PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Draganov (ranked 1117 p4p, 2469 weight class) and Stepan Grachev (ranked 152 p4p, 313 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Draganov
vs
Grachev

178 cm
25
155
8 - 5 - 0

175 cm
25
165
4 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

PWNAGE™

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ivan Draganov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stepan Grachev!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Draganov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Grachev connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Draganov scrambles back to his feet.
Grachev misses with a right hand
and Draganov counters with a head kick. That will keep Grachev thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Grachev lands a slapping body shot.
Grachev with the inside leg kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Grachev!
Grachev is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Grachev has managed to clinch.
A short left from Grachev.

Draganov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Draganov has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Hare of the Dog Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Grachev throws a hook to the side of Draganov's head but Draganov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Grachev tests Draganov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Draganov.
A head kick from Grachev lands but Draganov takes it in his stride.
Draganov misses with a body kick.
Grachev is looking to clinch.
Grachev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grachev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Draganov, pushing him back against the cage.
Draganov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Draganov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Draganov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Grachevs head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Draganov.
Grachev misses with a punch on the inside.
A short left from Draganov.
Grachev wants to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Draganov.
Grachev lands a shot to the body.
Grachev looking to stall.

Draganov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Draganov avoids the head kick by Grachev.
Grachev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Grachev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Draganov misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grachev takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Draganov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Grachev finds it's way round the side to connect with Draganov's head.
Grachev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Draganov.
Grachev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Draganov.
Grachev lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Grachev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Grachev is looking to slow Draganov down with leg kicks.
Draganov lands with a right hand.
Grachev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grachev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Grachev lands with a right hand.
Grachev lands a nice hook to Draganov's body. Draganov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Draganov lands with a slapping head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grachev works the jab nicely.
Draganov blocks the body kick.
Grachev throws a jab but it's blocked by Draganov.
Draganov was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Draganov throws a body shot but no joy.
Stepan Grachev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Draganov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Grachev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Draganov forces Grachev back against the cage and clinches.
Draganov struggles to land a body shot inside as Grachev controls his hands.
Draganov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Grachev.

Draganov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Grachev misses with a body kick.
Grachev clobbers Draganov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Draganov slips under a jab.
Grachev feints and then cracks Draganov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Draganov down.
Grachev throws a left and a right that both miss
and Draganov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Draganov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Draganov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Grachev is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Draganov had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Grachev throws a leg kick that misses.
Grachev throws the kick towards the body but Draganov avoids it.
Grachev lands with a shot to the body.
Draganov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Draganov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Grachev misses with a hook. Draganov ducked under it nicely.
A counter left hand to the body from Draganov misses its target.
A low kick lands for Grachev.
Draganov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grachev misses with an uppercut.
Grachev wants to clinch up but Draganov keeps it at a distance.
Draganov moves away from the strike by Grachev.
A little feinted left hand from Draganov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stepan Grachev dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Draganov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Decent striking displayed by Draganov there.
Grachev stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Grachev cracks a nice hook into Draganov's ribs.
Draganov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Grachev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Draganov swats away the attempt to clinch by Grachev.
Grachev defending well as Draganov loads up on a big left hand.
Grachev fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Draganov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grachev missing with a left hand there. Draganov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A swing and a miss from Draganov.
Grachev throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Draganov's head.
Grachev throws a hook but Draganov blocks it.
It looked like Draganov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Grachev cracks Draganov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draganov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Grachev throws a nice looking combination but Draganov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Draganov tried to counter with a leg kick but Grachev avoided it.
Grachev swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Draganov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nice body kick from Grachev.
Draganov cracks Grachev with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Draganov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Grachev moves out of range as Draganov throws a body kick.
Draganov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Grachev misses with a double jab.
Draganov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Grachev lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Grachev.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grachev fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Draganov on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Draganov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Grachev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Grachev moves in looking to clinch but Draganov pushes him off.
Grachev tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Grachev tries to clinch
and Draganov counters with a nice uppercut.
Draganov swings for the body but Grachev moves out of range.
Good work by Draganov as he checks the leg kick.
Grachev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Grachev fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Draganov checks it well.
Draganov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Draganov drives through and clinches with Grachev against the cage.
Draganov tries to throw a body punch but Grachev avoids it by throwing Draganov back against the cage.
Grachev misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Grachev fails to land.
Draganov lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draganov tries to throw a body punch but Grachev avoids it by throwing Draganov back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Grachev.
Draganov misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Draganov.
Grachev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Grachev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Draganov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Grachev's elbow.
Draganov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Grachev's elbow.
Grachev will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Draganov up against the cage.
Good body shot from Draganov.
Draganov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Grachev.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Draganov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Draganov working aggressively here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Draganov.
Draganov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Grachev's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Draganov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Draganov lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Grachev.
Grachev works on Draganov's body with a couple of short punches.
Draganov is leaning against Grachev and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short right from Draganov.
A short left from Draganov.
A short right from Draganov.
Draganov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Grachev backwards.

Draganov manages to break the clinch.
Draganov is looking to clinch.
Grachev fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Draganov on the side of the head.
Grachev is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Grachev misses the target.
Draganov is looking to counter punch.
Draganov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Grachev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Grachev scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stepan Grachev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Grachev is looking to land body kicks.
It looked like Draganov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Grachev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grachev tries to clinch but Draganov moves out of range.
And Draganov counters with a quick kick to the body but Grachev blocks it.
Grachev scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Draganov throws a hook to the side of Grachev's head but Grachev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Grachev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Draganov was well out of range. Poor timing from Grachev.
Draganov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Draganov walks into a jab.
Grachev lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Draganov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Draganov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Draganov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Grachev misses with a few strikes there.
And Draganov counters with a quick kick to the body but Grachev blocks it.
Draganov throws a leg kick
and Grachev counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draganov tries to clinch but Grachev is having none of it.
Grachev misses with a left hand
and Draganov counters with a low kick, right behind Grachev 's knee.
Draganov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Grachev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Grachev takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Grachev scores with a jab to the jaw.
Draganov misses with a body shot.
Grachev is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Grachev throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Draganov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Draganov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A jab from Grachev misses.
Draganov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Draganov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Grachev scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Draganov doesn't seem bothered though.
Grachev lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grachev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Grachev throws a hook but Draganov avoids it easily.
Grachev lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Draganov throws a body shot but no joy.
Grachev throws the kick towards the body but Draganov avoids it.
Draganov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Draganov forces Grachev back against the cage and clinches.
Ivan Draganov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Draganov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Grachev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from Grachev.
Grachev misses with a hook from the clinch.

Draganov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Draganov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Draganov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Grachev can't find room to land a body shot as Draganov controls the action.
Grachev misses with the head strike.
Stepan Grachev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draganov misses with a punch on the inside.
Grachev blocks an uppercut.
Draganov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Draganov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Draganov misses with some punches.
Grachev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Draganov lands a left hand.
Grachev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Draganov misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Grachev.
Grachev working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Draganov throws a punch but it's blocked by Grachev.

Draganov manages to break the clinch.
Draganov pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grachev gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Draganov.
Draganov cracks a nice hook into Grachev's ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Draganov moves away from the strike by Grachev.
Grachev takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Draganov ducks under a wild hook from Grachev.
Grachev scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Draganov. Grachev does a little dance to reset his feet.
A leg kick checked by Grachev.
Grachev tests Draganov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Grachev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Draganov counters with a good low kick that Grachev was not able to check.
Draganov punishes Grachev's body with a nice straight punch.
Draganov connects with a nice looking jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ivan Draganov.
I think Grachev 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Stepan Grachev!