Novkovic feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Yotsuba's calf.
Yotsuba lands with a good body shot.
Novkovic looks for the body kick but Yotsuba saw that one coming.
A big left from Novkovic misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yotsuba looks to land a right hand but Novkovic moved out of range.
Novkovic looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Yotsuba's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Novkovic scoring well with a low kick there.
Novkovic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Yotsuba.
Yotsuba lunges at Novkovic with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Novkovic's hand.
Novkovic misses with an uppercut.
Novkovic slips a jab and a cross from Yotsuba.
Novkovic scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Yotsuba misses with a looping right.
Novkovic throws a leg kick but Yotsuba sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Novkovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Novkovic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yotsuba manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novkovic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yotsuba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Novkovic.
Yotsuba misses the jab.
Novkovic wants to slow Yotsuba down by chopping away at his legs.
Novkovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yotsuba.
Yotsuba takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A looping hook to the body misses from Yotsuba. Novkovic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Novkovic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Novkovic lands with a kick to the temple. Yotsuba shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Novkovic is looking to chop away at Yotsuba's legs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Novkovic lands a big head kick that sends Yotsuba tumbling to the mat! Novkovic takes a step backwards and waves Yotsuba back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Novkovic.
Novkovic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nedo Novkovic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tagushi Yotsuba'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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Yotsuba moves out of range of the body kick from Novkovic.
The fighters circling - Yotsuba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Novkovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Novkovic throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Novkovic goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Yotsuba misses with a hook. Novkovic ducked under it nicely.
Novkovic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yotsuba.
Yotsuba feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Novkovics jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Novkovic goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Novkovic walks into a jab.
Novkovic swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yotsuba throws a hook but Novkovic blocks it.
Novkovic throws a low kick but Yotsuba avoids it.
Novkovic staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novkovic misses with the combination.
Yotsuba digs a good hook to Novkovic's body.
Yotsuba avoids the body shot from Novkovic.
Novkovic feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Yotsubas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Yotsuba scores with a decent looking hook.
Novkovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yotsuba can do to turn this around?
Novkovic throws a leg kick which misses Yotsuba's front leg but catches the back leg as Yotsuba tries to avoid it.
Yotsuba blocks a head kick by Novkovic.
Novkovic throws a head kick but Yotsuba moves out of range.
Novkovic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yotsuba.
Novkovic throws a hook but Yotsuba avoids it easily.
Yotsuba takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Tagushi Yotsuba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yotsuba blocks a head kick by Novkovic.
Novkovic misses with a body kick.
A big left from Yotsuba misses.
Novkovic throws out a leg kick but Yotsuba moves out of range and Novkovic only half commits.
Novkovic finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
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!
Novkovic is looking to chop away at Yotsuba's legs.
Yotsuba lands a head shot.
A big left from Novkovic misses.
Yotsuba avoids a kick to the body.
Yotsuba swings for the body but Novkovic moves out of range.
Novkovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yotsuba dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Novkovic takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yotsuba takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A solid leg kick lands there for Novkovic.
Yotsuba rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Novkovic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yotsuba drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Novkovic right on the button. Novkovic goes down! Yotsuba follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Yotsuba gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tagushi Yotsuba!
Our winner, Tagushi Yotsuba, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.