PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Justin Novac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilio Lendores (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.

Novac
vs
Lendores

171 cm
23
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Justin Novac!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gilio Lendores!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novac keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lendores is defended easily by Novac.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lendores. Novac does a little dance to reset his feet.
Novac throws a low kick, looking for Lendores's leg but Lendores calmly moves out of range.

Novac closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lendores did well to prevent Novac getting side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Novac takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Novac looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Novac keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Novac tries to stand and escape but Lendores is controlling the position.

Novac is working for a kimura but Lendores is defending it quite comfortably.
Novac controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lendores is trying is best to control the position here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Novac gets the takedown into side control.

Novac looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lendores wants to control but Novac postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novac wants to control but Lendores is keeping him busy.
Lendores wants to control but Novac postures up.
Lendores prevents Novac from moving into mount.
Novac is breathing heavily.
Lendores is trying to buck Novac off.
Lendores is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Novac's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novac is keen to just control but Lendores is a slippery customer.
Novac prevents Lendores from improving his position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Lendores wants to get back to his feet.
Novac moves nicely into side control.
A lull in the action here as Novac stalls from top position.

Novac is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lendores knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

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.
Novac postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Novac trying to control the position but Lendores is working away.
Lendores manages to get back to half guard.
Lendores looks like he's trying to stand up.
Lendores is staying active underneath Novac, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lendores wants to control but Novac is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Novac dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lendores tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Lendores scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Novac is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lendores's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Novac might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Novac looks like he's trying to stand up.
Novac wants to improve his position but Lendores is controlling well.
Lendores wants to pass to mount but Novac is defending the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lendores is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novac trying to control but Lendores postures up.
Lendores with the ground and pound but Novac uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Novac looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Novac being controlled here, momentarily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lendores accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lendores wants to control from the top but Novac keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gilio Lendores was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Novac pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lendores fails in his attempt to clinch.

Novac feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Lendores looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lendores trying to control the position.
Novac thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novac slips nicely into half guard.
Novac throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Novac is trying to control. Lendores wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Novac not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lendores looks like he's trying to stand up.
Novac thows a huge punch but Lendores dodges it nicely.
Novac lands with a punch from half guard.

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.
Novac is keen to just control but Lendores is a slippery customer.
Novac controlling the pace.
Lendores tries to kick Novac off but Novac keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lendores won't allow Novac to pass to mount.
Novac sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lendores defending well though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

We're going to have a standup here because Justin Novac wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Lendores stuffs the takedown attempt from Novac. Novac gets slowly back to his feet.
Lendores wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Justin Novac will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lendores scores a takedown into full mount!
Lendores trying to control but Novac is having none of it.
Novac tries to reverse the position but Lendores maintains control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lendores with good strikes from the mount here!
Novac tries to lock up and control but Lendores gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lendores trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lendores avoids the attempt from Novac to control.
Lendores dominating with strikes here.
Novac is desperately trying to improve his position but Lendores has a good base and remains in mount.
Lendores landing strikes from the mount.
Novac tries to hold on but Lendores pushes him away.

That's two 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.
Lendores looking to control but Novac is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Novac is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Novac is working hard here to advance position.
Lendores tries to control but Novac wriggling away.
Lendores controlling the position easily from mount.

Lendores looking to secure an arm triangle but Novac defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lendores avoids the attempt from Novac to control.
Lendores really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Novac. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Novac tries to reverse the position but Lendores maintains control.
Novac tries to control the position but Lendores now has his back.
Novac tries to escape the position.
Novac just trying to survive but Lendores is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Lendores. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Lendores has the hooks in. Novac is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Will Lendores go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Novac trying to control the position but Lendores manages to sink in the hooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lendores trying to control momentarily.
Gilio Lendores has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Justin Novac is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lendores is not going to allow Novac to sit and survive in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gilio Lendores comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Novac 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Novac!