PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jovani Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Novikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jones
vs
Novikov

178 cm
22
182 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
163 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jovani Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Novikov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novikov swinging wildly here.
Novikov tries to clinch up but Jones circles away and keeps his distance.
Novikov fails with a takedown attempt.
Novikov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Novikov tries to clinch up.
Novikov misses with a straight left.
Jones avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Novikov. Jones shrugs it off though.
Novikov throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Jovani Jones has been cut.

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

Jones is rocked!
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!
Novikov moves in looking to clinch but Jones pushes him off.
Oh Jones is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Novikov moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jones blocks it with crossed arms.
Novikov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jones walks away with a smile on his face. Novikov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jones seems to have got his legs back now.
No joy there for Novikov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jones blocks a head kick by Novikov.
Novikov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jovani Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrey Novikov.
Novikov throws a right and a left that Jones avoids nicely.
A slow jab from Jones misses its intended target.
Jones throws the left hand but Novikov avoids the punch easily.
Novikov throws a series of punches but Jones moves out of range.
Novikov looks gassed!
Novikov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Novikov moves out of range as Jones strikes.
Novikov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Novikov tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Novikov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Jones smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Andrey Novikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Novikov needs to keep his hands up - Jones had a free shot at his head there.
Nice defenses there by Novikov.
Jones throws a big shot that misses.
Jones thows a left - swing and a miss!
Novikov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jab, jab by Jones - just one landing.
Jones looks to land a right hand but Novikov moved out of range.
Novikov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Novikov throws the left hand but Jones avoids the punch easily.
A big left from Novikov misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jones missing with a left hand there. Novikov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A head kick misses from Novikov.
Novikov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jones blocks a jab.
Novikov throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.
Novikov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Novikov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Jones.
Jones throws a shot from downtown. Novikov moves away and avoids it.
Novikov shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense.
Novikov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Jones throws a hook to the side of Novikov's head but Novikov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four 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.
Novikov swings for the body but Jones moves out of range.
Novikov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Novikov throws a head kick that misses.
Jones stuffs the takedown.
Jones wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jones is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Novikov ducks under a wild hook from Jones.
Jones connects with the punch.
Novikov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Jones throws a jab but it's blocked by Novikov.
Novikov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Jones.
Novikov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Jones missing with a left hand there. Novikov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Novikov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jovani Jones's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Novikov misses with a shot to the body
and Jones counters with a stiff right hand.
Jones throws a hook but Novikov blocks it.
Novikov moves out of range as Jones strikes.
Novikov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Novikov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Andrey Novikov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheers as Jones lands an impressive looking overhand right. Novikov doesn't seem phased though.
Jones scores with a nice strike.
Novikov slips a jab from Jones.
Jones looks to throw the jab but Novikov is out of range.
Novikov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jones throws out the jab.
Jones lands with an uppercut that bounces Novikov off the cage and back into rage.
Novikov tries to clinch up
and Jones counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov throws a combination that misses
and Jones counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Novikov closes the distance but Jones moves to the side
letting Jones counter with a right hand.
Novikov slips a jab and a cross from Jones.
Novikov closes the distance but Jones moves to the side
and Jones counters with a three punch combo that has Novikov backing up. Novikov nods at Jones to acknowledge the strikes.
Novikov is breathing heavily.
Jones scores with a jab.
Novikov throws a body kick the misses
and Jones counters with a stiff right hand.
Novikov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Novikov misses with a combination
and Jones counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novikov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jones cracks Novikov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Novikov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Novikov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Jones counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Novikov misses with a hook to the body
letting Jones counter with a right hand.
Novikov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Jones cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A head kick misses from Novikov.
Novikov throws a combination that misses
and Jones counters with a stiff right hand.
Novikov misses with a double jab
and Jones counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones scores with a decent looking hook.
Jones misses with a looping left.
Novikov thows a leg kick but Jones checks it
and Jones counters with a nice uppercut.
Novikov with a poor takedown
and Novikov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jones is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Novikov.
Donk. Jones catches Novikov right on the button with a cross.
Jones lands with a right hand.
A lazy left from Jones finds it's target.
Jovani Jones is winning the standup battle so far.
Novikov looks to clinch
and Jones counters with a left and a right that stings Novikov.
Jones darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Novikov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Jones counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novikov blocks a jab.
Jovani Jones is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Novikov misses.
Novikov misses with a body kick.
Novikov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jones counters with a nice body shot.
Jones throws out a powerful jab.
Novikov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Jones with a jab.
Jones fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Novikov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jones throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jovani Jones dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jovani Jones's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Novikov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Novikov tries to clinch
enabling Jones to counter with a crisp jab.
Novikov moves away from the strike by Jones.
Jones throws a shot from downtown. Novikov moves away and avoids it.
Novikov shoots and misses
and Jones cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Novikov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Jones.
Novikov moves away from the strike by Jones.
A head kick misses from Novikov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novikov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jones cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jones lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Novikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jones lands with a nice combination. Novikov backs away looking to recover.
Novikov shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Novikov is trying desperately to land a takedown but Jones is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Novikov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Jones.
A big left from Jones misses.
Novikov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jones.
Novikov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Jones loads up on a big right hand but Novikov slips the punch.
A low kick from Novikov misses
enabling Jones to counter with a crisp jab.
Novikov misses with a combination
enabling Jones to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice shot lands for Jones.
Novikov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jones counters with a three punch combo that has Novikov backing up. Novikov nods at Jones to acknowledge the strikes.
Jovani Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrey Novikov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Jones coming out on top.
Novikov moves out of range as Jones strikes.
Novikov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Novikov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Novikov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jones throws a series of strikes that have Novikov backpedaling.
Novikov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Novikov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jones counters with a stiff right hand.
Novikov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jones.
Novikov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jones counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Jones. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Jones.
Novikov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Jones works the jab nicely.
Novikov tries to clinch but Jones moves away
enabling Jones to counter with a crisp jab.
Novikov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jones throws a shot from downtown. Novikov moves away and avoids it.
Novikov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Novikov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Novikov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jones counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jones clobbers Novikov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Jones jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jones connects with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jones looks to throw the jab but Novikov is out of range.
Novikov misses with a takedown
and Jones counters with a nice uppercut.
Jones lands with an uppercut that bounces Novikov off the cage and back into rage.
Jones connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Jones connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Jones bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Novikov's head.
Novikov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Novikov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jones counters with a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jovani Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jones has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:26
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jovani Jones!