PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Skip Runkles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jozek Novak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Runkles
vs
Novak

186 cm
19
208 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Skip Runkles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jozek Novak!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Winston Howard and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Runkles. Those never looked like landing.
Runkles lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Novak circles away quickly and effectively.

Novak shoots in and gets a takedown into Runkles's guard.
Novak slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Runkles doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Runkles preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Novak lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Novak won't allow Runkles to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runkles is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Novak decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Runkles misses with a combination

and Novak counters by moving into the clinch.

Novak manages to break the clinch.
Runkles throws the left hand but Novak avoids the punch easily.

Novak shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Novak was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Runkles tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Novak controlling from mount.
Novak landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak controlling his opponent.
Runkles is in a horrible position here. Novak smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Novak goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Runkles turns into him and now he's in Novak's guard.
Novak thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Novak seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Runkles stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Runkles throws a right and a left that both miss.
Novak dodges the punch combination from Runkles.
Runkles moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromNovak.
A punch combination from Runkles misses.
Novak changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Novak has Runkles up against the cage in a clinch.
Runkles being controlled against the cage.
Novak lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Runkles backwards.
Novak leaning against his opponent.

Novak manages to pull guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Novak can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Novak had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Runkles defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Novak pulls Runkles in close to his closed guard and prevents Runkles from doing any damage or advancing position.
Novak preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Runkles wants to control from the top but Novak keeps moving.
Runkles being controlled here momentarily.

Novak is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Runkles defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jozek Novak dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Runkles misses with a jab, cross combination.
Runkles misses with a series of wild punches.
Novak avoids a punch combination nicely.
Runkles throws a combination that misses
and Novak counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Novak fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Runkles, pushing him back against the cage.
Novak goes for a takedown in the clinch but Runkles prevents it.
Novak jumps guard but Runkles turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novak looking for a takedown.
Skip Runkles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jozek Novak.

Novak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Runkles misses with a series of wild punches.
Runkles throws a combination that misses
and Novak counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runkles throws a right and a left that both miss.
Skip Runkles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Runkles throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Novak connects with a crisp jab.
A head kick misses from Novak.

Novak closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Novak keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Novak is thwarting Runkles's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Novak keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Novak decides to return to a standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak avoids a punch combination nicely.
Novak throws a counter combo.

Novak fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Runkles sprawls well initially but Novak persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Runkles has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Novak is on him like a limpet, forcing Runkles back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Runkles is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Novak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Novak pushes Runkles up against the cage in a clinch.
Novak is looking for a takedown.
Novak throws an elbow that misses.
Runkles fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novak tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Runkles just stands there and leans against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Runkles's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Novak jumps guard but Runkles turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Novak jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Runkles walks away with a smile on his face. Novak gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Novak lands with a nice combination. Runkles backs away looking to recover.
Novak avoids a punch combination nicely.
Runkles rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Novak moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A punch combination from Runkles misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Novak tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Runkles smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novak scoring well with a low kick there.
Runkles will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Novak rushes Runkles and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Novak wants to take the fight to the mat but Runkles manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Novak is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Runkles tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Novak's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jozek Novak will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Runkles throws a right and a left that Novak avoids nicely.
Runkles throws a nice looking combination but Novak bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Runkles tries to bum rush Novak with a series of wild strikes but Novak uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And Novak tries to counter it with a takedown but Runkles pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Runkles throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Runkles will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Runkles throws a left and a right that both miss

and Novak counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Novak leaning his opponent against the cage.
Runkles is trying to break the clinch but Novak is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novak scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Novak jumps guard but Runkles turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Novak is struggling to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novak keeps control of Runkles as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Jozek Novak seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Novak fails to pull guard.

Novak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Novak misses with an attempted mid kick.

Novak gets a takedown into half guard.
Runkles on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Novak content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Runkles is trying to stand back up but Novak is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Novak seems to be looking for submissions.
Runkles wants to improve his position but Novak is controlling well.
Nice strikes from Novak there.
Novak is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Novak decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novak lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Skip Runkles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Runkles misses with a few strikes there.
No luck for Novak with that takedown attempt.
Skip Runkles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jozek Novak.
Runkles throws a series of punches but Novak avoids them all with ease.
Novak throws a big counter head kick but Runkles avoids it with no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Runkles looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Novak is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Novak decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Runkles wants to get back to his feet.
Novak tries to pass to full mount but Runkles defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novak slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Novak stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Runkles to get to his feet.
Novak moves in looking to clinch but Runkles pushes him off.

Novak gets the takedown into side control.
Runkles bucks up and tries to throw Novak off but instead Novak has got his back!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Novak tightening his grip on Runkles, looking for the choke.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jozek Novak.
I've got Novak winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight for Jozek Novak!
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight for Jozek Novak!
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight for Jozek Novak!

Jozek Novak wins by unanimous decision!