PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tony Draco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicodemus Denarian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Draco
vs
Denarian

190 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tony Draco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nicodemus Denarian!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Denarian moves into the clinch.
Denarian lands a left hand that snaps the head of Draco backwards.

Denarian turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Denarian manages to end up in side control.
Draco can't do much from the bottom here.
Draco tries to bench press Denarian off him but Denarian keeps the position.
Denarian looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Draco is avoiding damage well.
Draco is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Draco keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Denarian throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Draco manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Denarian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Denarian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Draco controls Denarian momentarily but Denarian frees himself.
Denarian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Draco is adopting a defensive guard.
Denarian postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draco thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Draco working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Draco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Draco avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Denarian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Draco is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Denarian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Draco trying to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Denarian shoots in but no luck this time.
Draco connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Draco throws a right and a left that Denarian avoids nicely.

Denarian closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Denarian lands in his opponent's guard.
Draco is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denarian throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Draco looking to control.
Denarian is looking to work some ground and pound but Draco has wrist control.
Draco wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Denarian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Draco is keeping the position for now.
Draco is trying to keep Denarian in close.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Draco misses with a double jab.

Denarian moves into the clinch.
Denarian keeps control of Draco as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Denarian is trying to trip Draco. He has hold of a leg but Draco is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Denarian persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Draco trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Draco working for a triangle but Denarian defends it easily.
Denarian postures up in Draco's guard and throws a big left but Draco blocks it.
Draco keeping full guard, as Denarian tries to pass.
Denarian is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Draco will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Denarian thows a big elbow that misses.
Draco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Denarian must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Denarian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Draco is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Denarian shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Draco manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Denarian stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Draco swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Draco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Denarian gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Draco is breathing heavily.
Denarian tries to stand but Draco is controlling from the bottom.
Denarian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Draco looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Denarian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicodemus Denarian dominated that round.
That's time! Draco's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Denarian scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Draco wants to control but Denarian postures up.
Denarian postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Denarian working the strikes but Draco uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Draco trying to control here.

Draco looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Denarian thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Draco's head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Denarian takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Denarian clinches up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Denarian wants to break the clinch but can't.
Denarian works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Denarian is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denarian scores with a shoulder strike.
Denarian lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Denarian wants a takedown but no success here.

Denarian has hold of one of Draco's legs. Draco is fighting the takedown attempt but Denarian gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Draco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Denarian.
Draco striking off his back but it's not causing Denarian any problems.
Draco is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Draco avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Denarian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Draco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Draco controlling Denarian's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Denarian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Draco keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Draco looks to land a combination but Denarian avoids it well.
Draco throws a nice looking combination but Denarian bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Draco misses with an uppercut.
Draco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Draco misses with a double jab.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Denarian.
Draco wants to control but Denarian postures up.
Denarian working the body and head with strikes.
Draco wants to control but Denarian postures up.
Draco is working to avoid the ground and pound but Denarian connects with a decent elbow.
Nicodemus Denarian has got the better of the ground game so far.
You can see the frustration on Draco's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Denarian is trying to ground and pound but Draco uses the momentary lack of control by Denarian to regain half guard.
Draco wants to control but Denarian is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denarian wants to advance to full mount but Draco doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Denarian postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Denarian looking to pass the guard.
Draco looking to control.

Draco has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Denarian can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Draco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Denarian connects with a couple of short punches.
Draco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Denarian throwing strikes but missing.

Draco had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Denarian defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Denarian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Denarian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Denarian throws a big right hand that misses.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Denarian throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Draco was covering up waiting for the punch and Denarian finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Denarian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Denarian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Draco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Denarian gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Denarian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Denarian throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Draco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicodemus Denarian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Draco tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Denarian is able to avoid easily.
Draco shoots for a double leg takedown but Denarian sprawls well. He's pushed Draco's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Draco throws a series of punches but Denarian avoids them all with ease.
A left and a right from Draco both land. Nice combination.
Draco misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Denarian has managed to clinch.
Denarian lands a right hand that snaps the head of Draco backwards.
Denarian has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Draco is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Denarian wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Draco has him pressed against the cage.
Denarian misses with some punches.

Denarian turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Draco dodges the ground and pound from Denarian.
Draco takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Draco gets back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Denarian there.
Draco is positioning himself well to prevent Denarian advancing to mount.

Draco actively working from the bottom here.
Denarian wants to free his trapped foot but Draco is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Draco trying to control from the bottom.
Denarian 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.
Denarian landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Denarian not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Denarian thows a huge punch but Draco dodges it nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Denarian fails in his attempt to clinch.
Draco scores with a sloppy right hand. Denarian should have avoided that one.

Denarian closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Denarian lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Draco is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Draco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Denarian gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Denarian content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Draco preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Denarian throwing strikes from guard but Draco blocks nicely.
Denarian postures up.
Draco preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Denarian wants to pass the guard but Draco is keeping the position.
Draco looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Draco scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Draco will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A looping hook to the body misses from Denarian. Draco does a little dance to reset his feet.
Denarian shoots for a double leg takedown but Draco sprawls well. He's pushed Denarian's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Horrible takedown by Draco or perhaps it was just good defense by Denarian which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Draco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Denarian tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Draco paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Denarian shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Denarian stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Draco swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Draco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Denarian.
Denarian lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Denarian throwing strikes from guard but Draco blocks nicely.
Nicodemus Denarian is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Draco looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Draco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Denarian not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Draco is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Denarian is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Draco keeping full guard, as Denarian tries to pass.
Draco looking to control.
Tony Draco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Draco working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Denarian doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Denarian manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicodemus Denarian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Denarian winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicodemus Denarian!