PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Igor Wenzel (ranked 4257 p4p, 4324 weight class) and Cody White (ranked 473 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.

Wenzel
vs
White

180 cm
25
180
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
180
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Wenzel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cody White!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White takes one to the chin there.
White misses with a head kick.
White doesn't manage to clinch there - Wenzel circles away.
Wenzel misses with a looping right.
Wenzel throws a jab but it's blocked by White.
Wenzel lands a jab to the head.
Wenzel throws an overhand right that lands on White's shoulder, as White tries to avoid the shot.
Nice shot by Wenzel.
Igor Wenzel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

White gets a clinch.

White breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

White has taken the fight to the clinch.

White escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wenzel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jab, jab by Wenzel - just one landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
White walks into a left hand.
A slow jab from Wenzel misses its intended target.
Wenzel misses with a looping left.
White now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Wenzel checks the leg kick nicely there.

White has Wenzel up against the cage in a clinch.

White escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White blocks a jab.
Wenzel misses with a looping left.
Wenzel darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
White slips under a jab.
White is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A left lands for Wenzel.
A swing and a miss from Wenzel.
Nice uppercut there from Wenzel.
Wenzel misses with a straight right.
White defending well as Wenzel loads up on a big left hand.
White moves forwards but Wenzel connects with a nice, crisp jab.
White throws a nice looking combination but Wenzel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
White moves out of range as Wenzel strikes.
Wenzel misses with a lunging right hand

and White holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Wenzel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
White takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

White instigates a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from White.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by White.
White holding his opponent close, against the cage.
White working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
White controlling the action here for a moment.
Wenzel blocks the elbow strike.
White just leaning against Wenzel, taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Wenzel's efforts to push away.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Wenzel working hard to break the clinch.

White manages to break the clinch.
Wenzel is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
White tries to move into range but Wenzel moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

White moves into the clinch.

White manages to break the clinch.
A big right from Wenzel misses.
White follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Wenzel is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
White rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Wenzel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wenzel throws a lazy right hand but White sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

White darts in and clinches Wenzel up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wenzel is trying to push White away but White has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
White dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
White can't find room to land a body shot as Wenzel controls the action.
White tries to work over Wenzel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Wenzel tries to break free but White pushes him back against the cage.

White breaks the clinch.
White moves away from the strike by Wenzel.

White moves into the clinch.
White struggles to land a body shot inside as Wenzel controls his hands.
White creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Wenzel wants to break free but White has control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cody White will probably get the nod.
That's time! Wenzel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

White throws a body kick that misses.
White moves out of range as Wenzel strikes.
Wenzel jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Wenzel throws a lazy right hand but White sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A big right from Wenzel misses.
Igor Wenzel is winning the standup battle so far.
White uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wenzel.
White tries to clinch up but Wenzel circles away and keeps his distance.
Wenzel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by White.
Wenzel misses the jab.
White uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wenzel.
Wenzel throws a jab when White was well out of range.
White defending well as Wenzel loads up on a big left hand.
White looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A telegraphed right hand from Wenzel misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wenzel missing with a left hand there. White was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A little jabbing left from White on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
White ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

White darts in and clinches Wenzel up against the cage.
White lands a nice uppercut.
White stalling against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wenzel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wenzel is trying to break free.
Wenzel is looking to break free of the clinch but White has double underhooks.
Wenzel prevents a body shot from White.
Wenzel blocks an elbow strike.

White pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wenzel throws a hook to the side of White's head but White sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Wenzel misses with a looping left.
White lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
White wants to clinch.
White keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wenzel.
Wenzel misses with an uppercut.
White is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wenzel misses with a looping right.

White clinches.
Cody White seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
White lands a right hand.
White lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from White.
White lands with a short shot to the head.
Wenzel wants to get back to striking at distance but White won't allow it.
White controlling the action here for a moment.
Wenzel has had enough of the clinch but White keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wenzel breaks the clinch.

White closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
White gets through Wenzel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
White slowing the pace effectively.
Wenzel takes a shot to the head.
White lands a shoulder strike.
White lands with a right to the head.
White working some nice short punches in the clinch.
White content to slow the pace in the clinch.
White throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Wenzels head.
White landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

White's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
White has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wenzel throws a looping overhand right but White ducks down to avoid it.
Wenzel circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Wenzel with a jab.
Wenzel keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Wenzel throws a shot from downtown. White moves away and avoids it.
White changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Cody White is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wenzel works the jab nicely.
White displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wenzel throws out the jab.

White moves into the clinch successfully.
White missing with knees to the body.
Wenzel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

White's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
White staying out of range there.
White ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Wenzel looks to throw the jab but White is out of range.
Wenzel throws a looping overhand right but White ducks down to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cody White showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Wenzel misses with an uppercut. White saw that one coming.
White drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Wenzel defends it well.
A big left from Wenzel misses.
Wenzel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Wenzel throws a jab when White was well out of range.

White drives through and clinches with Wenzel against the cage.

Wenzel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wenzel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A big left from Wenzel misses.
White moves out of range as Wenzel strikes.
White is looking for the big counter here.
Wenzel connects with the punch.

White closes the distance and clinches.
Wenzel is trying to break the clinch but White has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Wenzel wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but White has him pressed against the cage.

White breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wenzel throws a looping overhand right but White ducks down to avoid it.

White closes the distance and clinches.
White pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
White lands a right hand that snaps the head of Wenzel backwards.
White lands a nice shot to the body.
White stalling in the clinch.
White just leaning against Wenzel, taking a breather.
A nice left hand lands by White.
A shot in the inside from White.
White tries to land knees in the clinch but Wenzel avoids the damage to the body.
Wenzel has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

White breaks from the clinch.
White avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wenzel lands a jab to the nose.
Good exchange - Wenzel coming out on top.
Wenzel takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wenzel misses with a looping right.
Wenzel throws out a powerful jab.
White staying out of range there.
White tries to close the distance and clinch but Wenzel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wenzel throws a lazy right hand but White sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Some wild striking there from White.
Wenzel throws out a loose jab but White uses good head movement to avoid it.
White steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Wenzel.
Wenzel looks to land a left hand but White moved out of range nicely.
Wenzel lands with a cross.
White keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wenzel.
Wenzel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by White.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Wenzel lands.
White displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wenzel throws out the jab.
Wenzel uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

White clinches.
White is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Wenzel is defending well for now.
White softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

White breaks the clinch.

White closes the distance and clinches.
White dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
White tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
White is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Wenzel is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from White.
White taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
White slowing the pace effectively.
Wenzel is trying to push White away but White has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
White pushes off an throws an elbow but Wenzel leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Wenzel is trying to break the clinch but White is controlling him.
White keeps control of Wenzel as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wenzel wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
White scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Igor Wenzel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cody White is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
White prevents Wenzel from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cody White.
I've got White 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Cody White!
Cody White decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.