PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ante Novak (ranked 2013 p4p, 816 weight class) and Alexander Korolev (ranked 253 p4p, 113 weight class). Korolev has chosen Holding Out For A Hero (EuroMash) as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Novak
vs
Korolev

185 cm
27
184
9 - 8 - 0

180 cm
29
176
16 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Diamond Dogs Outfitters

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ante Novak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Korolev!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Korolev lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

It looks like Ante Novak has been cut.
Korolev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Novak moves away.
Novak swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Korolev scores with a shot to the body.
Novak keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Korolev.
Korolev moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Korolev has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Novak tries a head kick but it misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Korolev misses.
Korolev throws an overhand right that lands on Novak's shoulder, as Novak tries to avoid the shot.
Novak looks for the body kick but Korolev saw that one coming.
We've been told by Novak's head coaches at Mentor Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Korolev lands a body shot.
A jab from Korolev misses.
Korolev throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Novak ducks under a wild hook from Korolev.
Novak looks for the body kick but Korolev saw that one coming.
Novak throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korolev misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Novak counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Alexander Korolev has been cut.
Novak misses with an uppercut.
A little jabbing left from Korolev on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Novak works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Korolev scores with a kick to the midsection.
Novak bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Novak throws a big counter combination but Korolev scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Korolev uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Novak has time to react.
Korolev chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Korolev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Novak.
Novak misses with a wild body shot.
Korolev takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Korolev lands with a good body shot.
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!
Korolev scores with a sloppy right hand. Novak should have avoided that one.
Korolev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Novak was well out of range. Poor timing from Korolev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Korolev. Novak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Korolev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Korolev throws a nice head kick!
Novak uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Korolev.
Korolev fails to land with a series of punches.
Korolev moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Korolev keeps Novak at a distance using the push kick.
Korolev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Novak fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Korolev manages to avoid it.
Korolev slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Korolev throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Korolev lands a lovely overhand right.

Ante Novak's cut is getting worse.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korolev with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A slapping leg kick lands for Korolev.
Korolev lands a leg kick that knocks Novak off balance momentarily.
Novak takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Novak is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Korolev.
Korolev lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Korolev misses with a right hand
and Novak counters with a nice leg kick.

Novak gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A body shot lands from Korolev.
Korolev tries to throw a body punch but Novak avoids it by throwing Korolev back against the cage.
Korolev throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Korolev.
Korolev presses Novak against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Novak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Novak moves forwards but Korolev connects with a nice, crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Korolev missing with a left hand there. Novak was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Novak swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Korolev lands a body shot.
Korolev throws a nice outside leg kick.
Korolev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Novak.
Novak misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Korolev.
Novak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Korolev throws out the jab.
Korolev dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Novak. That did some damage!
Korolev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Korolev lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Korolev turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A big right from Novak misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Korolev dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Korolev lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Novak moves in looking to clinch but Korolev pushes him off.
Novak is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Korolev throws a big shot that misses.
Korolev walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Novak checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
An inside leg kick lands from Novak.
Novak has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Korolev finds it's way round the side to connect with Novak's head.
Korolev takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Novak uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Korolev.
Novak swings widly with a right hand
and Korolev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Ante Novak's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korolev fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Novak has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Novak on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Korolev's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Korolev duly obliges.

Novak is rocked!
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!
Korolev lands with a good body shot.
Oh Novak is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korolev connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Jeez, Ante Novak's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Korolev ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Novak on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Novak seems to have got his legs back now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Korolev is looking to slow Novak down with leg kicks.
Korolev scores with a kick to the body.
Novak throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Korolev counters with a low kick, right behind Novak 's knee.
Novak uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Korolev.
Korolev feints and then cracks Novak's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Novak down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Korolev. That's going to slow Novak down.
Novak throws a wild body kick that Korolev sees coming a mile off.
A nice inside leg kick there by Korolev. That's going to slow Novak down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
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!
Novak lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Korolev at a distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Korolev. Novak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice body kick there by Korolev.
Novak uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Korolev.
Novak looks to land a body kick but Korolev moved away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Korolev.
Novak looks to score with a jab to the body but Korolev is just out of range.
Korolev lands with a thumping leg kick.
Korolev is looking to slow Novak down with leg kicks.
Korolev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Novak. Korolev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Novak ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Novak gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Korolev counter with a right hand.
Korolev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Novak moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Korolev throws out a loose jab but Novak uses good head movement to avoid it.
Korolev throws a shot to the body.
Korolev swings for the body but Novak moves out of range.
Novak steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Korolev.
Korolev lands with a nice body punch.
Novak misses with a hook.
Korolev feints and then cracks Novak's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Novak down.
Danga de danga de dang - Korolev scores with a four punch combination!

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ante Novak's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:09 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Alexander Korolev!
Alexander Korolev thanked the fans post fight for their support.