PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Novikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Gable (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gable has chosen Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Novikov
vs
Gable

180 cm
23
270 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

201 cm
22
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Twisted Soldier Clothing

Monster MMA
Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 Montreal, Sergei Novikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dan Gable!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novikov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gable moves away.
Novikov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Novikov misses with a low kick.
Novikov throws a sloppy head kick and Gable moves out of range easily.
Novikov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gable misses with a wild combination.
Gable throws a body punch but Novikov moves out of range.
Novikov tries a low kick but Gable avoids it.
Gable on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Novikov. Novikov obviously looking to wear him down.

Novikov shoots in and bounces Gable off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Novikov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gable is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gable thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Novikov's head.

Gable is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novikov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gable scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gable throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Novikov tries to roll over but Gable keeps him under control.
Novikov trying to hold on to Gable's head to control him but Gable postures up.
Gable slips a nice elbow through Novikov's hands, connecting with Novikov's forehead.
Novikov is looking for a sweep. Gable is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gable is looking to advance position but Novikov won't allow it.

Gable is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Novikov moves out of range as Gable strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Novikov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gable is out of range.
Gable tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Novikov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Novikov showed some decent athleticism there.

Novikov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gable doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Novikov.
Gable wants to get back to full guard.
Novikov frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gable is in a horrible position here. Novikov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gable really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Novikov looking to ground and pound but Gable is blocking nicely.

Novikov goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Gable turns into him and now he's in Novikov's guard.
Novikov keeping moving, preventing Gable from controlling successfully.
Gable looking to sit in guard and control but Novikov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Novikov postures up.
Gable 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.
Gable throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Novikov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Gable throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Novikov throws a big right hand that misses.
Gable has momentary wrist control but Novikov slips an elbow through the middle.
Novikov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gable is keeping the position for now.
Novikov takes a decent strike to the side of the head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Novikov misses with a wild body shot.
Gable doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Novikov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gable swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Novikov ducks under a wild hook from Gable.
Gable misses with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gable closes the distance looking to clinch

and Novikov counters with a takedown into side control.
Gable wants to control but Novikov postures up.
Gable misses with an elbow from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gable can do anything to dispel that myth.
Novikov lands a nice forearm strike.
Gable tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Novikov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Novikov landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Novikov sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gable is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Novikov has hold of Gable's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Gable seems comfortable defending it but Novikov has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Gable is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Gable is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Novikov couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Sergei Novikov!