PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ira Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Lobtov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wright kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Carolina In My Mind. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Wright
vs
Lobtov

185 cm
19
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

150 cm
26
170 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

King of Fists

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ira Wright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andrey Lobtov!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wright connects with a looping right hand.
Lobtov blocks a jab.
Wright misses with an uppercut

so Lobtov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lobtov tries to free his leg and advance position but Wright is retaining full guard.
Lobtov trying to control but Wright is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lobtov looking to sit in guard and control but Wright gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lobtov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wright gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright wants to pass the guard but Lobtov is keeping the position.
Wright not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Lobtov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Wright escapes and throws Lobtov's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Lobtov has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Lobtov is trying to improve his position.
Lobtov looking for a sweep but Wright has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lobtov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lobtov is still trying to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wright controlling his opponent.
Lobtov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright wants to control the pace but Lobtov is squirming around nicely.
Lobtov is trying to escape the mount.
Lobtov wants to control but Wright is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lobtov working to try and regain half guard.
Lobtov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lobtov gets back to half guard.
Lobtov is looking to get back to full guard here but Wright has managed to pass to side control instead.
Lobtov tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lobtov looking for a sweep but Wright has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Lobtov is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ira Wright dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Wright stuffs the takedown attempt from Lobtov. Lobtov gets slowly back to his feet.

Lobtov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Wright!
Lobtov moves into full mount!
Lobtov controlling from the full mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lobtov looking to control but Wright is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lobtov takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright prevents Lobtov from getting a body triangle.
Lobtov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Lobtov is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Wright is defending well though. Lobtov let's go of the attempt for now.

Lobtov is looking for a rear naked choke here but Wright reverses the position brilliantly into Lobtov's guard!
Lobtov looking for a sweep. Not yet Lobtov, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Wright got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lobtov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Wright has managed to get both his arms back between Lobtov's legs - danger averted.
Lobtov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wright stays in close to Lobtov's body and controls the position.

Lobtov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wright is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Lobtov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Wright escapes and throws Lobtov's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lobtov tries to buck Wright off but Wright is having none of it.
Wright remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Wright trying to control the action but Lobtov is working from the bottom.
Lobtov is trying to get back to half guard.
The referee asks Wright politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Wright prefers to stall for the moment though.

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 tries to buck Wright off but Wright is having none of it.
Lobtov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lobtov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lobtov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lobtov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lobtov is just content to waste time from the top position. Wright takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lobtov trying to control but Wright is working from the bottom.
Lobtov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wright is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Lobtov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Wright's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wright slows down the pace here.
Wright slows down the pace here.
Wright throws a head punch that misses.
Lobtov wants a takedown.
Lobtov fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lobtov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Wright avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ira Wright has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrey Lobtov.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Wright.

Wright is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lobtov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Wright to the mat. Wright regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Lobtov trying to control the position from guard on top but Wright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lobtov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Wright haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lobtov forces his way into half guard.
Wright is refusing to be controlled, as Lobtov sits in half guard.
Wright wants to get back to full guard.
Wright is not content to let Lobtov control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Lobtov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lobtov is stalling here. Wright is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Lobtov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Wright has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Lobtov is looking for a sweep.
Lobtov trying to remain calm as Wright controls from the top position.
Lobtov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Wright is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Lobtov tries to roll over but Wright keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lobtov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Wright pulls his head out easily.
Wright is taking a breather. Lobtov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Lobtov tries to roll over but Wright keeps him under control.
Wright will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lobtov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Lobtov working for submissions but it's allowed Wright to get to half guard.
Lobtov wants to control but Wright is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lobtov wants to get back to full guard.
Lobtov is looking to get back to full guard here but Wright has managed to pass to side control instead.
Lobtov tries to buck Wright off but Wright is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ira Wright showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wright has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ira Wright!
Ira Wright took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.