PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dmitry Novikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dmitry Novikov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Novikov
vs
Sanchez

196 cm
22
277 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
227 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Global Nutritional - ACME - (Q145 for $16)

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitry Novikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pedro Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novikov looks to land a body kick but Sanchez moved away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sanchez.
Novikov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sanchez throws a strike aimed at the side of Novikov's head but Novikov avoids it well.
Novikov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Novikov tries to get out of the position.
Novikov regains half guard, as Sanchez was trying to land strikes.
Sanchez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Novikov's head.
Sanchez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Novikov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute 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.
Novikov wants to land a leg kick but Sanchez is out of range.
Novikov misses with a low kick.
Novikov misses with a body shot.
Novikov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sanchez blocks a low kick nicely.
Novikov is looking to land body kicks.
Sanchez checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Novikov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Novikov throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Novikov avoids the body shot from Sanchez.
Sanchez checks the leg kick nicely there.

Sanchez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Novikov to the mat! Novikov manages to get full guard.
Sanchez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Novikov's head.
Novikov wants to stand and escape but Sanchez is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanchez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sanchez throws a strike but Novikov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Novikov is looking to stand up but Sanchez won't let him.
Sanchez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanchez is pulling down on Novikov's head to control his posture.
Sanchez is trying to control the position but Novikov postures up.

Novikov stands up from Sanchez's guard - Novikov perhaps looking for a knockout.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.

Novikov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A slapping body kick lands there for Novikov.
Sanchez looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novikov is looking to score with low kicks.
Novikov throws a leg kick but Sanchez moved away.
Sanchez moves out of range of the body kick from Novikov.
Novikov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Novikov misses with a hook to the body

and Sanchez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sanchez postures up in Novikov's guard and throws a big left but Novikov blocks it.
Sanchez throws a strike but Novikov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sanchez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Novikov wants to get up but he can't break Sanchez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novikov 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Novikov lands a head kick. Sanchez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sanchez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sanchez misses the shot to the body.
Sanchez shoots in for a double leg but Novikov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Novikov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sanchez's sensitive parts.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez fails to land the takedown.
Sanchez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Dmitry Novikov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanchez staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitry Novikov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Novikov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Novikov throws out a leg kick but Sanchez moves out of range and Novikov only half commits.
Sanchez checks a low kick from Novikov.
Sanchez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Novikov was well out of range. Poor timing from Sanchez.
Sanchez scores with a body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Novikov. That snapped Sanchez's head back.

It looks like Pedro Sanchez has been cut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Novikov rather than just go for the knockout.
Novikov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sanchez.
Novikov tries to land a leg kick but Sanchez saw it coming and moves away.
Novikov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Horrible takedown by Sanchez or perhaps it was just good defense by Novikov which made him look bad.
Sanchez moves out of range of the body kick.
Dmitry Novikov is winning the standup battle so far.

Sanchez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Novikov tries to escape but Sanchez is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez grinds an elbow into Novikov's temple.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Novikov is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sanchez postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Novikov is pushing Sanchez's head away, looking to escape. Sanchez manages to hold on to the position though.
Novikov parries the strikes from Sanchez easily there. Sanchez is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Novikov to escape.
Novikov is trying to get back to his feet.
Novikov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sanchez throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A shot to the body from Sanchez misses
and Novikov counters with an inside leg kick.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Novikov delivers a nice body kick.
Novikov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Novikov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A leg kick checked by Sanchez.
Good work by Sanchez as he checks the leg kick.
Novikov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Novikov misses with a low kick.
Novikov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sanchez checks it well.
Sanchez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Novikov tries to avoid it but Sanchez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Novikov to the ground. Novikov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Novikov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Novikov throws a chopping leg kick but Sanchez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Novikov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sanchez is out of range.
Sanchez takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A bone on bone clash there as Sanchez blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novikov swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
Sanchez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Novikov avoids it really well and circles away.
Dmitry Novikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Sanchez.
Novikov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sanchez moves out of range of the leg kick from Novikov.
Sanchez swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Novikov lands a big head kick that sends Sanchez tumbling to the mat! Novikov takes a step backwards and waves Sanchez back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Sanchez is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanchez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sanchez is still on wobbly legs! Can Novikov finish him?
Novikov finds Sanchez's off switch, with a big overhand right that connects perfectly to the side of the head! Sanchez flops back against the cage, eyes gazing into the distance. Novikov lands an unnecessary shot before the referee has time to step in and end the fight. Brutal stuff but I'm sure Sanchez will be OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Dmitry Novikov!