PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Novitskiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Novitskiy has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Novitskiy
vs
Wright

178 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Novitskiy!
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, Matt Wright!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novitskiy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wright paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Novitskiy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Novitskiy throws a series of punches but Wright avoids them all with ease.
Novitskiy tries to bum rush Wright with a series of wild strikes but Wright uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Novitskiy misses with the combination.

Wright closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wright controlling the pace.
Wright working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Novitskiy's thigh. Novitskiy counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Wright slips nicely into half guard.
Wright trying to mount his opponent but Novitskiy defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Wright 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.
Wright wants to take a breather but Novitskiy is having none of it.
Wright takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Novitskiy has one foot on Wright's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Novitskiy is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Wright clinches up against the cage.
Novitskiy has had enough of the clinch but Wright keeps him there for the moment.
Wright wants a takedown but no success here.
Novitskiy tries for a takedown. No joy.

Wright breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wright is trying hard to land a takedown here. Novitskiy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Wright misses with a takedown attempt - Novitskiy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Alexander Novitskiy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Wright.
Novitskiy stuffs the takedown attempt from Wright. Wright gets slowly back to his feet.
Novitskiy tries to clinch up

and Wright decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Novitskiy's guard.
Novitskiy keeping moving, preventing Wright from controlling successfully.
Wright working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Novitskiy pushes Wright off and gets back to his feet.

Novitskiy closes the distance and clinches.

Wright pulls guard effortlessly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novitskiy has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Wright is proving hard to escape from.

Novitskiy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Novitskiy postures up in Wright's guard and throws a big left but Wright blocks it.
Novitskiy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wright throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Novitskiy wants to stand and escape but instead Wright has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Wright trying to control but Novitskiy is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Wright 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.

Novitskiy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wright.

Novitskiy rushes Wright and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wright drops down looking for an ankle pick but Novitskiy pulls his leg out and moves away.

Wright scores with a takedown into Novitskiy's guard.
Novitskiy wants to stand up but Wright is controlling him.
Wright landing some decent shots from guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Novitskiy is keeping the position for now.

Wright stands up and waves to Novitskiy to follow him.

Novitskiy has Wright up against the cage in a clinch.
Wright scores with a shoulder strike.

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

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.
Novitskiy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Novitskiy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Wright.
Wright tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Novitskiy counters with a right hand to the body.
Novitskiy doesn't manage to clinch there - Wright circles away.
Wright looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Novitskiy is fending him off so far but Wright persists. Nope, Novitskiy circles away and we're back to standing.
Alexander Novitskiy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Wright.
Novitskiy throws a combination that misses
and Wright counters with a three punch combo that has Novitskiy backing up. Novitskiy nods at Wright to acknowledge the strikes.
Novitskiy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Wright counters with a three punch combo that has Novitskiy backing up. Novitskiy nods at Wright to acknowledge the strikes.
Wright lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Wright has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Novitskiy doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Wright decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Novitskiy's guard.
Matt Wright has got the better of the ground game so far.

Wright gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright closes this distance looking for a takedown but Novitskiy circles away.
Wright fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wright shoots in and drives through. Novitskiy sprawls well.
Wright dodges the punch combination from Novitskiy.
Horrible takedown by Wright or perhaps it was just good defense by Novitskiy which made him look bad.
Novitskiy shoots for a takedown but Wright saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wright fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wright throws a combination that misses

and Novitskiy moves into the clinch.
Wright is working for takedown but Novitskiy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Novitskiy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Wright escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Novitskiy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Wright takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novitskiy scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Alexander Novitskiy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wright doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Novitskiy counters with a shoot takedown. Wright fights it but they end up in guard.

Novitskiy drops back looking for a leg! Wright is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Wright manages to kick Novitskiy off! Novitskiy jumps back into Wright's guard.

Novitskiy stands up from Wright's guard - Novitskiy perhaps looking for a knockout.
Novitskiy tries for a takedown but Wright sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wright stuns Novitskiy with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Wright looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Wright showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Novitskiy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Novitskiy takes a kick to the side of the head.
Novitskiy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wright paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Novitskiy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Wright takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Wright tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wright tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Novitskiy counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wright manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Novitskiy manages to get himself to full guard.
Wright trying to control but Novitskiy is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Novitskiy is working an open guard so Wright takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Novitskiy tries to clinch up

and Wright counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wright.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Novitskiy as Wright tries to tie him up.
Novitskiy is trying to force a seperation but Wright has the dominant position.
Wright jumps guard but Novitskiy stands there with Wright around his waist. Wright gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Good body shot from Novitskiy.
Novitskiy has had enough of the clinch but Wright keeps him there for the moment.

Novitskiy manages to break the clinch.
Alexander Novitskiy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Novitskiy misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright throws a head kick that misses.
Novitskiy works over Wright's head and body with a nice combination.

Novitskiy closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Novitskiy lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Wright is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Wright throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wright looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Novitskiy is looking to work some ground and pound but Wright has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novitskiy throws a big right hand that misses.
Wright is trying to control the position but Novitskiy postures up.
Novitskiy is looking to stand up but Wright won't let him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Novitskiy throws a series of punches but Wright moves out of range.

Wright feints and as Novitskiy raises his hands in defense, Wright changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wright trying to control but Novitskiy is working from the bottom.
Wright with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Wright stands and steps away. Novitskiy gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Novitskiy lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Alexander Novitskiy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Novitskiy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Novitskiy fails with the takedown
and Wright counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Novitskiy throws a series of punches but Wright moves out of range.

Wright closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Novitskiy to the mat! Novitskiy manages to get full guard.
Wright thows a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Wright comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wright 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Wright!