PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin Novaria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Kennedy (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.

Novaria
vs
Kennedy

190 cm
19
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Justin Novaria!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rich Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kennedy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kennedy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kennedy should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kennedy tries to clinch there but Novaria circles away.
Kennedy changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Novaria tries to avoid it but Kennedy manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Novaria to the ground. Novaria escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Justin Novaria has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Kennedy.
Kennedy looks for a takedown but Novaria sprawls well.
Kennedy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Novaria's waist but Novaria gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kennedy off to one side.
No joy there for Novaria, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Novaria swinging wilding here.
Kennedy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Novaria is fending him off so far but Kennedy persists. Nope, Novaria circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy has a takedown stuffed.
Novaria throws a right and a left that Kennedy avoids nicely.
Kennedy misses with a takedown attempt - Novaria sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rich Kennedy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown by Kennedy or perhaps it was just good defense by Novaria which made him look bad.
Justin Novaria is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kennedy looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Novaria circles away.
Kennedy shoots in but Novaria avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kennedy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Novaria as he jumps to the side.
Novaria swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kennedy misses with a takedown attempt - Novaria sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Novaria throws a right and a left that both miss.
Novaria misses with a series of wild punches.
Kennedy fails with a takedown attempt.
Novaria listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novaria wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Novaria swinging wilding here.
Kennedy shoots for a double leg takedown but Novaria sprawls well. He's pushed Kennedy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Novaria moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Novaria throws a push kick but Kennedy slaps the foot to one side.
Novaria throws a right hand that Kennedy ducks under and follows up with a left that Kennedy also avoids with ease.
Novaria fails to land with a series of punches.
Novaria throws a one two combo.
Novaria looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Novaria misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novaria thuds a left hand into Kennedy's body.
Novaria throws a sloppy head kick and Kennedy moves out of range easily.
Novaria keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Novaria fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Novaria moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Novaria throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Novaria lands with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Novaria drops his shoulder and cracks Kennedy with a huge uppercut! Kennedy goes down! Can Novaria finish him?

Kennedy is rocked!
Novaria wanted to stand there but Kennedy had control of the position.
Kennedy is still in real trouble! Can Novaria finish him?
Kennedy seems to have recovered his senses.
Novaria stopping the sweep attempt from Kennedy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novaria wants to get up but he can't break Kennedy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Novaria stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nice sprawl there from Novaria as Kennedy shoots in.
A right-left combo lands from Novaria.
Kennedy avoids the head kick by Novaria.
Nice sprawl there from Novaria as Kennedy shoots in.
Novaria wants to land a leg kick but Kennedy is out of range.
Kennedy is trying desperately to land a takedown but Novaria is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Kennedy.
Novaria throws a right and a left that both miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Novaria uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kennedy.
Novaria keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kennedy misses with a combination

and Novaria counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Novaria dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Novaria throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kennedy has his takedown stuffed
and Novaria counters with a three punch combo that has Kennedy backing up. Kennedy nods at Novaria to acknowledge the strikes.
A punch combination from Novaria misses.
Kennedy with a poor takedown
and Novaria counters with a nice uppercut.
Decent striking displayed by Novaria there.
Novaria wants to clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Novaria.
Kennedy shoots in for a takedown but Novaria shows good takedown defense.
Justin Novaria has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Kennedy.
Novaria looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kennedy is fending him off so far but Novaria persists. Nope, Kennedy circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kennedy with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Novaria to score with a decent uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Kennedy or perhaps it was just good defense by Novaria which made him look bad.
Novaria fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Novaria misses with a few strikes there.
Novaria throws a nice looking combination but Kennedy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Novaria throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Kennedy has eaten all the pies!
Kennedy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Novaria swivels and escapes.
Novaria swinging wilding here.
Novaria moves in looking to clinch but Kennedy pushes him off.
Novaria misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kennedy has a takedown stuffed.

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.
Novaria tries to bum rush Kennedy with a series of wild strikes but Kennedy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Novaria lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kennedy circles away quickly and effectively.
Novaria swinging wilding here.
Nice takedown defense from Novaria. No joy for Kennedy on that attempt.
Kennedy misses with a takedown
and Novaria counters with a one-two to the body.
Novaria is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kennedy can do to turn this around?
Novaria misses with a two punch combination.
Kennedy has his takedown stuffed
and Novaria counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kennedy misses with an uppercut. Novaria saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Novaria as Kennedy shoots in.
Novaria lands a jab-cross combination.
Kennedy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Novaria.
Novaria misses with the combination.
A right-left combo lands from Novaria.
Novaria is working the combinations to good effect here.
Novaria misses with a body shot.
Novaria stuffs the takedown.
Kennedy with a poor takedown
and Novaria counters with a head kick. That will keep Kennedy thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kennedy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Novaria circles away.
Kennedy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Novaria displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kennedy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Novaria connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kennedy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kennedy misses with a takedown attempt
and Novaria counters with a three punch combo that has Kennedy backing up. Kennedy nods at Novaria to acknowledge the strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by Novaria as he connects with a hook.
Kennedy fails with the takedown.
Justin Novaria is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kennedy blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Novaria dominated that second round.
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!

Novaria swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Justin Novaria is winning the standup battle so far.
Kennedy shoots for a takedown but Novaria saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Novaria looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kennedy tries for a takedown but Novaria circles away easily
and Novaria counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Novaria looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Novaria misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kennedy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Justin Novaria has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Kennedy.
Novaria throws a head kick but Kennedy moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kennedy misses with a takedown attempt
and Novaria counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kennedy has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kennedy keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novaria scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kennedy misses with a double jab
and Novaria counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Novaria misses with a few strikes there.
Novaria keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Novaria throws a right hand that Kennedy ducks under and follows up with a left that Kennedy also avoids with ease.
Kennedy looks for a takedown but Novaria sprawls well.
Kennedy dodges the punch combination from Novaria.
Kennedy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Novaria's waist but Novaria gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kennedy off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nice takedown defense from Novaria. No joy for Kennedy on that attempt.
Kennedy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kennedy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kennedy shoots for a takedown but Novaria saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kennedy with a poor takedown
and Novaria counters with a two punch combo.
Novaria is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Novaria tries a head kick but it misses.
Kennedy misses with a takedown attempt
and Novaria counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Novaria will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kennedy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Novaria pinned against the cage. Novaria gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Novaria misses with a double jab.
Novaria keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rich Kennedy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Novaria works over Kennedy's head and body with a nice combination.
Novaria fails to land with a series of punches.
Kennedy shoots in but Novaria avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kennedy stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kennedy has a takedown stuffed.
Kennedy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Novaria throws a right hand that Kennedy ducks under and follows up with a left that Kennedy also avoids with ease.
Kennedy has a takedown stuffed.
Kennedy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kennedy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kennedy misses with a jab to the body
and Novaria counters with a straight right hand.
Justin Novaria is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Novaria throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Novaria showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Novaria 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:26

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