This review was commissioned by grappleholics over on my Ko-fi account.
I don’t watch MMA. It will surprise no one that my understanding and knowledge of it only ever comes from the framework of pro wrestling.
As such, a fight like this reads to me in a very simple way: it’s a fun display of working over a cut. Severn comes in with a decided size advantage here, and he never really loses control of the bout. He folds up and manhandles Oleg on the mat, stuffs any attempts Oleg makes to grab a limb and work some sambo magic, and basically dominates the whole encounter. The only real flash of hope for Oleg here is when he’s finally able to maneuver his legs around Severn’s arm, attempting a cross armbreaker if he can just get the right extension.
Unfortunately, that’s when Severn starts to drop the bombs.
Severn had spent the match trying to break through Oleg’s defenses with punches, but when he’s in position for that armbar, there’s a greater urgency and he just drives his knee straight into the man’s head. It’s awesome seeing the blows land, and there’s a great reveal of the blood flowing down Oleg’s face. It’s not immediately obvious but luckily the blood drips on the side of Oleg’s face that the camera can actually see. We know that Severn must see it too, because he works that sucker with headbutts, knees, and punches, enough so that the fight finally gets called in his favor.
Hell yeah, dude. Every NWA World Champion should know how to work a cut that efficiently. Note Severn’s celebration when the ref calls him off too, deeply pro wrestling coded to break a man’s face and then leap up in ecstasy.
A fun eight minutes.
