PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Richard Schaffner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arkadi Novikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richard Schaffner has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Schaffner
vs
Novikov

178 cm
23
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Richard Schaffner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arkadi Novikov!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schaffner moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Novikov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Schaffner circles away quickly and effectively.
Schaffner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Novikov circles away quickly and effectively.
Schaffner scores with a one two! Novikov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Novikov takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Novikov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Novikov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Schaffner holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Novikov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Schaffner is trying desperately to improve position.
BOOM! Novikov connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov misses with a head shot.
Novikov looking to control but Schaffner is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Novikov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Schaffner is working to get back to half guard.

Novikov goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Schaffner turns into him and now he's in Novikov's guard.

Novikov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Schaffner escapes and throws Novikov's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Novikov is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Novikov's face as Schaffner controls the position.
Schaffner has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Novikov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Schaffner wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Schaffner is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Novikov's shoulder. That is not cool.
Novikov tries to buck Schaffner off but Schaffner is having none of it.
Schaffner in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Novikov can't do much from the bottom here.
Schaffner moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Schaffner dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Schaffner's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Schaffner duly obliges.
Schaffner jabs at Novikov's body.
Schaffner lands a two punch combo.
Schaffner throws a body punch but Novikov moves out of range.
Richard Schaffner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Schaffner lands a nice looking body shot.
A jab from Schaffner finds it's way through Novikov's defenses.
Schaffner scores with a hook to the body. Novikov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Novikov is breathing heavily.
Schaffner scores with a crisp jab that stopped Novikov in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schaffner scores with a decent looking hook.
Left hook, right uppercut from Schaffner.
Schaffner throws a right and a left that Novikov avoids nicely.
Schaffner throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Schaffner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Schaffner lands a nice looking body shot.
A shot to de liver by Schaffner. Beautiful body shot.
Richard Schaffner is winning the standup battle so far.
Schaffner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Novikov circles away quickly and effectively.
Novikov checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schaffner lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Schaffner is looking to wear down Novikov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
No joy there for Schaffner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Schaffner looks for the body kick but Novikov saw that one coming.
Nice body punch from Schaffner.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Schaffner darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Schaffner lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Novikov backs up against the ropes.
A left lands for Schaffner.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schaffner lands a jab.
Novikov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Schaffner dominated that second round.
That's time! Schaffner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Schaffner lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Schaffner throws a combination. Novikov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Novikov is rocked!
Novikov tries to clinch but Schaffner is having none of it.
Schaffner throws out a powerful jab.
Novikov is still on wobbly legs! Can Schaffner finish him?
Schaffner throws a right hand that Novikov ducks under and follows up with a left that Novikov also avoids with ease.
Novikov seems to have recovered his senses.
Schaffner misses with a wild body shot.
Novikov throws a series of punches but Schaffner moves out of range.
Schaffner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Novikov circles away quickly and effectively.
Schaffner misses with a series of wild punches.
Novikov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Schaffner counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Novikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Schaffner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Schaffner lands with a nice combination. Novikov backs away looking to recover.
Schaffner cracks a nice hook into Novikov's ribs.
Novikov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Schaffner goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Schaffner lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Schaffner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Novikov can do to turn this around?
Schaffner darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novikov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Schaffner pinned against the cage. Schaffner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Novikov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Schaffner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Novikov manages to avoid it.
Novikov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Novikov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Schaffner scores with the left hand. Novikov knows he should have avoided that one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schaffner scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Novikov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Schaffner clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Schaffner scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Schaffner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Novikov circles away quickly and effectively.
Schaffner misses with a two punch combination.
Schaffner misses with a double jab.
Novikov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Novikov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Schaffner finds it's way round the side to connect with Novikov's head.
Schaffner uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Novikov has time to react.
Schaffner motions for Novikov to come forward. Schaffner throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Schaffner throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schaffner scores with a hook to the body. Novikov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A lazy left from Schaffner finds it's target.
Schaffner lands a really nice looking cross but Novikov seems unphased.
Oooh a lovely combination from Schaffner sends Novikov down but not out. Schaffner dives into side control looking to finish.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Novikov is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Novikov is being controlled here.
Novikov is trying to get back to half guard.
Schaffner working the body and head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schaffner content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Schaffner working away.
Schaffner happy to just control the position for now.
Novikov tries to bench press Schaffner off him but Schaffner keeps the position.
Schaffner has control of an arm but Novikov manages to advance to Schaffner's back!
Schaffner is hanging on to Novikov's back as he tries to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Schaffner had his way with Arkadi Novikov in that round.
That's time! Schaffner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Schaffner looks to land a combination but Novikov avoids it well.
Novikov misses with a hook.
Schaffner lands with a cross.
Novikov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Schaffner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Schaffner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schaffner fails to land with a series of punches.
Schaffner wants to slow Novikov down by chopping away at his legs.
Schaffner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov fails to land with a series of punches.
Richard Schaffner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schaffner tests Novikov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Richard Schaffner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Schaffner tries to bum rush Novikov with a series of wild strikes but Novikov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Schaffner scores with a nice head shot.
Schaffner with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A head kick misses from Schaffner.
Schaffner just misses with a punch to the body.
Schaffner scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Schaffner.
Novikov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Novikov moves out of range of the body kick.
Schaffner misses with a two punch combination.
Schaffner defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Novikov.
Schaffner darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Schaffner lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Novikov is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Schaffner listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Schaffner lands a slapping body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Schaffner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Schaffner has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 50:43
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 50:43
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 50:43

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Schaffner!