PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chance Cervantes (ranked 7725 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jozek Novak (ranked 24363 p4p, 0 weight class). Jozek Novak will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Cervantes
vs
Novak

188 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
26
205 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chance Cervantes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jozek Novak!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Novak darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cervantes is holding on to half guard well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novak wants to take a breather but Cervantes is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cervantes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Novak is working away from the top position though.
Novak thows a huge punch but Cervantes dodges it nicely.
Novak with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Novak closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Novak lands in his opponent's guard.
Novak wants to control from the top but Cervantes keeps moving.
Cervantes tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak trying to control the position from guard on top but Cervantes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cervantes pulls Novak in close to his closed guard and prevents Novak from doing any damage or advancing position.
Novak not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cervantes seems keen to control Novak's posture.
Novak trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novak would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Novak closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cervantes did well to prevent Novak getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Novak trying to control from half guard but Cervantes is working away.
Novak stops Cervantes from getting back to his feet.
Novak thows a huge punch but Cervantes dodges it nicely.
Novak wants to pass to mount but Cervantes is defending the position.
Cervantes desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Novak misses with a head shot. Cervantes uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novak is looking to stand up but Cervantes won't let him.
Cervantes is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Novak shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cervantes pushes Novak off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jozek Novak dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cervantes tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Novak defends well and Cervantes ends up having to push Novak into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Novak keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Cervantes tries to sprawl but Novak drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Novak looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Novak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Novak is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novak looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cervantes is staying active underneath Novak, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novak wants to get back to his feet.
Novak trying to control from half guard but Cervantes is working away.
Cervantes is holding on to half guard well.

Novak is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Cervantes still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Cervantes has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Novak is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cervantes working the body and head with strikes.

Cervantes stands up and beckons Novak to his feet.
Novak keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chance Cervantes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Novak shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Novak showed some decent athleticism there.
Cervantes is trying to maintain the position but Novak is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cervantes keeping hold of Novak's head, controlling as best he can.
Novak is thwarting Cervantes's attempts to control the position.
Novak working Cervantes over with strikes.

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.
Novak sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Novak is continuing to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cervantes wants to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
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.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Novak shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Novak is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Novak working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cervantes's head.
Novak trying to control the position from guard on top but Cervantes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novak throws a strike but Cervantes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Novak isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Cervantes stacks Novak on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Cervantes!
Cervantes is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Novak will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Novak is working to avoid the ground and pound but Cervantes connects with a decent elbow.
Cervantes scoring with punches from side control.
Novak parries the strikes from Cervantes easily there. Cervantes is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Novak to escape.
Cervantes working away.
Cervantes lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Novak down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novak tries to bench press Cervantes off him but Cervantes keeps the position.
Novak is trying to control Cervantes's posture but Cervantes avoids it.
Chance Cervantes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cervantes remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Cervantes decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Novak keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Cervantes feints and as Novak raises his hands in defense, Cervantes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cervantes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Novak is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cervantes wants to get up but he can't break Novak's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Novak working a defensive guard here.
Cervantes controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cervantes wants to control from the top but Novak keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cervantes cracks Novak with a solid left hand.
Cervantes stops Novak from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Novak pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cervantes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Novak circles away.

Novak moves into the clinch successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cervantes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Novak is looking to clinch but Cervantes is avoiding it.
Chance Cervantes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jozek Novak is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Novak cracks Cervantes with a right hand to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chance Cervantes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Novak has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jozek Novak!