PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Lobtov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody McKenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cody McKenzie will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Lobtov
vs
McKenzie

150 cm
30
170 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

183 cm
22
170 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

MayheM sportswear

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 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrey Lobtov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cody McKenzie!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Steve Erwin and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKenzie throws a looping overhand right but Lobtov ducks down to avoid it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that McKenzie has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
McKenzie throws a left and a right that both miss

and Lobtov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for McKenzie!
Lobtov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
McKenzie being controlled for a moment.
Lobtov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Lobtov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
McKenzie drops his hands momentarily and Lobtov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Lobtov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
McKenzie looks to land a right hand but Lobtov moved out of range.
McKenzie swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Lobtov counters with a nice double leg into side control. McKenzie won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lobtov fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Lobtov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McKenzie, who protects the arm well.
Lobtov tries to advance to mount but McKenzie instead regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lobtov prevents McKenzie from improving his position.

Lobtov is looking for a kimura but McKenzie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lobtov to get the leverage.
McKenzie is concentrating on defense, preventing Lobtov from advancing position.
Lobtov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lobtov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Lobtov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McKenzie is just riding it out for now. Lobtov eventually gives up the hold.
McKenzie is trying to maintain the position but Lobtov is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McKenzie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lobtov.
McKenzie wants to improve his position but Lobtov is controlling well.
Lobtov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Lobtov is nestled in close to McKenzie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McKenzie is looking for a sweep. Lobtov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lobtov is working for a submission of some sort.
Lobtov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Lobtov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Lobtov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McKenzie is just riding it out for now. Lobtov eventually gives up the hold.

Lobtov is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from McKenzie as he works his way to full guard.
Lobtov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McKenzie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lobtov pushes down on McKenzie's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Lobtov 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.

Lobtov throws the left hand but McKenzie avoids the punch easily.
Lobtov moves away from the strike by McKenzie.
Lobtov throws a jab when McKenzie was well out of range.
Lobtov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McKenzie.
Lobtov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Lobtov ducks right into an uppercut from McKenzie.
Lobtov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A shot to the liver by McKenzie. Beautiful body shot.
McKenzie misses with a looping left.
Lobtov slips a straight right by McKenzie.
Lobtov works McKenzie's body with a nice hook.
McKenzie throws an off balance right hand
and Lobtov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
McKenzie swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lobtov tries to counter with a takedown but McKenzie is quick to defend against it.
Lobtov misses with a looping right.
McKenzie misses the jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McKenzie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lobtov.
McKenzie misses with a right hand
and Lobtov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McKenzie might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Lobtov takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Lobtov - just one landing.
Lobtov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McKenzie can do to turn this around?
Lobtov connects with a body shot.
McKenzie throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lobtov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Lobtov jabs McKenzie right on the nose. McKenzie blinks but takes it well.
McKenzie misses with an uppercut

and Lobtov counters with a nice double leg into side control. McKenzie won't be happy with that.
McKenzie tries to escape but Lobtov is in control.

Lobtov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lobtov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but McKenzie is avoiding damage well.

Lobtov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Lobtov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lobtov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lobtov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Lobtov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McKenzie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
McKenzie is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lobtov tries to advance to mount but can't.
Lobtov is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lobtov is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. McKenzie looks calm but he's in trouble here. Lobtov gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. McKenzie is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Lobtov lets go of the hold and McKenzie can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Andrey Lobtov!
Andrey Lobtov took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, MayheM sportswear for their support in the buildup to the fight.