PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between AJ McNight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitrtiy Koschelev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McNight kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Given Up - Linkin Park. Dmitrtiy Koschelev struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 157.9lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. AJ McNight had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

McNight
vs
Koschelev

175 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
26
165 lbs
6 - 2 - 1

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, AJ McNight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitrtiy Koschelev!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koschelev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
No luck for McNight with that takedown attempt.

McNight shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Koschelev napping and manages to drive through into side control!
McNight is staying tight to Koschelev's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Koschelev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McNight. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Koschelev prevents McNight from moving into mount.
McNight controls the position.
Koschelev is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
McNight controlling the position from side mount.
McNight tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNight postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
McNight trying to control the position but Koschelev is working away.
McNight content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
McNight working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koschelev managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by McNight.
McNight controls the position.
McNight seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Koschelev for as long as he can get away with.
Koschelev looks winded!

McNight looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koschelev dodges the ground and pound from McNight.
Koschelev prevents McNight from moving into mount.
McNight trying to control the action but Koschelev is working from the bottom.
Koschelev being controlled for a moment.
McNight has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNight passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Koschelev!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McNight is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by McNight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). AJ McNight!
AJ McNight decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.