PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Khal Drogo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matteo Minonzio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drogo comes to the cage accompanied by Immigrant song - Trent Reznor Karen O. Minonzio is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Metallica Enter Sandman. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Drogo
vs
Minonzio

192 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
206 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khal Drogo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matteo Minonzio!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drogo delivers a nice body kick.
Drogo fails to land the takedown.
Drogo explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Drogo is looking to slow Minonzio down with leg kicks.
Minonzio 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.
Drogo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Minonzio on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Drogo pushes Minonzio away with a front kick.
Drogo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Minonzio tries to avoid it but Drogo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Minonzio to the ground. Minonzio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Drogo scores with a kick to the midsection.
Drogo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Minonzio as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khal Drogo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drogo scores with a kick to the body.
Drogo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Drogo shoots in looking for a takedown but Minonzio manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Drogo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Drogo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Minonzio pinned against the cage. Minonzio gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Minonzio closes the distance and clinches.
Drogo scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Minonzio gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Minonzio sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Drogo defending well though.
Minonzio throwing shots but Drogo is blocking nicely.
Minonzio throws a strike but Drogo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Minonzio throws a big right hand that misses.
Drogo is breathing heavily.
Minonzio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drogo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Minonzio slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Minonzio postures up in Drogo's guard and throws a big left but Drogo blocks it.
Minonzio working some strikes from top position.
Minonzio content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Drogo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Minonzio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Minonzio drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Drogo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Minonzio has Drogo in his guard.
Drogo wants to get up but he can't break Minonzio's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Drogo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Minonzio uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Minonzio is looking to clinch but Drogo is avoiding it.

Minonzio shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Drogo's guard.
Minonzio trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Minonzio lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Minonzio accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Minonzio has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minonzio throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Minonzio scoring with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Minonzio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Minonzio postures up in Drogo's guard and throws a big left but Drogo blocks it.

Minonzio drops back looking for a leg! Drogo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Drogo manages to kick Minonzio off! Minonzio jumps back into Drogo's guard.
Minonzio throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Minonzio lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Minonzio is looking to work some ground and pound but Drogo has wrist control.

Minonzio drops back looking for a leg! Drogo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Drogo manages to kick Minonzio off! Minonzio jumps back into Drogo's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matteo Minonzio dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Minonzio shoots in and gets a takedown into Drogo's guard.
Minonzio trying to control the position from guard on top but Drogo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Minonzio missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Minonzio trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Minonzio makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Minonzio throws a strike but Drogo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Minonzio wants to stand up but Drogo is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Minonzio pushes Drogo off and scrambles back to his feet.
Drogo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Drogo connects with a solid leg kick.
Minonzio tries to clinch there but Drogo circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Drogo.
Drogo scores with a leg kick.
Drogo lets loose with a powerful body kick. Minonzio will feel that in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minonzio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Crunch! Drogo slams his shin into Minonzio's torso.
Drogo throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Drogo has a takedown stuffed.
Drogo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Drogo pushes Minonzio away with a front kick.

Minonzio drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Minonzio wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Drogo, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Minonzio tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Minonzio tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Minonzio has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Minonzio wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Drogo, who protects the arm well.

Minonzio tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Minonzio tries for a kimura but Drogo is defending well.
Minonzio lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Drogo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Minonzio wants to control for a moment but Drogo uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Minonzio is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matteo Minonzio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Minonzio feints and as Drogo raises his hands in defense, Minonzio changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Minonzio is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Minonzio is in close to Drogo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Minonzio trying to control but Drogo is working from the bottom.
Minonzio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drogo keeping moving, preventing Minonzio from controlling successfully.
Minonzio makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Drogo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Minonzio landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minonzio throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Drogo keeping moving, preventing Minonzio from controlling successfully.
Drogo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Minonzio with a nice head shot there.
Minonzio stands up over Drogo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Minonzio landing with the ground and pound.
Minonzio postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Minonzio thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Minonzio drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Minonzio jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Minonzio scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Minonzio thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Minonzio postures up and lands a big shot to Drogo's brow.
Minonzio working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Minonzio throws a big elbow that misses.
Minonzio works over Drogo with some ground and pound from guard.
Minonzio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Minonzio working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minonzio works over Drogo with some ground and pound from guard.
Minonzio throwing strikes from guard but Drogo blocks nicely.
Minonzio cracks Drogo with a solid left hand.
Minonzio working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Minonzio missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Minonzio connects with a couple of short punches.
Minonzio has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Minonzio with a nice head shot there.
Khal Drogo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Minonzio lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Minonzio with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Minonzio is in close to Drogo's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Minonzio 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Minonzio postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Drogo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Minonzio, into his guard.
Minonzio is looking to stand up but Drogo isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Drogo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matteo Minonzio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Minonzio 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 26:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matteo Minonzio!
A victorious Matteo Minonzio thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.