PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bartek Nowak (ranked 4695 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergejs Smirnovs (ranked 4158 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nowak
vs
Smirnovs

175 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bartek Nowak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sergejs Smirnovs!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Winston Alpacca and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smirnovs shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nowak could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Smirnovs with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Nowak is trying to stand up here but Smirnovs is controlling him well.

Smirnovs is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nowak defends it well.
Nowak is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nowak might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nowak is controlling Smirnovs's trapped leg to prevent Smirnovs from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnovs wants to stand up but Nowak manages to regain full guard.
Nowak is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smirnovs preventing the sweep.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Smirnovs scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Smirnovs is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nowak knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Nowak's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nowak sneaks back into half guard.
Smirnovs not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smirnovs prevents Nowak from standing back up.
Nowak is trying to maintain the position but Smirnovs is very close to passing his half guard.
Nowak is pressing down on Smirnovs's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Smirnovs really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nowak. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smirnovs looking to sit in guard and control but Nowak gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nowak controls from within his opponent's guard.
Smirnovs working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nowak.

Smirnovs is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nowak in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smirnovs keeping moving, preventing Nowak from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nowak looking to pass the guard.
Nowak trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnovs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nowak trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nowak tries to bum rush Smirnovs with a series of wild strikes but Smirnovs uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Smirnovs gets a double leg takedown into Nowak's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nowak looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smirnovs is one step ahead there.
Nowak thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
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 Bartek Nowak will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nowak throws a leg kick that is checked

and Smirnovs counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smirnovs.

Smirnovs gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Smirnovs avoids a kick to the body.

Smirnovs moves into the clinch successfully.
Smirnovs is working for takedown but Nowak is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smirnovs effectively controlling the action here.

Smirnovs drags the fight down to the ground.
Smirnovs keeping full guard, as Nowak tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnovs can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nowak controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnovs wants to control but Nowak passes easily into half guard.

Nowak in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Smirnovs tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Nowak!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Bartek Nowak!