PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jose Novinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Menavolov (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.

Novinski
vs
Menavolov

210 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light 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, Jose Novinski!
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, Andrei Menavolov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menavolov has his takedown stuffed
and Novinski counters with a nice uppercut.

Menavolov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Menavolov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Menavolov trying to control the position from guard on top but Novinski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Novinski throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Menavolov stops Novinski from standing up.
Menavolov wants to control from the top but Novinski keeps moving.

Andrei Menavolov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Novinski misses with a head kick.
Novinski has his takedown stuffed

and Menavolov counters with a single leg into guard. Novinski didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novinski wants to stand and escape but Menavolov is having none of it.
Menavolov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Novinski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Novinski keeping moving, preventing Menavolov from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Menavolov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Novinski wants to stand and escape but Menavolov is having none of it.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Andrei Menavolov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Menavolov loads up on a big right hand but Novinski slips the punch.
Novinski has his takedown stuffed

and Menavolov counters with a shoot takedown. Novinski fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menavolov postures up.
Menavolov trying to control but Novinski is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Menavolov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Menavolov slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Novinski.
Menavolov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Novinski pushes Menavolov off but Menavolov dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novinski regains half guard.
Menavolov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Novinski is not content to let Menavolov control the position.
Novinski wants to get back to his feet.
Menavolov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Menavolov prevents Novinski from standing back up.
Menavolov controlling the action here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Andrei Menavolov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Novinski with a lazy takedown attempt

and Menavolov counters with a shoot takedown. Novinski fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Novinski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Novinski is looking to stand back up but Menavolov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Novinski.
Novinski is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novinski tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Menavolov has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Menavolov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Menavolov controlling his opponent.
Novinski really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Novinski tries to buck Menavolov off but Menavolov takes his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Menavolov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Novinski misses with a takedown attempt

and Menavolov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Menavolov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Novinski kicks Menavolov off and gets back to his feet.
Menavolov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Menavolov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Menavolov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Novinski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novinski trying to control the position from guard on top but Menavolov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Menavolov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Novinski is one step ahead there.
Andrei Menavolov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Novinski postures up in Menavolov's guard and throws a big left but Menavolov blocks it.
Novinski wants to control from the top but Menavolov keeps moving.
Menavolov controls Novinski momentarily but Novinski frees himself.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Menavolov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Novinski counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Menavolov tries to get to full guard but Novinski has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menavolov keeping hold of Novinski's head, controlling as best he can.
Menavolov is looking to improve his position.

Novinski is looking for a kimura here.
Menavolov works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menavolov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Menavolov wants to control but Novinski passes easily into half guard.
Novinski is taking a breather. Menavolov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Novinski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Menavolov's head.
Menavolov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Novinski.

Menavolov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Novinski will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Novinski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Novinski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four 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.
Menavolov trying to control from the bottom.
Novinski prevents Menavolov from improving his position.
Menavolov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Menavolov is refusing to be controlled, as Novinski sits in half guard.
Menavolov is looking for a sweep. Novinski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Novinski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Novinski scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Novinski is stalling here. Menavolov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Novinski seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Menavolov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Novinski manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Novinski dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Menavolov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Novinski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Menavolov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Novinski is one step ahead there.
Menavolov keeping moving, preventing Novinski from controlling successfully.
Novinski lands a couple of elbows.
Novinski wants to pass the guard but Menavolov is keeping the position.
Menavolov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Novinski looking to sit in guard and control but Menavolov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novinski keeping moving, preventing Menavolov from controlling successfully.

Menavolov drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Menavolov seems to have locked his on tight now - Novinski screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Menavolov, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Andrei Menavolov!