PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Opat Drziha (ranked 4416 p4p, 3871 weight class) and Andrei Mikhailov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Drziha
vs
Mikhailov

181 cm
20
170
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
178
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Opat Drziha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrei Mikhailov!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Mikhailov misses with a right hand

and Drziha counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mikhailov is trying to get back to full guard.

Drziha is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mikhailov has managed to free his arm - good work.

Mikhailov kicks off Drziha and gets to his feet.
Drziha displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mikhailov throws out the jab.
Drziha drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mikhailov sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mikhailov throws a body kick that misses.
Drziha throwing a counter right hand but Mikhailov manages to avoid it.

Mikhailov pushes Drziha up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mikhailov has Drziha pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Mikhailov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Drziha tumbling to the mat - Mikhailov dives into Drziha's guard.
Mikhailov landing with the ground and pound.
Mikhailov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Drziha utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Drziha on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Drziha tries to get out of the position.
Drziha managing to control the position.
Mikhailov works over Drziha with some ground and pound from guard.

Drziha has his foot on Mikhailov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mikhailov works his way back into a safe position though.
Mikhailov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mikhailov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Drziha wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Mikhailov landing some decent shots from guard.

Drziha working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mikhailov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mikhailov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mikhailov cracks Drziha with a solid left hand.
Mikhailov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mikhailov throws a big elbow that misses.
Mikhailov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drziha works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mikhailov chips away with some ground and pound.
Mikhailov wants to control from the top but Drziha keeps moving.

Drziha is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mikhailov defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Drziha's head.
Mikhailov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mikhailov stands up over Drziha, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mikhailov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mikhailov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mikhailov trying to control the position from guard on top but Drziha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Drziha had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mikhailov defends it easily.
Drziha is breathing heavily.
Mikhailov advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov 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.
Mikhailov 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.

Mikhailov is looking for a kimura but Drziha is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mikhailov to get the leverage.
Mikhailov trying to control the action but Drziha is working from the bottom.
Well, if Mikhailov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Mikhailov working Drziha over with strikes.
Drziha taking some punishment here, with Mikhailov in his half guard.
Mikhailov controlling the action here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mikhailov lands a nice short elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Mikhailov dominated that round.
That's time! Drziha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mikhailov takes the fight into the clinch.
Mikhailov slows down the pace here.
Mikhailov tries to score a body lock takedown but Drziha shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drziha takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikhailov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Drziha avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Drziha is working for takedown but Mikhailov is calmly controlling the position for now.

Mikhailov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Drziha can't fight it off and eventually Mikhailov manages to take the fight to the floor. Drziha looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Drziha is trying to keep Mikhailov in close.
Mikhailov chips away with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mikhailov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mikhailov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Drziha is rocked!
Mikhailov gets to his feet and stands over Drziha, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Drziha felt that one! Mikhailov unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Drziha from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Andrei Mikhailov!