PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hunter Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Novikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Thompson
vs
Novikov

189 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
163 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Hunter Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Novikov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson blocks the body kick.
Novikov shoots for a takedown but Thompson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Thompson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Novikov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Novikov keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Novikov looking for a sweep. Not yet Novikov, not yet.

Novikov working for a triangle but Thompson defends it easily.
Novikov keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Novikov's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson stopping the sweep attempt from Novikov.

Thompson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Novikov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thompson!
Thompson can't escape the position.
Thompson tries to buck Novikov off but he can't manage it.
Thompson avoids a series of strikes thrown by Novikov.
Thompson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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.
Thompson is trying to escape the mount.
Novikov avoids the attempt from Thompson to control.
Thompson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Novikov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Thompson is desperately trying to improve his position but Novikov has a good base and remains in mount.
Thompson is squirming around, avoiding Novikov's attempts to control the action.
Thompson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Novikov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Novikov has control of Thompson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Thompson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Novikov looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Novikov moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Thompson has worked his arm free - good work by Thompson!
Thompson is trying to control Novikov's posture but Novikov avoids it.
Thompson pushes Novikov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Novikov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Thompson is looking for a sweep.
Thompson can't do much from the bottom here.
Novikov works to advance to full mount. Thompson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Novikov wants to control the pace but Thompson is squirming around nicely.
Thompson can't escape the position.
Thompson tries to lock up and control but Novikov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Novikov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Thompson tries to lock up and control but Novikov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Thompson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Novikov.
Thompson is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hunter Thompson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thompson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Thompson.
Thompson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thompson shoots in but no luck this time.
Thompson fails with a takedown attempt.
Thompson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Novikov defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hunter Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Novikov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Thompson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Novikov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Thompson wants to control but Novikov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thompson is looking to improve his position.
Novikov wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson is looking to control Novikov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thompson avoid being mounted?
Novikov trying to pass the guard but Thompson defending well.

Novikov is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Thompson to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Thompson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Thompson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Novikov!
Thompson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Novikov?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to control the pace but Novikov is squirming around nicely.
Novikov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Thompson looking to control but Novikov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thompson lands a heavy elbow.

Thompson wants to finish this one by submission but Novikov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Thompson.
Thompson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Thompson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Novikov can't escape the position.
Thompson looking to control but Novikov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thompson controlling the position easily from mount.
Novikov tries to reverse the position but Thompson maintains control.
Thompson looking to control but Novikov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Novikov is trying to escape the mount.
Thompson lands a nice shot to the head.
Thompson breaks from Novikov's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Thompson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Thompson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Novikov has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Thompson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Thompson dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thompson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Novikov. Novikov obviously looking to wear him down.
Thompson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Novikov pinned against the cage. Novikov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Novikov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Thompson is looking to get to half guard.
Novikov controlling the pace for now.
Novikov trying to control but Thompson is having none of it.
Novikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thompson tries to reverse the position but Novikov maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Novikov goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Thompson is on top in guard.
Thompson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Novikov is trying to get back to half guard.
Thompson trying to control the action but Novikov is working from the bottom.
Novikov tries to bench press Thompson off him but Thompson keeps the position.
Hunter Thompson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A lull in the action here.
Thompson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Thompson cracks Novikov with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Thompson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Novikov, who protects the arm well.
Thompson working the head with strikes.
Thompson wants to control but Novikov is keeping him busy.

Thompson decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novikov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Thompson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Novikov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Novikov is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Novikov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thompson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Thompson is looking to take a break and control but Novikov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Andrey Novikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Novikov is looking to reverse the position.
A lull in the action here.

Thompson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Novikov to his feet.

Thompson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Thompson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hunter Thompson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thompson 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hunter Thompson!