PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joilton Novim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Champion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Novim
vs
Champion

199 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joilton Novim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, The Champion!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Viktor Lagutenko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Champion tries to clinch there but Novim circles away.
Novim scores with a head kick.
Champion throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Novim's waist but Novim gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Champion off to one side.
Novim throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Champion's head.
Novim throws a sloppy head kick and Champion moves out of range easily.
Novim throws a head kick but Champion moves out of range.

Champion has Novim up against the cage in a clinch.
Champion keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Novim's efforts to push away.

Champion manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Novim wants to stand but Champion has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Champion can do anything to dispel that myth.

Novim gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A jab from Champion misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novim throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Novim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Champion closes the distance and clinches.

Champion pulls guard successfully.
Novim is looking to stand up but Champion won't let him.
Novim trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Novim is breathing heavily.
Champion pulls Novim in close to prevent any damage.
Novim would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Champion fails in his attempt to clinch.
Champion moves in looking to clinch but Novim pushes him off.

Champion has managed to clinch.
Novim is looking to break free of the clinch but Champion has double underhooks.

Champion manages to break the clinch.
Champion blocks a head kick by Novim.
Joilton Novim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Novim lands with a kick to the temple. Champion shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Novim throws a sloppy head kick and Champion moves out of range easily.

Novim tries to keep at a distance but Champion has taken the fight into the clinch.
Novim has Champion pressed against the cage, preventing Champion from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Champion lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Champion drops an elbow to the side of Novim's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Champion missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Champion throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Champion lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Champion is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Champion is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Novim doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Champion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Champion keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Champion wants to stand but Novim has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Champion dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Champion pushes Novim up against the cage in a clinch.
Champion is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Novim pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Champion is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Novim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Champion shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Novim sprawls well. Novim wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Champion gets slowly back to his feet.
Joilton Novim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Champion.
Novim throws a head kick that misses.
Novim throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Champion.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Novim is looking to break free of the clinch but Champion has double underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Novim wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Champion tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Novim just stands there and leans against the cage.
Champion has Novim pressed against the cage, preventing Novim from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novim wants to get back to striking at distance but Champion won't allow it.
Champion tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Novim wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Novim is trying to break the clinch but Champion has him pressed against the cage.
Novim is trying to break the clinch but Champion is controlling him.
Novim is looking to break free of the clinch but Champion has double underhooks.
Novim tries to circle away but Champion has him pinned against the cage.
Novim is trying to force a seperation but Champion has the dominant position.
Novim wants to break free but Champion has control.

Champion breaks from the clinch.

Champion moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Novim's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Novim gets underhooks to prevent Champion's takedown attempt.

Champion has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Novim clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Champion patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Champion is striking well from the back but Novim escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
Champion is just content to waste time from the top position. Novim takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Novim wants to stand and escape but Champion is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Champion is stalling in the full guard.
Champion stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Novim swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Champion must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Champion with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Novim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Champion looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Champion keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Champion is looking to stall here but Novim recovers full guard.
Champion wants to stand and escape but instead Novim has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Champion looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Champion showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Novim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Novim tries a head kick but it misses.
Novim throws a sloppy head kick and Champion moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Novim.
Champion misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Champion misses with a takedown attempt - Novim sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Champion avoids the head kick by Novim.
Novim throws a sloppy head kick and Champion moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novim throws a head kick but Champion moves out of range.
Champion tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Novim was well out of range. Poor timing from Champion.
Champion throws a push kick but Novim slaps the foot to one side.
Novim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Novim pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Champion is looking to clinch but Novim is avoiding it.
Novim throws a head kick but Champion moves out of range.
Novim throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Novim lands a head kick. Champion smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Novim pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Novim pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Champion blocks a head kick by Novim.
Novim lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Novim misses with a head kick.
Novim throws a head kick but Champion moves out of range.
Novim throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Novim throws a head kick but Champion moves out of range.
The Champion is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Champion has closed the distance and engaged Novim in a clinch.
Novim wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Novim wants to break free but Champion has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A frustrated look appears on Novim's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Champion is looking to break free of the clinch but Novim has double underhooks.

Champion jumps into guard, dragging Novim to the mat.
Novim would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Champion wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Champion manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Novim dodges the punch combination from Champion.

Champion shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Novim napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Champion swings around for an armbar but Novim sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Champion's guard.
Novim trying to stand up but can't free himself from Champion's guard.
Joilton Novim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Champion looking for a sweep. Not yet Champion, not yet.
Champion wants to stand up but Novim is controlling him.
Novim wanted to stand there but Champion had control of the position.
Champion is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Novim is controlling him.

Champion is looking for a triangle but Novim pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Champion pulls Novim in to control the position.

Champion has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Novim can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Novim throws a sloppy head kick and Champion moves out of range easily.
Joilton Novim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Champion throws a shot to the body.
Novim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Champion misses with a kick to the body
and Novim counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Champion is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Champion takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Novim tries a head kick but it misses.

Champion rushes Novim and presses him up against the cage.
The Champion is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Novim has had enough of the clinch but Champion keeps him there for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Champion comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Champion winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Champion!