PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Draganov (ranked 1425 p4p, 1087 weight class) and FullOf Hiddens (ranked 180 p4p, 142 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Draganov
vs
Hiddens

178 cm
23
155
5 - 3 - 0

178 cm
23
160
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
© Trap House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ivan Draganov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, FullOf Hiddens!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hiddens moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hiddens ducks under a wild hook from Draganov.
Draganov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hiddens changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Draganov misses with a wild body shot.
Nice body punch from Hiddens.
Draganov misses with a wild body shot.
Hiddens with the counter takedown but Draganov avoids it easily.
Hiddens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ivan Draganov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hiddens throws a leg kick but Draganov checks it.
Hiddens avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Draganov misses with a body shot.
Hiddens lands a jab to Draganov's midsection.
Draganov misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Draganov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hiddens takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hiddens has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Draganov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hiddens was well out of range. Poor timing from Draganov.
An inside leg kick lands from Draganov.

Hiddens decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hiddens thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Draganov's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiddens blocks the strikes from Draganov.
Hiddens thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Draganov's head.
We've been hearing good reports from Draganov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Hiddens content to control rather than advance.
Hiddens working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Draganov is trying to get back to full guard.
Draganov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hiddens scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hiddens is taking a breather. Draganov 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.
Hiddens lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Draganov is trying to stand back up but Hiddens is controlling him
Draganov trying to control but Hiddens postures up.
Draganov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hiddens.
Hiddens trying to mount his opponent but Draganov defends it.
Hiddens throwing shots but Draganov is blocking nicely.
Hiddens thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Draganov's head.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hiddens thumps Draganov with a low kick.
Draganov throws a jab but it's blocked by Hiddens.
Hiddens changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hiddens connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draganov tries to bum rush Hiddens with a series of wild strikes but Hiddens uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hiddens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Draganov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Draganov throws out a leg kick but Hiddens moves out of range and Draganov only half commits.
Draganov misses with a body shot.
Draganov scores with a hook to the body. Hiddens takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Draganov tries to land a front kick but Hiddens steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Draganov just misses with a punch to the body.

Hiddens dives in and scores a takedown into Draganov's guard.
Draganov looking for a sweep. Not yet Draganov, not yet.
Hiddens throws a strike but Draganov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hiddens is pulling down on Draganov's head to control his posture.
Hiddens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Draganov throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Draganov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Draganov wanted to stand there but Hiddens had control of the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hiddens holds on and takes a little breather.
Hiddens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Draganov throwing strikes but missing.
Hiddens pulls Draganov in close to prevent any damage.
Hiddens looking for a sweep. Not yet Hiddens, not yet.
Draganov lands a couple of digs.
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!
Draganov wants to control from the top but Hiddens keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ivan Draganov will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Hiddens takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Some bone on bone action there as Draganov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ivan Draganov is winning the standup battle so far.
Hiddens darts in trying to clinch
and Draganov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A clash of legs there as Hiddens blocks the low kick.
Draganov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Draganov is looking to counter with head kicks.
Hiddens checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hiddens with the counter takedown but Draganov avoids it easily.
Hiddens fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hiddens looks for a takedown but Draganov sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Draganov misses with a hook.
Hiddens drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Draganov defends it well.
Hiddens doesn't manage to clinch there - Draganov circles away.
Draganov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hiddens's head.
A nice leg kick from Draganov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hiddens misses with an uppercut. Draganov saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hiddens feints and as Draganov raises his hands in defense, Hiddens changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
FullOf Hiddens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hiddens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hiddens trying to control the position from guard on top but Draganov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Draganov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hiddens working some strikes from top position.
Hiddens must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Draganov wants to stand up but Hiddens is controlling him.
Draganov working a defensive guard here.
Hiddens trying to control the position from guard on top but Draganov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Hiddens with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Draganov wants to sweep here but Hiddens controlling him for the moment.
Draganov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hiddens ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ivan Draganov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hiddens blocks a jab.
Draganov throws out a loose jab but Hiddens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hiddens feints the counter takedown.
Draganov connects with a body shot that sends Hiddens's belly button to the back.

Hiddens gets the takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hiddens misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Draganov regains half guard.

Draganov makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Hiddens drives through with a takedown into guard.
Draganov is looking to stand back up but Hiddens counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Draganov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hiddens throwing shots but Draganov is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hiddens trying to control the action but Draganov is working from the bottom.
Hiddens is stalling here. Draganov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Hiddens seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Draganov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Hiddens wants to control but Draganov postures up.
Draganov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hiddens can do to turn this around?
Hiddens managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Draganov.

Draganov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
No joy there for Draganov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hiddens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Draganov as he avoids it easily.
Draganov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hiddens with the counter takedown but Draganov avoids it easily.
Hiddens throws a low kick but Draganov moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiddens thumps Draganov with a low kick.
Draganov throws a combination that misses

and Hiddens counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Draganov kicks off Hiddens and gets to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice body kick from Draganov.

Hiddens shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hiddens showed some decent athleticism there.

Draganov pushes Hiddens off and gets back to his feet.
Draganov digs a good hook to Hiddens's body.
Draganov is looking to wear down Hiddens with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hiddens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hiddens connects with a right hand. Draganov shakes it off.
Hiddens swings for the body but Draganov moves out of range.
Draganov takes a swing at Hiddens's ribcage but misses.
Hiddens changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Draganov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hiddens.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Draganov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Draganov looks to land a left hand but Hiddens moved out of range nicely.
Draganov misses the shot to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hiddens lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Draganov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Draganov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nice uppercut lands for Hiddens. That snapped Draganov's head back.
Hiddens is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Hiddens scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Draganov manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Hiddens checks the leg kick nicely there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Draganov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hiddens moves away.
Draganov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hiddens was well out of range. Poor timing from Draganov.
Hiddens lands with a good body shot.

Hiddens scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Draganov bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Draganov just misses with a punch to the body.
Hiddens takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hiddens misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiddens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hiddens jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hiddens takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hiddens is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hiddens swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hiddens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hiddens avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Hiddens has closed the distance and engaged Draganov in a clinch.
Draganov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Draganov.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Draganov.
Hiddens misses with the head strike.
Draganov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hiddens lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Draganov backwards.
Draganov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hiddens backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hiddens lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hiddens struggles to land a body shot inside as Draganov controls his hands.
FullOf Hiddens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Draganov misses with a body punch.
Draganov misses with some punches.
Hiddens misses with a punch to the body.
Hiddens misses with a punch on the inside.
Hiddens is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Draganov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hiddens lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Draganov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hiddens throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short body shot lands from Draganov as the two fighters clinch.
Draganov lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Hiddens has hold of one of Draganov's legs. Draganov is fighting the takedown attempt but Hiddens gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Draganov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hiddens is controlling him.
Hiddens is working Draganov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Draganov controls Hiddens momentarily but Hiddens frees himself.
Draganov wants to stand up but Hiddens is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draganov trying to keep a closed guard but Hiddens is proving a slippery customer.
Hiddens throws a strike but Draganov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hiddens striking off his back but it's not causing Draganov any problems.
Hiddens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Draganov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Draganov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ivan Draganov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Draganov gets to his feet - Hiddens follows without any prompting.
Draganov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As Hiddens backs away, Draganov returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Hiddens lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Draganov misses the body punch

and Hiddens counters with a takedown into side control.
An elbow from Hiddens crashes against the mat.
Draganov struggling a bit here.
Hiddens lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Draganov can't do much from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ivan Draganov.
Well Draganov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Draganov!