PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Nova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauritsio Ojala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mauritsio Ojala struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nova
vs
Ojala

188 cm
20
192 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

210 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johnny Nova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauritsio Ojala!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nova fails with the takedown.
Nova throws a head kick that misses.
Nova shoots in for a double leg but Ojala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnny Nova seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nova throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ojala's waist but Ojala gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nova off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Nova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nova shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ojala but Ojala pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ojala tries to clinch up.

Ojala darts in and clinches Nova up against the cage.
Nova jumps guard but Ojala stands there with Nova around his waist. Nova gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nova wants to break free but Ojala has control.
Nova tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Ojala jumps guard and drags Nova to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Nova pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ojala is keeping the position for now.
Ojala wants to sweep here but Nova controlling him for the moment.
Nova wants to pass the guard but Ojala is keeping the position.
Ojala is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nova is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ojala pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nova is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ojala's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ojala's back!

Ojala defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Nova is breathing heavily.
Nova throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Ojala trying to control but Nova is working from the bottom.
Ojala would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nova looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nova working for a triangle but Ojala defends it easily.
Ojala is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

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.

Ojala decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nova shoots in for a double leg but Ojala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nova throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ojala.

Ojala scores a takedown into full mount!
Nova is desperately trying to improve his position but Ojala has a good base and remains in mount.
Ojala moves to the back.
Ojala is trying to stick to Nova's back but Nova is turning into Ojala. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ojala's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Nova.
Nova would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nova trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nova advances to half guard.
Nice strikes from Nova there.

Nova is looking for a kimura here.
Ojala is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nova moves into full mount! Ojala won't be happy about that!
Nova landing strikes from the mount.
Nova working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ojala is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ojala is working to get back to half guard.

Nova with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Nova looking to ground and pound but Ojala is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ojala wants to hold on but Nova pushes him away.
Nova lands a nice shot to the head.

Nova stands up from mount. Strange move.

Ojala shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nova's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ojala tries to stand but Nova is controlling from the bottom.
Ojala trying to control but Nova is working from the bottom.

Nova looking for a guillotine here but Ojala defends easily.

Nova is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Nova throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ojala uses it to pass to side control.

Ojala decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nova to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ojala closes the distance and clinches.

Nova jumps guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nova is looking for a triangle but Ojala pushes his legs off easily.
Ojala stands and throws Nova's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mauritsio Ojala will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nova misses with a body shot.
Nova doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ojala counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nova tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nova tries for a takedown but Ojala circles away easily

and Ojala counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nova's guard now.

Nova has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ojala can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nova might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nova bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ojala's guard.
Ojala wants to sweep here but Nova controlling him for the moment.
Nova stands and throws Ojala's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Nova looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nova passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Ojala!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nova landing strikes from the mount.
Nova avoids the attempt from Ojala to control.

Nova moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Ojala has worked his arm free - good work by Ojala!
Ojala can't do much from the bottom here.
Ojala regains half guard.

Nova is looking for a kimura here.
Ojala is trying is best to control the position here.
Ojala is trying to maintain the position but Nova is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ojala is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Ojala is defending against the submission attempts here by Nova.
Nova prevents Ojala from improving his position.

Ojala actively working from the bottom here.
Mauritsio Ojala has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nova doesn't manage to clinch there - Ojala circles away.
Nova swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Ojala closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ojala lands in his opponent's guard.
Ojala wants to control from the top but Nova keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ojala drops back looking for a leg! Nova is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nova manages to kick Ojala off! Ojala jumps back into Nova's guard.
Ojala postures up.
Ojala trying to control the position from guard on top but Nova is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nova throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Nova is looking for a triangle but Ojala pushes his legs off easily.
Nova trying to control the position.

Nova pushes a forearm under Ojala's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Ojala is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Johnny Nova!