PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roman Empire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikka Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Empire
vs
Drago

188 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Attliction

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roman Empire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikka Drago!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Empire throws a right hand that Drago ducks under and follows up with a left that Drago also avoids with ease.
Empire will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Empire lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Drago looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Empire throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Empire scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Drago trying to control here.
Drago missing with punches from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Empire thows a huge punch but Drago dodges it nicely.
Empire seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Drago trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Empire prevents Drago from standing back up.

Empire is trying to work for a kimura but Drago is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Empire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Drago tries to clinch up but Empire circles away and keeps his distance.
Empire is looking to chop away at Drago's legs.
Drago misses with a takedown attempt

and Empire counters with a nice double leg into side control. Drago won't be happy with that.
Drago wants to get back to his feet but Empire drags him back down.
Drago is trying to control Empire's posture but Empire avoids it.
Drago prevents Empire from improving position.
Empire is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago is trying to control Empire's posture but Empire avoids it.
Drago sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Drago is trying to control but can't.
Empire is looking to take a break and control but Drago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Drago tries for a takedown but Empire circles away easily
and Empire counters with a stiff right hand.
Roman Empire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikka Drago.

Empire shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Drago's guard.
Empire distracts Drago with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Drago manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Empire working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Empire tries to hold on but Drago postures up.
Empire trying desperately to get to his feet.
Empire on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Empire tries to get out of the position.
Drago looking to ground and pound but Empire is blocking nicely.
Drago trying to control but Empire is having none of it.
Empire really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Drago trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Empire is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Empire wants to try and get back to his feet.
Empire landing with some feeble shots from his back... He should probably try escaping the position instead.
Empire is trying to escape the mount.
Empire is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Empire can't escape the position.
Drago wants to control the pace but Empire is squirming around nicely.
Drago working Empire over with strikes here.
Empire wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Empire tries to reverse the position but Drago maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Empire dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A head kick misses from Empire.
Drago is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Empire.

Drago is rocked!

Empire fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Drago, pushing him back against the cage.
Drago is still on wobbly legs! Can Empire finish him?
Drago tries to pull guard but Empire holds him up against the cage and eventually Drago drops back down to his feet.

Empire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Empire throws a head kick that misses.
Drago seems to have recovered his senses.
Empire cracks Drago with a right hand to the side of the head.

Empire drives through with a takedown into guard.

Empire stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Drago tries to clinch there but Empire circles away.
Roman Empire is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Empire lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Empire has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Empire has Drago pressed against the cage.

Empire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Drago keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drago fails with the takedown

and Empire counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago prevents Empire from moving into mount.
Drago regains half guard.
Drago desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Drago is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Empire pulls his head out easily.
Drago is trying to control but can't.
Empire prevents Drago from standing back up.
Drago trying to hold on to Empire's head to control him but Empire postures up.
Drago makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Drago.
Drago looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Empire will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Drago manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Empire manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Empire looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Empire knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drago on the ground.
Empire wants to get back to his feet but Drago is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Empire wants to hit a switch here but Drago passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Empire there!
Empire tries to hold on but Drago pushes him away.
Drago prevents Empire from getting the reversal.
Roman Empire overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Drago working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Empire is wriggling around trying to escape.
Drago trying to control but Empire is having none of it.
Drago controlling the position easily from mount.
Drago prevents Empire from getting the reversal.
Drago punishing his opponent with strikes.
Drago content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Drago trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Empire is trying to escape the mount.
Drago is landing with some decent strikes but Empire is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Empire is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Empire is trying to stand but he's just given Drago his back.
Empire tries to roll but Drago sticks to his back.
Drago trying to control momentarily.
Empire tries to escape but Drago has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Empire dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Empire misses with a head kick.
Drago misses with a takedown attempt
and Empire counters with a series of strikes. Drago will be more careful next time no doubt.
Roman Empire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drago is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Empire.
Empire scores with a hook.
Empire drops Drago with a left right combo! Empire follows him down to the ground into side control.
Empire throwing strikes but Drago manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Empire struggling a bit here.
Drago wants to lay and pray for a moment but Empire keeps working.
Empire trying to control but Drago flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Empire is in bad spot here.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Drago. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Empire trying to get back to his feet but Drago is in full control for now.
Drago lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Empire.
Drago takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A lull in the action here.
Empire trying to control the position but Drago manages to sink in the hooks.

Drago looking for the RNC.
Empire is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Empire controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Drago controlling well, preventing Empire from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Drago tries to keep control of the position but Empire is staying busy.
Empire looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Drago tries to keep control of the position but Empire is staying busy.
Drago lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Drago connects with a big shot to the side of Empire's head.
Empire can't escape the position.
Drago lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Drago trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Drago might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Empire kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Drago looking for the choke but no joy.

Drago is looking for the choke from the back position but Empire is controlling his hands well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drago is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Empire can't escape the position.
Drago controls the position.
Empire prevents Drago from getting a body triangle.
Drago looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Empire prevents Drago from getting a body triangle.
Empire tries to roll but Drago sticks to his back.
Drago loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Empire hold on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Empire trying to get back to his feet but Drago is in full control for now.
Drago struggling to keep hold of the position.
Empire tries to roll but Drago sticks to his back.
Drago scores with strikes from the back.
Empire is in bad spot here.
Drago avoiding Empire 's attempts to control his hands.
Drago lands strikes to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Empire can't escape the position.
Empire trying to control the hands but Drago won't let him.
Empire is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikka Drago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Empire has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Empire!