PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Rapheal (ranked 386 p4p, 1328 weight class) and Alfonz Novak (ranked 60 p4p, 179 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Novak's choice of entrance music: A Tout Le Monde - Megadeth. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rapheal
vs
Novak

180 cm
27
175
11 - 4 - 0

190 cm
24
186
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

NARCOS
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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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Rapheal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alfonz Novak!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novak tries to close the distance and clinch but Rapheal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rapheal gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Novak.
Novak tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rapheal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Novak tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rapheal defends well and Novak ends up having to push Rapheal into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rapheal is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Novak looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rapheal!
Novak is trying to ground and pound but Rapheal uses the momentary lack of control by Novak to regain half guard.
Novak with the ground and pound but Rapheal uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rapheal wants to sweep here but Novak controlling him for the moment.
Novak with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novak working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Novak postures up in Rapheal's guard and throws a big left but Rapheal blocks it.
Novak tries to free his leg and advance position but Rapheal is retaining full guard.
Novak throws an elbow that misses. Rapheal uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Novak's guard. Nice move by Rapheal!

Novak looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Novak trying to keep a closed guard but Rapheal is proving a slippery customer.
Rapheal sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak looking for a sweep. Not yet Novak, not yet.
Novak can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rapheal controls the pace.
Novak looking to control.
Novak is striking but Rapheal is not phased and passes to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Novak trying to get back to full guard but Rapheal takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novak can't escape the position.
Novak manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Novak moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Novak wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Novak manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rapheal manages to get himself to full guard.

Novak throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novak trying to control the position from guard on top but Rapheal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Novak throwing strikes from guard but Rapheal blocks nicely.
Novak trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Novak trying to control but Rapheal is working from the bottom.
Novak working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Novak postures up and lands a big shot to Rapheal's brow.
Novak throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rapheal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Novak scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alfonz Novak dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rapheal moves out of range of the strikes.
Rapheal was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A looping hook to the body misses from Novak. Rapheal does a little dance to reset his feet.
Novak throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Novak closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rapheal circles away.
Rapheal lunges at Novak with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Novak's hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Novak.
Rapheal misses with a hook. Novak ducked under it nicely.
Novak misses with a takedown attempt - Rapheal sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
It looked like Rapheal wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mark Rapheal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alfonz Novak.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Novak drives through and clinches with Rapheal against the cage.
Novak misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rapheal throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapheal tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Novak's elbow.
Rapheal scores with a shot to the side of Novak's head.
Novak tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rapheal is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rapheal makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rapheal lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Novak backwards.
Rapheal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Novak blocks an uppercut.
Novak creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Novak tries for a takedown but Rapheal manages to get underhooks.
Novak takes a shot to the head.
Novak changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rapheal fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Novak shoots and misses
and Rapheal counters with a stiff right hand.
Novak throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rapheal scores with a counter punch that sends Novak to the canvas! Rapheal smells blood - he's punishing Novak with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Novak has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mark Rapheal!
After winning the bout, Mark Rapheal thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.