PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Victor Novikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Moreira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Novikov
vs
Moreira

168 cm
23
139 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

160 cm
23
130 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Novikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ricardo Moreira!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Moreira scores with a takedown into Novikov's guard.
Novikov keeping moving, preventing Moreira from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Moreira's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Moreira preventing the sweep.
Moreira content to stall in guard here.
I looks like Moreira might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov looking to control.
Novikov has his hands on Moreira's head, controlling the position.
Moreira wants to get up but he can't break Novikov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Novikov wants to sweep but no luck.
Moreira prevents Novikov from getting back to his feet.
Moreira preventing the sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Novikov lands with a cross.
Moreira shoots in but Novikov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Novikov lands a nice hook to Moreira's body. Moreira takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two 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.
Moreira moves in looking to clinch but Novikov pushes him off.
Moreira looks to land a combination but Novikov avoids it well.
Moreira fails with an attempt to clinch.
Moreira moves into range and connects with a jab.
Moreira throws out a loose jab but Novikov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Moreira shoots in and drives through. Novikov sprawls well.
Novikov throws a combination that misses
and Moreira counters with a nice body shot.
Moreira throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Novikov counters with a left to the body.

Moreira shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Novikov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The referee asks Moreira politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Moreira prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novikov is looking for a sweep.
Moreira slows the pace down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Novikov sneaks back into half guard.
Moreira wants to free his trapped foot but Novikov is holding on for dear life with his legs.

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.
Moreira is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Novikov wants to improve his position but Moreira is controlling well.
Moreira is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Let's hope that Moreira has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ricardo Moreira just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A shot to de liver by Moreira. Beautiful body shot.
Moreira looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Moreira dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Moreira moves into the clinch.

Moreira manages to pull guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Moreira pushes Novikov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Moreira throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Novikov counters with a stiff right hand.
Moreira throws out a loose jab but Novikov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Moreira throws a right hand that Novikov ducks under and follows up with a left that Novikov also avoids with ease.
A big right from Moreira misses.
Moreira misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Novikov.
Moreira stuns Novikov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Moreira looks to score with a jab to the body but Novikov is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Novikov.
Novikov misses with a body shot.
Victor Novikov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Novikov takes a swing at Moreira's ribcage but misses.
Novikov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Novikov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Moreira was well out of range. Poor timing from Novikov.
Novikov ducks under a wild hook from Moreira.
Moreira lands a right hook to the body.
Novikov lands a head shot.
Victor Novikov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Moreira tries to clinch but Novikov is having none of it.
Moreira misses with a wild body shot.
Moreira is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moreira pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Novikov keeps the fight on the outside.
Novikov just misses with a punch to the body.
Moreira throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Novikov counters with a stiff right hand.
Moreira throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Novikov counters with a leg kick.
Novikov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Moreira changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Novikov tries to avoid it but Moreira manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Novikov to the ground. Novikov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Moreira throws a combination that misses
and Novikov counters with a left and a right that stings Moreira.
Novikov ducks under a wild hook from Moreira.
Moreira misses with a combination
and Novikov counters with a three punch combo that has Moreira backing up. Moreira nods at Novikov to acknowledge the strikes.
Novikov is looking to wear down Moreira with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Novikov does no damage.
Moreira swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Novikov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Novikov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Moreira throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Novikov was covering up waiting for the punch and Moreira finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Novikov working a defensive guard here.
Moreira looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Moreira wants to control from the top but Novikov keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novikov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Moreira controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Moreira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Novikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Moreira manages to avoid it.
Ricardo Moreira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Moreira ducks under a wild hook from Novikov.
Moreira throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Novikov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Moreira lands with a good body shot.
Moreira misses with a jab to the body
and Novikov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Moreira doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Novikov counters with a left and a right that stings Moreira.
Moreira misses with a takedown
and Novikov counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

It looks like Victor Novikov has been cut.
Novikov throws a lazy right hand but Moreira sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Novikov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Novikov slips a straight right by Moreira.
Novikov missing with a left hand there. Moreira was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Moreira tries to score a power double leg takedown but Novikov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Moreira somewhat.
Victor Novikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Moreira.
Moreira lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Moreira looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novikov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Moreira.
Moreira lunges at Novikov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Novikov's hand.
Moreira throws a body punch but Novikov moves out of range.
Moreira avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Novikov ducks under a wild hook from Moreira.
Moreira misses with a body punch
and Novikov counters with a three punch combo that has Moreira backing up. Moreira nods at Novikov to acknowledge the strikes.
Moreira will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ricardo Moreira seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Novikov takes a swing at Moreira's ribcage but misses.
Moreira throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Novikov.
Moreira throws a sloppy body shot
and Novikov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moreira throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Novikov's waist but Novikov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Moreira off to one side.
Good standup being displayed there by Moreira as he connects with a hook.
Moreira throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Novikov.
Novikov lands with a right hand.
Moreira misses with a combination
and Novikov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Novikov lands a lovely overhand right.
Moreira swinging wildly here.
Moreira misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novikov staying out of range there.
Novikov scores with a nice head shot.

Moreira moves into the clinch.
Ricardo Moreira is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Moreira is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Novikov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice body punch from Novikov.
Novikov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Moreira.
A combination from Novikov does no damage.
Victor Novikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Moreira falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Novikov counter with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Moreira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Moreira has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Moreira!