PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marijo Novak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Severus Riv (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Novak
vs
Riv

190 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marijo Novak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Severus Riv!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novak looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Riv throws a series of punches but Novak avoids them all with ease.
Novak feints a jab promting Riv to slip. Novak then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Riv slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Novak changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Riv tries to avoid it but Novak manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Riv to the ground. Riv escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Novak misses with a takedown attempt - Riv sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marijo Novak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riv throws a series of punches but Novak avoids them all with ease.
Novak closes the distance and clinches up with Riv, looking for a takedown. Novak pushes Riv against the cage but Riv circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Riv throws a jab when Novak was well out of range.
Riv throws a right and a left that Novak avoids nicely.
Riv cracks a nice hook into Novak's ribs.
Nice takedown defense from Riv. No joy for Novak on that attempt.
Novak fails with a takedown attempt.
Novak wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riv misses with a two punch combination.
Riv just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromNovak.
Riv takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Riv's jab looks to have found its range, popping Novak under the eye.
Riv throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Novak.
Riv throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Novak closes this distance looking for a takedown but Riv circles away.
Novak is breathing heavily.
Riv tests Novak's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Riv fails to land with a series of punches.
Novak is looking for a counter combo.
Riv swinging wildly here.
Riv throws a right and a left that Novak avoids nicely.
Riv swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Riv misses with a double jab.
Riv throws out a powerful jab.
Novak throws a series of strikes that have Riv backpedaling.
Riv has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Novak really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Novak is looking to clinch.

Novak shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Novak is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Riv is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Novak seems to be looking for submissions.
Novak passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Riv!
Novak connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Riv really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Novak. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Riv wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Novak working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Novak is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Riv can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Novak controlling the pace for now.
Novak looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Riv wants to try and get back to his feet.
Riv is trying to stand but he's just given Novak his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Severus Riv will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Riv lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Novak circles away quickly and effectively.
Novak throws a right hand that Riv ducks under and follows up with a left that Riv also avoids with ease.

Novak rushes Riv and presses him up against the cage.
Novak prevents Riv from breaking the clinch.
Novak keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Riv's efforts to push away.

Novak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Riv lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Novak doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Severus Riv seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Novak forces Riv back against the cage and clinches.
Novak slows down the pace here.
Novak is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riv is looking to break free of the clinch but Novak has double underhooks.
Novak fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Riv working hard to break the clinch.
Novak looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marijo Novak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Novak has Riv pressed against the cage, preventing Riv from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Riv tries to break free but Novak pushes him back against the cage.
Riv is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Riv has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Riv's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Novak jumps into guard, dragging Riv to the mat.
Novak is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Novak throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Riv looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Novak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Novak lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Novak in particular looking to stall.
Novak has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novak moves nicely into side control.
A lull in the action here.

Novak is trying to get an arm triangle but Riv is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Novak just content to control the position.

Novak stands up.
Novak staying out of range there.

Novak closes the distance and clinches.
Novak has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Riv is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Novak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Riv misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marijo Novak dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Novak avoids a punch combination nicely.
Novak misses with a few strikes there.
Novak shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Riv defends it nicely.
Riv bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Novak's head backwards.
Some wild striking there from Novak.
Severus Riv seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riv jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Riv tests Novak's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Novak is rocked!
Riv wobbles Novak with a right hand and the left hook that follows puts him on his rear! Riv dives in with a huge flying punch that connects right on the button and puts Novak to sleep! - What a violent and spectacular finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Severus Riv!