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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Muhammad Church (ranked 4293 p4p, 3838 weight class) and Maja Novakovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maja Novakovic is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.
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| 174 cm
21
145
1 - 0 - 0 |
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159 cm
18
138
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Muhammad Church!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Maja Novakovic!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novakovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Church swivels and escapes.
Church gets tackled into the cage by Novakovic. Novakovic maintains the clinch.
Church pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Novakovic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Church.
Novakovic shoots in for a takedown but Church shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Church attempts a counter takedown but Novakovic avoids it well and moves away.
Novakovic rushes Church and presses him up against the cage.
Novakovic ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Novakovic no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Church has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Novakovic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Church's guard.
Church has Novakovic pulled in close to control his posture.
Novakovic trying to control but Church is working from the bottom.
Church will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Church looking for a sweep. Not yet Church, not yet.
Novakovic working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Church not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Novakovic drops back looking for a leg! Church is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Church manages to kick Novakovic off! Novakovic jumps back into Church's guard.
Novakovic drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Novakovic jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Church working a defensive guard here.
Novakovic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Church swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Church preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Novakovic wants to control from the top but Church keeps moving.
Church wants to control the position but Novakovic says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Church on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Church tries to get out of the position.
Novakovic seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Novakovic looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Novakovic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Church defending well though.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church darts in and clinches Novakovic up against the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Church landing knees to the body.
Novakovic tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Church smiles and moves away.
Muhammad Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maja Novakovic.
Church throws a series of punches but Novakovic moves out of range.
Novakovic only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Church is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Novakovic fails with a takedown attempt.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novakovic is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Church gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Church misses with a knee to the head.
Novakovic pulls guard effortlessly.
Church sitting in guard here, content to control.
Church wants to control from the top but Novakovic keeps moving.
Novakovic has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Church off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Novakovic avoids a kick to the body.
Church moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Church sizes up Novakovic with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Maja Novakovic will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Novakovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Novakovic darts in and clinches Church up against the cage.
Church missing with knees to the body.
Novakovic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Church scores with a shot to the side of Novakovic's head.
Novakovic fails to pull guard.
Novakovic goes for a takedown in the clinch but Church prevents it.
Muhammad Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maja Novakovic.
Church escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Church shoots in looking for a takedown. Novakovic tries to sprawl out of it but Church keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Novakovic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
It seemed like Novakovic was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Church misses with a series of wild punches.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Church tries to close the distance and clinch but Novakovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Novakovic tries to counter by closing the distance.
Novakovic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Church manages to avoid it.
Church tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Novakovic swivels and escapes.
Church clinches.
Novakovic wants a takedown.
Novakovic keeps control of Church as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Church missing with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Novakovic.
Novakovic managing to block the knees to the body from Church.
Novakovic is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Church to keep the fight standing.
Novakovic takes an elbow to the temple.
It looks like Maja Novakovic has been cut.
Church misses with a knee to the head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church looking for a takedown.
Novakovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Novakovic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Church circles away.
Novakovic gets caught flat footed, as Church shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Novakovic is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Novakovic looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Church passes into side control.
Novakovic tries to bench press Church off him but Church keeps the position.
Church trying to control the position but Novakovic is working away.
Novakovic gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Novakovic with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Church seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Novakovic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Novakovic wants to improve his position but Church is controlling well.
Novakovic is trying is best to control the position here.
Maja Novakovic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Novakovic is refusing to be controlled, as Church sits in half guard.
Novakovic is trying to stand back up but Church is controlling him
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.
Church lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Church there.
Church prevents Novakovic from improving his position.
Church tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Novakovic.
Still in half guard, Church seems content to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Church missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Muhammad Church dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Maja Novakovic's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Church forces Novakovic back against the cage and clinches.
Church breaks the clinch.
Church has his takedown stuffed
and Novakovic counters with a stiff right hand.
Novakovic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Novakovic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Church tries to avoid it but Novakovic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Church to the ground. Church escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Church moves into the clinch successfully.
Church is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Novakovic can do to turn this around?
Church manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Church changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Novakovic throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Novakovic shoots in looking for a takedown. Church tries to sprawl out of it but Novakovic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Church manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Muhammad Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maja Novakovic.
Novakovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Church shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Novakovic pinned against the cage. Novakovic gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Church throws a leg kick but Novakovic checks it.
Church shoots in looking for a takedown but Novakovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Church's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Church tries to close the distance and clinch up but Novakovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Novakovic looks to land a combination but Church avoids it well.
Novakovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Church working aggressively here.
Church's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Novakovic has Church up against the cage in a clinch.
Church wants to get back to striking at distance but Novakovic won't allow it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Novakovic uses from the top position.
Church trying to control the position.
Church is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Novakovic is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Novakovic sitting in guard, not really doing much.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novakovic won't allow Church to get back to his feet.
Novakovic wants to control from the top but Church keeps moving.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Novakovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Novakovic jumps guard but Church stands there with Novakovic around his waist. Novakovic gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Church can't find room to land a body shot as Novakovic controls the action.
Church tries to circle away but Novakovic has him pinned against the cage.
Novakovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Church pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Novakovic is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novakovic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Church sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Novakovic somewhat.
Church tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Church clinches.
Church tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Church breaks the clinch.
Novakovic shoots for a takedown but Church saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Novakovic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Church sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Novakovic somewhat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Novakovic throws a head kick that misses.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Muhammad Church.
I think Church has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muhammad Church!
Muhammad Church was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
32% |
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