PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alkan Jemil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sasha Novavich (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!

Jemil
vs
Novavich

180 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

181 cm
22
212 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Hellbent, Inc.

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alkan Jemil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sasha Novavich!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Reed Andrews and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Novavich drives through and clinches with Jemil against the cage.
Jemil looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Novavich pulls guard.
Jemil wants to get up but he can't break Novavich's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Novavich is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Novavich scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Novavich tries to strike from the bottom.
Jemil trying to control but Novavich is working from the bottom.

Novavich throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jemil is pushing down on Novavich's leg trying to pass to half guard. Novavich is fighting to maintain full guard but Jemil has managed to sneak the leg through.
Novavich gets back to full guard.
Novavich lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Jemil!
Jemil in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novavich lands a big elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Novavich is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Jemil can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Novavich scoring with strikes but Jemil is staying in there.
The referee warns Jemil that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Novavich.
Novavich pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jemil is squirming around, avoiding Novavich's attempts to control the action.
Novavich scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Jemil?

Novavich looking to secure an arm triangle but Jemil defends it well.
Novavich in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Novavich looking to secure an arm triangle but Jemil defends it well.
Jemil could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novavich fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Novavich wants to control the pace but Jemil is squirming around nicely.

Novavich looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Novavich lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Novavich lands with some strikes.
Novavich lands a nice shot to the head.

Novavich looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Jemil is desperately trying to improve his position but Novavich has a good base and remains in mount.

Novavich looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novavich looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Novavich lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Jemil is trying desperately to improve position.
Novavich lands with some strikes.
Novavich landing punches.
Novavich unloading with bombs!
Novavich raining down shots from the mount!

Novavich looking for a guillotine from mount but Jemil is having none of it.

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.
Novavich scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Jemil is looking to get to half guard.
Novavich landing strikes from the mount.

Novavich working for a submission but Jemil is keeping him at bay.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Novavich is landing with some decent strikes but Jemil is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasha Novavich dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Novavich rushes Jemil and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Novavich can't break the clinch.

Novavich has hold of one of Jemil's legs. Jemil is fighting the takedown attempt but Novavich gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Novavich working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Novavich working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Novavich looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Novavich postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Novavich throwing strikes from guard but Jemil blocks nicely.
Novavich wants to control from the top but Jemil keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Jemil is looking for a triangle but Novavich pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novavich wants to control from the top but Jemil keeps moving.
Novavich passes Jemil's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Novavich working Jemil over with strikes.

Jemil looking for submissions off his back.

Novavich is working for a kimura but Jemil is defending it quite comfortably.
Novavich missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two 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.
Novavich looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jemil with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Novavich is nestled in close to Jemil, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Novavich working over Jemil with some ground and pound. Jemil looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Jemil tries to get to full guard but Novavich has control of the leg.
Jemil is working hard here to advance position.
Novavich wants to take a breather but Jemil is having none of it.
Novavich winds up and cracks Jemil with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Jemil has hold of Novavich's hands but Novavich slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novavich working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Novavich slips a nice elbow through Jemil's hands, connecting with Jemil's forehead.
Jemil is trying to maintain the position but Novavich is very close to passing his half guard.
Novavich working over Jemil with some ground and pound. Jemil looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Jemil is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Novavich scores with a couple of nice shots.
Novavich looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jemil with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Novavich lands strikes from half guard.

Jemil looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Jemil is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Novavich scores with a couple of nice shots.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Novavich connects with a nice short shot to Jemil's temple.
Novavich looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jemil wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Novavich takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sasha Novavich has got the better of the ground game so far.

Novavich seems to be looking for submissions.
Novavich slips a nice elbow through Jemil's hands, connecting with Jemil's forehead.
Novavich working the head and body with strikes.

Jemil looking for submissions off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasha Novavich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Novavich moves in looking to clinch but Jemil pushes him off.
Novavich misses with a head kick.

Novavich clinches up against the cage.
Jemil misses with a knee strike.
Jemil throws a knee to the head but misses.

Novavich gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Well, if Novavich is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Novavich landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Novavich seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Novavich is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Novavich is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novavich moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Jemil.
Jemil is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Novavich connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Jemil some visible discomfort.
Novavich creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Jemil taking a bit of punishment here - Novavich scoring with strikes.
Novavich working the head with strikes.
Novavich scores with punches from side control.
Novavich working the ground and pound from side control.
Novavich lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Jemil down.
Novavich wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jemil keeps working.
Sasha Novavich is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jemil tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Novavich gets a clinch.
Novavich is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jemil lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Novavich works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Novavich must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Novavich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jemil wants to sweep here but Novavich controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jemil working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Novavich.
Novavich scoring with some ground and pound.
Novavich stands up over Jemil, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Jemil looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Novavich landing some decent shots from guard.
Novavich working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Jemil throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Novavich escapes and throws Jemil's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Jemil is being controlled here.

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.

Novavich thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jemil is being controlled here.
Jemil is not content to let Novavich control the position.
Jemil tries to buck Novavich off but Novavich is having none of it.
Novavich just content to control the position.
Alkan Jemil has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jemil is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sasha Novavich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Novavich has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 26:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sasha Novavich!