PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ante Novak (ranked 4608 p4p, 24738 weight class) and Rohan Montgomery (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Novak
vs
Montgomery

185 cm
29
184
9 - 9 - 0

167 cm
29
170
5 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 - 9 - 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 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rohan Montgomery!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Montgomery stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Montgomery wants it to stay on the feet.

Novak fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Montgomery, pushing him back against the cage.
Montgomery tries to pull guard but Novak won't allow it.
Novak misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Montgomery.

Novak manages to break the clinch.
Ante Novak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Novak moves into the clinch.
Novak trying to land knees to the body.

Novak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novak comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Novak throws a body shot but no joy.
Montgomery tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Novak shoots in for a takedown but Montgomery shows good takedown defense.
Montgomery changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novak throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Montgomery on the side of the head.
Novak tries to clinch but Montgomery is having none of it.
Montgomery keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Montgomery tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Novak is looking to land body kicks.
Novak misses with a looping right.
Novak shoots in but no luck this time.
Montgomery changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ante Novak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Novak lands a glancing blow to the side of Montgomery's head.
Montgomery stuffs the takedown.
Montgomery drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Novak defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Montgomery slaps away a takedown attempt from Novak, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Novak is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Montgomery staying out of range there.
Montgomery tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Novak scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Montgomery stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Montgomery wants it to stay on the feet.
Montgomery avoids the body shot from Novak.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novak swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Novak takes a swing at Montgomery's ribcage but misses.
Montgomery changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Novak.
Novak misses with a wild body shot.

Novak pushes Montgomery up against the cage in a clinch.

Novak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Novak lands a jab to Montgomery's midsection.
Montgomery stuffs the takedown attempt from Novak. Novak gets slowly back to his feet.
And Montgomery tries to counter it with a takedown but Novak pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novak lands an overhand right.
Montgomery blocks the body kick.
Montgomery feints the counter takedown.
Novak looks to score with a jab to the body but Montgomery is just out of range.
Montgomery feints the counter takedown.
Novak bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Novak will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ante Novak dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Novak misses with a jab, cross combination.
Novak misses with a takedown attempt - Montgomery sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Montgomery drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Novak defends it well.
Novak is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Novak pushes Montgomery up against the cage in a clinch.

Novak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novak throws a head kick that misses.
Montgomery stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Montgomery wants it to stay on the feet.
Novak misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Novak as he connects with a hook.
Montgomery uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Novak.
Montgomery feints the counter takedown.
Novak throws a half hearted mid kick.
Novak fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And Montgomery tries to counter it with a takedown but Novak pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Novak swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Novak is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Novak dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Montgomery moves out of range of the body kick from Novak.
It looks like Novak has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Novak throws a combination that misses

and Montgomery counters with a single leg into guard. Novak didn't expect that.

Montgomery content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Novak has locked up a guillotine! Novak's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Montgomery is holding on here and Novak must be using up a lot of energy. Montgomery has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Novak gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ante Novak!
An out of breath Ante Novak thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.