PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Felix Tilthammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tilthammer's entrance music is Autumn - Suffer the wild dogs. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tilthammer
vs
Drago

197 cm
23
214 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

183 cm
21
200 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Tesla Apparel
CROWN

Syndicate Drugs

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Felix Tilthammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Drago!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tilthammer misses with a series of wild punches.

Drago moves into the clinch successfully.
Drago wants a takedown.
Tilthammer stalling against the cage.

Drago gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tilthammer regains guard.

Drago drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Drago jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Drago postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tilthammer is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Drago, into his guard.

Drago had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Tilthammer is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Drago Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Tilthammer's back instead.

Drago patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago misses with a punch to the head.
Drago trying to control momentarily.
Drago avoiding Tilthammer 's attempts to control his hands.

Drago looking to break Tilthammer's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Tilthammer remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Drago will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Tilthammer defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Drago is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Tilthammer has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Drago looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tilthammer is keeping busy.
Tilthammer can't escape the position.
Tilthammer avoids the strikes from Drago.
Tilthammer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drago on the ground.
I would not like to be Tilthammer right now.
Drago controlling well, preventing Tilthammer from escaping the position.

Drago is persistently looking for the submission but Tilthammer is defending it well.
Tilthammer has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tilthammer wants to control his opponent's hands but Drago gets his hands free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tilthammer fending off the submission attempt from Drago.
Drago struggling to land strikes to the head as Tilthammer covers up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Drago working for the choke.

Tilthammer defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Tilthammer trying to control the action but Drago just sinks the hooks in.

Drago looking for the choke but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tilthammer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Drago dodges the punch combination from Tilthammer.
Tilthammer throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Tilthammer misses with a looping left.
A big left from Tilthammer misses.
Tilthammer throws the kick towards the body but Drago avoids it.
Drago moves out of range of the body kick.

Drago takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tilthammer digs a right hand into Drago's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Drago's gas tank.
Drago has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tilthammer avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Drago fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Drago looking for a takedown.
Felix Tilthammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Drago.
Drago is breathing heavily.
Tilthammer manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Drago has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tilthammer is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tilthammer missing with knees to the body.
Tilthammer being controlled against the cage.

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.
Tilthammer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Drago has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tilthammer uses from the top position.

Drago isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Tilthammer stacks Drago on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Tilthammer!
Drago being controlled for a moment.
Tilthammer has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tilthammer controlling the pace for now.
Tilthammer tries to control but Drago wriggling away.
Tilthammer content just to control the position here.
Tilthammer has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Drago tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Drago tries to lock up and control but Tilthammer gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tilthammer prevents Drago from getting the reversal.
Tilthammer avoids the attempt from Drago to control.
Tilthammer tries to control but Drago wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Tilthammer dominated that second round.
That's time! Tilthammer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tilthammer thows a body shot but no joy.
Tilthammer moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tilthammer stuffs the takedown attempt from Drago. Drago gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Tilthammer. No joy for Drago on that attempt.
Nikolai Drago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drago moves out of range of the body kick from Tilthammer.
Drago tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago shoots in for a takedown but Tilthammer shows good takedown defense.
Felix Tilthammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Drago.
Tilthammer misses with a kick to the body.
Felix Tilthammer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drago ducks right into an uppercut from Tilthammer.
Tilthammer bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Drago! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Drago is rocked!
Tilthammer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago keeping moving, preventing Tilthammer from controlling successfully.
Tilthammer postures up.
Drago keeping full guard, as Tilthammer tries to pass.
Tilthammer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Drago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tilthammer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tilthammer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Drago takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tilthammer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Drago has his foot on Tilthammer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tilthammer works his way back into a safe position though.
Tilthammer trying to control but Drago is working from the bottom.

Drago looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tilthammer passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tilthammer prevents Drago from standing back up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tilthammer lands a nice short elbow.
Tilthammer trying to control the pace.
Drago wants to control but Tilthammer is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Drago looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tilthammer trying to control the action but Drago is working from the bottom.
Drago is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tilthammer looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Felix Tilthammer just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Drago moves in looking to clinch but Tilthammer pushes him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix Tilthammer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tilthammer 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felix Tilthammer!