PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Haral Dir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Drogo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dir
vs
Drogo

181 cm
28
205 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

196 cm
19
212 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Haral Dir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Karl Drogo!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drogo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dir moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Drogo gets caught napping as Dir dives in and scores a takedown. Drogo manages to retain guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Dir tries to free his leg and advance position but Drogo is retaining full guard.
Dir is looking to work some ground and pound but Drogo has wrist control.
Drogo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dir content to stall in guard here.
Drogo controlling Dir's posture.
Dir passes Drogo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Drogo wants to control but Dir is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dir thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Drogo's head.
Dir is pressing down on Drogo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Drogo is holding on for now.
Dir not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Drogo moves into full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dir's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Drogo has control of Dir's left arm, preventing Dir from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drogo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dir is one step ahead there.
Dir trying to control but Drogo is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dir throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drogo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Drogo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dir might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Karl Drogo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Drogo.
Dir tries for a takedown but Drogo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dir shoots in for a takedown but Drogo shows good takedown defense.
Dir shoots in and drives through. Drogo sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Haral Dir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Drogo is looking to slow Dir down with leg kicks.
Haral Dir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dir shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Drogo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Dir wants to take a breather but Drogo manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Dir.
Drogo managing to control the position.
Drogo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Drogo looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drogo goes for an armbar but Dir turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Dir.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dir stands and throws Drogo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dir taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haral Dir dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dir looks for a takedown but Drogo sprawls well.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Dir.
Dir shoots in looking for a takedown but Drogo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dir's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dir takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Drogo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Dir shoots in for a takedown but Drogo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Haral Dir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drogo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dir checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Drogo stuffs the takedown.
Dir takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Drogo lands with a nice body punch.
Dir misses with a takedown attempt - Drogo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Drogo.
A slapping leg kick lands for Drogo.
Dir shoots in but Drogo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dir walks forward, straight into a front kick from Drogo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dir throws a big shot that misses.
Dir shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Drogo defends it nicely.
Dir on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Drogo. Drogo obviously looking to wear him down.
Dir takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Dir shoots in for a double leg but Drogo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Drogo tests Dir's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Karl Drogo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drogo leaves Dir with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dir shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Drogo defends it nicely.
Dir fails to land the takedown.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Drogo scores with the left hand. Dir knows he should have avoided that one.
Drogo jabs Dir to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Dir looks for a takedown but Drogo sprawls well.
Drogo is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Drogo connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogo clobbers Dir with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Drogo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Drogo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Drogo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Drogo digs a good hook to Dir's body.
Drogo fails with an attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dir.
Dir closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A good leg kick by Drogo.
Drogo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Drogo. Dir shrugs it off though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Drogo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Drogo thows a body kick. Dir tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Dir takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drogo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Drogo lands with a thumping leg kick.
Dir takes one on the button.
Drogo lands with a nice combination. Dir backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Haral Dir has been cut.
Drogo lands a slapping body shot.
Drogo scores with a nice head shot.
Drogo dips to his left and cracks Dir with an uppercut!
Drogo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Dir shoots in looking for a takedown but Drogo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dir's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Drogo lands the left hand.

Dir closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Drogo to the mat! Drogo manages to get full guard.
Drogo looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Drogo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Haral Dir's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're 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.

Nice takedown defense from Drogo. No joy for Dir on that attempt.
Dir throws a lazy uppercut
and Drogo counters with a body kick that stops Dir in his tracks momentarily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Drogo.
Dir fails with a takedown attempt.
Dir walks forward, straight into a front kick from Drogo.
Drogo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dir.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Haral Dir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drogo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Dir has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Drogo.
Dir on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Dir misses with a takedown
and Drogo counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drogo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Dir's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Drogo - just one landing.
Drogo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Drogo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Dir has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Drogo.
Drogo scores with a jab.
Drogo cracks Dir with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Drogo.
Dir stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Drogo.
Drogo throws a good cross that connects.
Drogo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Drogo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Drogo thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Dir if he has to take too many more of those.
Crunch! Drogo slams his shin into Dir's torso.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drogo scores with a kick to the body.
Drogo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Drogo thumps Dir with a low kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Drogo.
Dir tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Drogo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The fight stays on the outside here - Drogo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A shot to the liver by Drogo. Beautiful body shot.
Dir takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Drogo cracks a nice hook into Dir's ribs.
Drogo scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Dir under the eye.
Dir has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Drogo.
Drogo throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Dir takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Drogo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Drogo moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Drogo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Drogo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Drogo lands with an uppercut that bounces Dir off the cage and back into range.
Dir fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Drogo lands a jab to the nose.
Karl Drogo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Drogo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Drogo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Drogo thumps Dir with a low kick.
Drogo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Dir shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Dir is trying hard to land a takedown here. Drogo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Drogo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Drogo cracks Dir with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Drogo leaves Dir with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dir is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Drogo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Drogo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Dir fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Drogo avoids it really well and circles away.
Drogo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karl Drogo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Drogo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl Drogo!
Karl Drogo bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.