PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Drago (ranked 4108 p4p, 4601 weight class) and Miguel Garces (ranked 516 p4p, 541 weight class). Ivan Drago has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Drago
vs
Garces

186 cm
26
185
1 - 2 - 0

183 cm
19
183
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ivan Drago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Miguel Garces!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Garces clinches.
Drago is trying to break free.
Drago is trying to break free.

Garces pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Drago manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Garces on his heels. He'll look to pass Garces's guard now, I'm sure.
Drago trying to control but Garces is working from the bottom.
Drago chips away with some ground and pound.

Garces working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Drago doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Drago manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Drago postures up.
Drago has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Garces is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago trying to control the position from guard on top but Garces is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drago postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drago won't allow Garces to sweep him here.
Drago trying to control the position from guard on top but Garces is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garces is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Drago defends well.

Drago got a little sloppy there for a moment and Garces has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Drago has managed to get both his arms back between Garces's legs - danger averted.
Drago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Drago throws a big right hand that misses.
Drago throwing strikes but missing.
Drago is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Drago works over Garces with some ground and pound from guard.

Garces escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Drago gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Garces is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Drago is aware though and is defending well.
Garces looks winded!
Drago cracks Garces with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Garces is rocked!
Garces keeping moving, preventing Drago from controlling successfully.
Garces is still in real trouble! Can Drago finish him?
Drago throws a big elbow that misses.
Garces seems to have recovered his senses.
Drago working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Drago landing with the ground and pound.
Drago wants to control from the top but Garces keeps moving.
Garces utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Drago throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garces avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Drago scoring with some ground and pound.
Drago postures up in Garces's guard and throws a big left but Garces blocks it.
Drago trying to control the position from guard on top but Garces is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Garces looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Drago trying to control the position from guard on top but Garces is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drago has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Drago throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Garces works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Drago works over Garces with some ground and pound from guard.
Drago trying to control the position from guard on top but Garces is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drago is working Garces over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Drago trying to control but Garces is working from the bottom.
Drago stands up over Garces, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Drago throws a big right hand that misses.
Drago trying to control the position from guard on top but Garces is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drago is really struggling to control Garces but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Drago content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Garces has locked up a guillotine! Garces's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Drago is holding on here and Garces must be using up a lot of energy. Drago has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Garces gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Miguel Garces!