PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dragan Dragic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Dragic
vs
James

194 cm
22
281 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

196 cm
22
270 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dragan Dragic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josh James!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dragic throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dragic is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Dragic circles away and we're back to standing.
Dragic misses with a lunging right hand

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Dragic looking for a sweep. Not yet Dragic, not yet.
James trying to control but Dragic is working from the bottom.
James lands a couple of digs.
Dragic is looking to stand up but James isn't so interested in that idea.

Dragic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dragic on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dragic tries to get out of the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dragic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
James working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
James thows a big elbow that misses.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Dragic is retaining full guard.
Dragic looking to hit a scissor sweep but James is one step ahead there.
James thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragic looking to hit a scissor sweep but James is one step ahead there.
James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dragic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dragic is trying to control the position but James postures up.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dragic has momentary wrist control but James slips an elbow through the middle.

Dragic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.
Dragic looking to control.
James working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
James postures up.
Dragic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dragic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dragic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dragic is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Dragic has his foot on James's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. James works his way back into a safe position though.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Dragic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Dragic wants to sweep but no luck.
James lands a couple of decent looking shots.
James trying to control but Dragic is working from the bottom.
James won't allow Dragic to sweep him here.

Dragic is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and James defends well.
James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dragic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James slips nicely into half guard.
Dragic wants to control but James is keeping busy and won't allow it.
James tries to pass to full mount but Dragic defends it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. James lands a nice short elbow.
Dragic is trying to maintain the position but James is very close to passing his half guard.
James is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
James landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
James slips a nice elbow through Dragic's hands, connecting with Dragic's forehead.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
James looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

James is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dragic sees it coming and defends easily.
James working over Dragic with some ground and pound. Dragic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dragic tries to get to full guard but James has control of the leg.
James passes to side control.
Dragic tries to buck James off but James is having none of it.
Dragic wants to control but James postures up.
Dragic is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Dragic is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
You can see the frustration on Dragic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dragic is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
You can see the frustration on Dragic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh James 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.

Dragic cracks James with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Dragic lands with an uppercut that bounces James off the cage and back into rage.
James has a takedown stuffed.
James tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Dragic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dragic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
James defending well as Dragic loads up on a big left hand.
Dragic misses with a two punch combination.
Dragic throws a jab when James was well out of range.
Dragic's jab looks to have found its range, popping James under the eye.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dragic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragic looks to land a right hand but James moved out of range.
A left lands for Dragic.
James avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

James moves into range and clinches up with Dragic.
James wants a takedown but no success here.

James manages to break the clinch.
Dragan Dragic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James moves in looking to clinch but Dragic pushes him off.
Dragic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract James.
James shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
James tries to clinch up.
Dragic throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Dragic misses.
Dragic is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Dragic lands a jab-cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dragic throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
Dragic connects with a jab.
James slips under a jab.
Dragic's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Dragic duly obliges.
A swing and a miss from James.
James avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Dragic lands with a right hand.
Dragic takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A jab from Dragic misses.
Dragan Dragic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James takes one to the side of the head.
Dragic connects with a body shot.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dragic as he avoids it easily.
Dragan Dragic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh James.
James fails to land the takedown.
James is breathing heavily.
Dragic cracks James with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Dragic throws a shot from downtown. James moves away and avoids it.
James shoots for a takedown but Dragic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dragic connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed James momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dragic uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before James has time to react.
Dragic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James has a takedown stuffed.
Dragic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dragic wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dragic circles away.
James takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Dragic bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of James's head.
Dragic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dragic fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. James looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
James ducks under a wild hook from Dragic.
Dragic lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dragan Dragic dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Dragic moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Dragic throws a shot from downtown. James moves away and avoids it.
A punch combination from Dragic misses.
The fighters circling - Dragic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
James ducks under a wild hook from Dragic.
Dragic lands a nice shot that snaps James's head back.
Dragic connects with a jab.
Dragic thuds a left hand into James's body.
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!
James blocks a jab.
Dragic scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Dragic - just one landing.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dragic misses with a right hand

and James counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
James won't allow Dragic to sweep him here.
Dragic controls James momentarily but James frees himself.
Dragic lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for James!
Dragic thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Dragic trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dragic throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
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!
Dragic lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
James keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragic is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. James can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Dragic is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. James can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Dragic putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Dragic tries to control but James wriggling away.
James holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Dragic tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Dragic throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
James tries to lock up and control but Dragic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dragic knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.
Dragic throws a wild left hand from mount and James manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
James is staying active underneath Dragic, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dragic.

James is defending against the submission attempts here by Dragic.
James is holding on to half guard well.
James is trying to control but can't.
Dragic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
James moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
James wants to sweep here but Dragic controlling him for the moment.
James manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragic takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Dragic sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Dragic works his way to full guard. Good work.
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!
Dragic wants to sweep but no luck.
Dragic trying to control the position.
James with a nice head shot there.
Josh James has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dragic wants to sweep but no luck.

Dragic working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because James has passed into half guard!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James is taking a breather. Dragic says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
James slips a nice elbow through Dragic's hands, connecting with Dragic's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dragan Dragic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dragic 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dragan Dragic!