PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Melianko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Wrighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fedor Melianko has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Melianko
vs
Wrighter

202 cm
22
280 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
20
226 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Melianko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Connor Wrighter!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wrighter bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Melianko waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Wrighter.
Wrighter shoots in but Melianko avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wrighter shoots in but no luck this time.
Melianko throws a jab but it's blocked by Wrighter.
Melianko connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Wrighter momentarily.
Melianko misses with a wild combination.

Wrighter shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Melianko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Melianko is working hard here to advance position.
Wrighter lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Melianko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Melianko is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Wrighter lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melianko wants to hold on but Wrighter pushes him away.
Wrighter prevents Melianko from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wrighter trying to control but Melianko is having none of it.
Wrighter avoids the attempt from Melianko to control.
Melianko flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Melianko gets back to half guard.

That's two 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.
Wrighter blocks the strikes from Melianko.

Wrighter stands up and beckons Melianko to join him on the feet.
Melianko is breathing heavily.
Melianko looks to score with a jab to the body but Wrighter is just out of range.
Melianko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A punch combination from Melianko misses.

Wrighter drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Wrighter should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Wrighter decides to stand back up.
Wrighter throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Wrighter moves into the clinch successfully.

Wrighter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wrighter shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Melianko but Melianko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Fedor Melianko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Wrighter.
Wrighter walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That has opened up Connor Wrighter's cut even more.
Wrighter takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Melianko lands a two punch combo.
Wrighter blocks a jab.
Wrighter looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fedor Melianko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Melianko clinches but Wrighter breaks the clinch

and Wrighter counters by clinching up.
Melianko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Wrighter is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Melianko gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Melianko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Wrighter jumps guard.
Wrighter wants to sweep but no luck.
Melianko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Wrighter is trying to control the position but Melianko postures up.
Melianko with a nice head shot there.
Melianko lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Melianko looking to sit in guard and control but Wrighter gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melianko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Melianko with the ground and pound from mount.
Wrighter is desperately trying to improve his position but Melianko has a good base and remains in mount.
Melianko postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Wrighter looks a forlorn figure.
Melianko scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melianko putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Wrighter wants to hold on but Melianko pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Fedor Melianko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Connor Wrighter's cut.
That's time! Melianko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Melianko tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Wrighter counters with a takedown into side control.

Wrighter decides to stand up, so the ref orders Melianko to his feet.

Wrighter scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melianko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wrighter working away.
Melianko is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Wrighter is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Wrighter decides to stand up, so the ref orders Melianko to his feet.
Melianko uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Wrighter has time to react.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melianko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Wrighter staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Wrighter, as that shot connected.
Melianko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Wrighter takes the fight into the clinch.
Melianko can't break the clinch.
Wrighter throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Wrighter gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Melianko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Wrighter pulls his head out easily.
Melianko trying to hold on to Wrighter's head to control him but Wrighter postures up.
Melianko missing with punches from the bottom.
Melianko throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melianko actively working from the bottom here.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Wrighter. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Melianko trying to control but Wrighter postures up.
Melianko punching from the bottom.
Connor Wrighter has got the better of the ground game so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Melianko jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wrighter lands with a kick to the temple. Melianko shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Wrighter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Melianko as he jumps to the side.
Melianko lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Melianko waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Wrighter.
Melianko misses the jab.
Wrighter avoids the body shot from Melianko.
Melianko throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wrighter is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Melianko's half guard.
Wrighter lands with a punch from half guard.

Wrighter is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Melianko is just riding it out for now. Wrighter eventually gives up the hold.
Melianko landing strikes from the bottom.
Melianko tries to kick Wrighter off but Wrighter keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Wrighter trying to control from half guard but Melianko is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melianko tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Wrighter lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Melianko throws a hook to the side of Wrighter's head but Wrighter sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Melianko looks to clinch
and Wrighter counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Melianko is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Wrighter throws a head kick but Melianko moves out of range.
Melianko's corner calls for a 1-2. Melianko obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Melianko throws a lazy right hand but Wrighter sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Wrighter clinches.
Melianko has had enough of the clinch but Wrighter keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch on the inside from Melianko fails to land.

Wrighter breaks the clinch.
Wrighter shoots in and drives through. Melianko sprawls well.
Melianko scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Wrighter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Connor Wrighter's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A low kick from Melianko is predictable there

and Wrighter moves into the clinch.
Melianko tries to circle away but Wrighter has him pinned against the cage.
Melianko tries to break the clinch but Wrighter is controlling the position.
Melianko is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Wrighter tries to score a body lock takedown but Melianko shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Melianko wants to get back to striking at distance but Wrighter won't allow it.
Melianko is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Wrighter changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Melianko fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Melianko tests Wrighter's chin there with a solid looking shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Melianko is fighting off a takedown attempt but Wrighter is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Melianko to the mat. Melianko regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Melianko will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Melianko throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melianko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wrighter manages to get himself to full guard.
Wrighter is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Melianko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Wrighter's head.
Melianko works over Wrighter with some ground and pound from guard.
Wrighter is trying to control the position but Melianko postures up.
Wrighter wants to get back to his feet but Melianko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Wrighter is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Melianko works over Wrighter with some ground and pound from guard.
Wrighter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A telegraphed right hand from Melianko misses the target.

Wrighter gets a takedown into half guard.
Melianko wants to get back to full guard but Wrighter has passed into side control.
Melianko tries to hold on but Wrighter pushes him away.
Wrighter lands a nice shot to the head.
Wrighter can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Melianko is looking to escape.
Melianko swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wrighter is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Melianko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Wrighter looking to control but Melianko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Melianko tries to hold on but Wrighter pushes him away.
Wrighter working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Melianko is squirming around, avoiding Wrighter's attempts to control the action.
Melianko flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Wrighter scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Melianko?
You get the feeling that Melianko really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Wrighter lands a heavy elbow.
Melianko trying desperately to get to his feet.
Wrighter is landing with some decent strikes but Melianko is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Melianko flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Melianko throwing hammer fists to the chest of Wrighter. What's that going to do exactly?
Melianko in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Wrighter prevents Melianko from getting the reversal.
Wrighter fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Melianko flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
The referee warns Melianko that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Melianko wants to hold on but Wrighter pushes him away.
Melianko wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Melianko takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Melianko is squirming around, avoiding Wrighter's attempts to control the action.
Melianko is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Wrighter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wrighter 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Wrighter!