PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Trash Talking (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Victor Drago has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Talking
vs
Drago

190 cm
24
205 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

225 cm
20
205 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Trash Talking!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Drago!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago has his takedown stuffed
and Talking cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Victor Drago has been cut.
Drago circles away from the clinch attempt.
Talking with a nice cross.
Talking tries to close the distance and clinch up but Drago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Talking fails in his attempt to clinch.
Talking tries to clinch there but Drago circles away.
Drago takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Talking tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Drago paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Talking pushes Drago up against the cage in a clinch.
Drago blocks the elbow strike.
Talking is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Drago wants a takedown but no success here.
Drago jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Talking walks away with a smile on his face. Drago gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Trash Talking has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Drago.

Talking gets a clinch.
Talking leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nice elbow from Talking.

Drago breaks the clinch.
Drago swats away the attempt to clinch by Talking.

Talking gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Talking is pressed up against the cage. Drago has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Talking down to the mat. Talking avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Drago circles away from the clinch attempt

and Drago decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Talking's guard.
Talking might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Drago wants to get up but he can't break Talking's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Drago accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Talking keeping moving, preventing Drago from controlling successfully.
Drago in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Drago stops Talking from standing up.
Drago is looking to work some ground and pound but Talking has wrist control.
Drago thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drago with a flurry of punches that miss.
Drago throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Talking works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Drago drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Drago jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Drago is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Drago is looking to work some ground and pound but Talking has wrist control.
Drago wants to pass the guard but Talking is keeping the position.
Drago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Drago is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago throws and elbow that misses. Talking uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Drago's guard. Nice move by Talking!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Drago has his foot on Talking's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Talking works his way back into a safe position though.
Drago wants to sweep here but Talking controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drago is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Drago lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Talking wants to improve his position but Drago is controlling well.
Drago has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Drago throwing shots but Talking is blocking nicely.
Talking tries to kick Drago off but Drago keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Talking on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Drago is looking for a kimura here.
Talking pushes Drago off looking to stand but Drago dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Victor Drago will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Victor Drago's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Drago throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Talking was covering up waiting for the punch and Drago finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Talking knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drago on the ground.
Drago loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Talking on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Talking tries to get out of the position.
Drago is in close to Talking's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Drago is looking to work some ground and pound but Talking has wrist control.
Drago wants to pass the guard but Talking is keeping the position.
Dragois looking to pass into half guard but Talking pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Talking is in guard.
Talking lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Talking won't allow Drago to sweep him here.

Drago looking for a guillotine here but Talking defends easily.
Talking with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talking with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Drago manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Talking manages to get himself to full guard.
Drago in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Drago content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Talking is trying to control the position but Drago postures up.
Talking looking to hit a scissor sweep but Drago is one step ahead there.
Drago throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talking avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Drago prevents Talking from getting back to his feet.
Drago postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drago trying to control but Talking is working from the bottom.
Drago pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Talking is keeping the position for now.

Drago thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Drago stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Talking swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Drago postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drago in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Drago postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Talking is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Drago, into his guard.
Talking throws a strike but Drago rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Drago pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Talking is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Drago is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Drago trying to control but Talking is working from the bottom.
Drago is looking to work some ground and pound but Talking has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Drago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Victor Drago's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Drago shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Talking counters by moving into the clinch.

Talking ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Talking no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Drago drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Talking dives on top into guard.
Drago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Talking cracks Drago with a solid left hand.

Drago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Talking scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Talking missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Talking passes into half guard.

Drago is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Talking pulls his head out easily.
Drago is refusing to be controlled, as Talking sits in half guard.
Drago flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Talking scores with a couple of nice shots.
Talking is looking to advance position but Drago won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Talking is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Drago sees it coming and defends easily.
Talking slips a nice elbow through Drago's hands, connecting with Drago's forehead.
Drago is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Talking's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Talking's back!
Drago lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Talking hold on?!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Drago working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Drago misses with an elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago missing with strikes from the back.

Talking is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
Drago with a lazy takedown attempt

and Talking counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Talking.
Drago wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knees in the clinch landing for Talking.
Talking lands an elbow just above Drago 's eye.

Talking has picked Drago up - he's going for a ride! Talking dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Talking missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Talking slips a nice elbow through Drago's hands, connecting with Drago's forehead.
Talking not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Drago manages to get to full guard.
Drago lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Talking!
Drago throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago with a couple of short strikes.
Talking is looking to get to half guard.
Talking tries to hold on but Drago pushes him away.
Drago punching from mount but Talking doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Drago lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Drago is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Talking can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Drago goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Talking turns into him and now he's in Drago's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talking missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Talking throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Drago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Drago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Talking gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Drago wants to sweep here but Talking controlling him for the moment.

Drago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Talking doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Talking manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Talking throwing strikes from guard but Drago blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Victor Drago.
I've got Drago 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Drago!