PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Antoine Scott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vejas Nupustas (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.

Scott
vs
Nupustas

157 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Antoine Scott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vejas Nupustas!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nupustas tries to clinch up.
As Nupustas tries to get set, Scott tries to push him back and clinch up but Nupustas manages to avoid the attempt.

Scott takes the fight into the clinch.
Nupustas taking a breather.
Scott dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Scott is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scott stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Scott slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Nupustas scores with a nice short uppercut.
Scott lands a right hand.

Nupustas manages to break the clinch.
Nupustas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Scott sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nupustas somewhat.
Scott attempts a counter takedown but Nupustas avoids it well and moves away.
Nice jab there from Scott.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nupustas lands a jab to Scott's midsection.
Scott could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Scott slaps away a takedown attempt from Nupustas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Scott changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nupustas misses with a takedown attempt - Scott sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Antoine Scott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vejas Nupustas.
Scott swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nupustas counters by moving into the clinch.
Nupustas taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Scott fails to pull guard.

Nupustas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A swing and a miss from Scott.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nupustas.
Scott is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Nupustas.
Scott stuffs the takedown attempt from Nupustas. Nupustas gets slowly back to his feet.
Scott fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Scott moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromNupustas.
A right-left combo lands from Scott.
Nupustas throws a series of strikes that have Scott backpedaling.
Nupustas tries for a takedown but Scott circles away easily
and Scott counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nupustas looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nupustas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Scott is trying to maintain the position but Nupustas is very close to passing his half guard.
Scott misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Scott is trying to control but can't.
Scott gets back to full guard.
Scott looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Scott is controlling Nupustas's posture.
Nupustas stopping the sweep attempt from Scott.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vejas Nupustas will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nupustas avoids a punch combination nicely.

Nupustas takes the fight into the clinch.

Scott breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nupustas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Scott.
Scott stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Scott wants it to stay on the feet.
Scott attempts a counter takedown but Nupustas avoids it well and moves away.
Nupustas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott lets loose with a powerful body kick. Nupustas will feel that in the morning.
Nupustas looks for a takedown but Scott sprawls well.
Antoine Scott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vejas Nupustas.
Nupustas is breathing heavily.
A left lands for Nupustas.
Scott throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nupustas's waist but Nupustas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Scott off to one side.
Vejas Nupustas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Scott closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nupustas did well to prevent Scott getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nupustas is looking to control Scott's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nupustas avoid being mounted?

Scott wants to work for an arm triangle but Nupustas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Scott is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nupustas defends it well.
Scott throwing shots but Nupustas is blocking nicely.
Nupustas wants to get back to full guard.
Scott lands with a punch from half guard.

Scott is working for a kimura but Nupustas is defending it quite comfortably.
Nupustas keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Scott is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Scott is working for a submission of some sort.
Nupustas tries to roll over but Scott keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Scott lands strikes from half guard.
Nupustas slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Scott postures up in Nupustas's guard and throws a big left but Nupustas blocks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nupustas lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Scott has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Scott throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Antoine Scott is winning the standup battle so far.
Nupustas tries a low kick but Scott avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antoine Scott dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nupustas dives in and grabs Scott's left leg, looking for a takedown. Scott pushes down on Nupustas's head and hops out.
Scott tries to counter with a takedown but Nupustas is quick to defend against it.
Scott stuffs the takedown attempt from Nupustas. Nupustas gets slowly back to his feet.
Scott shoots in but no luck this time.
Scott shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nupustas but Nupustas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scott fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nupustas tries to clinch but Scott is having none of it.
Scott is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nupustas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Scott.

Nupustas drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nupustas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nupustas trying to control the position from guard on top but Scott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nupustas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Scott pulls Nupustas in to control the position.
Scott not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Scott is trying to hold Nupustas in close to prevent damage but Nupustas has managed to pass into half guard.
Nupustas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Scott wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scott keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Scott trying to control from the bottom.
Scott tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Nupustas has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Scott is squirming around, avoiding Nupustas's attempts to control the action.
Nupustas prevents Scott from getting the reversal.
Nupustas lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott working to try and regain half guard.
Scott manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Scott wants to get back to full guard.
Scott might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Scott is trying to maintain the position but Nupustas is very close to passing his half guard.
Nupustas wants to pass the guard but Scott is defending well.

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.
Scott wants to get back to full guard.
Scott is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Scott trying to control here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Scott tries to roll over but Nupustas keeps him under control.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nupustas in particular looking to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vejas Nupustas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nupustas 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vejas Nupustas!