PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Folami Zuberi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zuberi has chosen Mickey Factz - Rocker as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Folami Zuberi has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ivan Drago's chin.

Drago
vs
Zuberi

200 cm
20
285 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
29
240 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Charlie Wang's Nutrition and 95 % Laundry

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ivan Drago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Folami Zuberi!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zuberi jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Zuberi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Drago was covering up waiting for the punch and Zuberi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zuberi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Drago thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Zuberi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drago is keeping the position for now.
Drago throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago keeping moving, preventing Zuberi from controlling successfully.
Drago looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Drago enables Zuberi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Drago manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zuberi throwing strikes but missing.
Zuberi wants to control from the top but Drago keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuberi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drago is keeping the position for now.
Drago is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

We're going to have a standup here because Ivan Drago wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Drago takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Drago misses
and Zuberi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Drago is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A combination from Drago does no damage.
Drago misses with a combination
and Zuberi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Drago thinking.
Drago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zuberi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Drago misses the jab.
Drago throws a sloppy head kick

and Zuberi counters by moving into the clinch.
Zuberi misses with a knee strike.

Zuberi is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Drago can't fight it off and eventually Zuberi manages to take the fight to the floor. Drago looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Drago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zuberi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zuberi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuberi wants to control from the top but Drago keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zuberi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Folami Zuberi dominated that round.
That's time! Drago's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zuberi misses with a double jab.
A nice combination there by Drago.

It looks like Folami Zuberi has been cut.
Drago cracks a nice hook into Zuberi's ribs.
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!
Drago misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Drago gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zuberi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Drago looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Zuberi passes into half guard.
Drago moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zuberi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zuberi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Drago keeping moving, preventing Zuberi from controlling successfully.
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.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zuberi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zuberi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Drago tries to improve position but can't.
Drago can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuberi moves into full mount!
Drago really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Zuberi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drago is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuberi trying to control but Drago is having none of it.
Zuberi landing strikes from the mount.
Drago tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Zuberi. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zuberi lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Zuberi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Folami Zuberi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Folami Zuberi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Drago fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zuberi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ivan Drago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zuberi is looking to clinch.
Zuberi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Zuberi dives in and scores a takedown into Drago's guard.

Drago working for a triangle but Zuberi defends it easily.
Zuberi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuberi is pushing down on Drago's leg trying to pass to half guard. Drago is fighting to maintain full guard but Zuberi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Drago is refusing to be controlled, as Zuberi sits in half guard.
Zuberi tries to pass to full mount but Drago defends it.
Drago is pressing down on Zuberi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ivan Drago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drago is looking for a triangle here but Zuberi uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Zuberi.

Zuberi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Zuberi with the ground and pound but Drago regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuberi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zuberi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Drago is trying to get back to full guard.
Zuberi is stalling here. Drago is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Zuberi seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Drago has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drago swings around for an armbar but Zuberi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Drago's guard.
Zuberi scoring with punches to the head and body.

Drago looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Zuberi has picked Drago up and slammed him! Drago can't keep hold of the triangle and Zuberi manages to pass to side control!
Zuberi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Drago keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Folami Zuberi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zuberi 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Folami Zuberi!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Folami Zuberi waved his t-shirt featuring Charlie Wang's Nutrition and 95 % Laundry's logo in front of the cameras.