PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Horner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Dragonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Horner comes to the cage accompanied by Roky Erickson - Stand For The Fire Demon. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Horner
vs
Dragonov

180 cm
28
196 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

189 cm
23
195 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Perkele!
Perkele!

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Horner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marco Dragonov!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Horner tries to keep at a distance but Dragonov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Horner struggles to land a body shot inside as Dragonov controls his hands.
Dragonov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dragonov prevents a body shot from Horner.
Dragonov tries to break the clinch but Horner is controlling the position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Dragonov obliges.
Dragonov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Horner's elbow.
Dragonov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Horner backwards.
Horner avoiding damage as Dragonov throws knees to the body.

Dragonov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dragonov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Horner eats them both and turns towards Dragonov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dragonov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dragonov steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Horner. That one must have hurt.
Horner looks to land a left hand but Dragonov moved out of range nicely.
Dragonov moves in looking to clinch but Horner pushes him off.
A chopping leg kick lands by Horner.
Dragonov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A slapping leg kick lands for Horner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horner bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Horner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Horner steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dragonov.
Dragonov doesn't manage to clinch there - Horner circles away.
Horner works the jab nicely.
Horner moves out of range as Dragonov strikes.
Horner motions for Dragonov to come forward. Horner throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Horner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dragonov throws a nice looking combination but Horner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dragonov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dragonov misses the shot to the body.
Dragonov lands with a cross.
A head kick misses from Horner.
Dragonov is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horner throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Dragonov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A looping hook to the body misses from Horner. Dragonov does a little dance to reset his feet.

Dragonov moves into the clinch.

Horner manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dragonov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Horner.
Dragonov throws a series of punches but Horner avoids them all with ease.
Horner wants to slow Dragonov down by chopping away at his legs.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Horner 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 Dragonov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Dragonov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Dragonov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Dragonov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Horner counters with a stiff right hand.
Dragonov wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dragonov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horner wants to slow Dragonov down by chopping away at his legs.
Dragonov ducks under a wild hook from Horner.
Dragonov tries to clinch but Horner moves out of range.
Dragonov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Horner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dragonov checks the leg kick.
Dragonov tries to clinch there but Horner circles away.
Horner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Horner throws a quick inside leg kick.
Dragonov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dragonov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Horner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Horner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horner swats away the attempt to clinch by Dragonov.
Horner throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Dragonov.
Dragonov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Horner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dragonov moves in looking to clinch but Horner pushes him off.
Dragonov staying out of range there.
Horner tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Horner throws a leg kick but Dragonov moved away.
Horner misses with a leg kick.
Dragonov tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Horner to counter with a crisp jab.
Dragonov wants to clinch
and Horner counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dragonov doesn't manage to clinch there - Horner circles away.
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!

Dragonov clinches with his opponent.
Dragonov pushes off an throws an elbow but Horner leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Horner blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Dragonov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Horner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dragonov lands a jab to Horner's midsection.
Dragonov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Horner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Dragonov has Horner up against the cage in a clinch.
Horner tries to throw a body punch but Dragonov avoids it by throwing Horner back against the cage.

Horner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dragonov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Horner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Horner throws out a leg kick but Dragonov moves out of range and Horner only half commits.
Horner throws an overhand right that lands on Dragonov's shoulder, as Dragonov tries to avoid the shot.
Horner throws a leg kick but Dragonov moved away.
A jab from Dragonov does it's job there.
Horner throws a hook but Dragonov blocks it.
Dragonov wants to clinch.
Dragonov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horner motions for Dragonov to come forward. Horner throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dragonov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Dragonov takes the fight into the clinch.
Dragonov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dragonov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Horner's face.

It looks like Mike Horner has been cut.
Dragonov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Horner's elbow.
Dragonov stalling in the clinch but Horner improves position.
Horner swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Horner has had enough of the clinch but Dragonov keeps him there for the moment.
Dragonov wants to get back to striking at distance but Horner won't allow it.

Horner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Horner, right into the meat.
Dragonov tries to clinch up.

Dragonov moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horner lands with a light punch inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Horner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dragonov thows a body shot but no joy.
Dragonov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dragonov looks to land a combination but Horner avoids it well.
Dragonov throws a nice looking combination but Horner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dragonov tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Horner loads up on a big right hand but Dragonov slips the punch.
Marco Dragonov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dragonov tries to clinch up.
Dragonov throws a one two combo.
Dragonov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Dragonov wants to clinch up but Horner keeps it at a distance.
Dragonov throws a shot to the body.
Dragonov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Dragonov.
Dragonov looks to land a combination but Horner avoids it well.
Dragonov is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dragonov darts in and clinches Horner up against the cage.
Dragonov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Dragonov is trying to stall.
Dragonov tries to work over Horner's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Horner throws a punch but it's blocked by Dragonov.
Horner working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Horner keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dragonov's efforts to push away.

Horner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horner looks to land a combination but Dragonov avoids it well.
Horner connects with a solid leg kick.
Horner on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Dragonov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Horner manages to avoid it.
Horner misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragonov tries to clinch up but Horner circles away and keeps his distance.

Dragonov closes the distance and pushes Horner back into the cage.

Dragonov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dragonov walks into a stiff left hand from Horner.
Dragonov avoids a kick to the body.
Dragonov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Horner rather than just go for the knockout.
Horner fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Dragonov checks it well.
Horner throws a leg kick but Dragonov sees it coming and moves out of range.
Dragonov tries to bum rush Horner with a series of wild strikes but Horner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dragonov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Dragonov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Horner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dragonov moves out of range as Horner throws a body kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dragonov misses with the combination.
Horner swats away the attempt to clinch by Dragonov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marco Dragonov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mike Horner's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Horner fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Dragonov checks it well.
Horner keeps the fight on the outside.
Dragonov tries to clinch up.
Dragonov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Horner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Horner jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Horner wants to slow Dragonov down by chopping away at his legs.
Horner loads up on a big right hand but Dragonov slips the punch.
Dragonov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Horner.
Dragonov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Dragonov wants to clinch.
Horner throws a low kick, looking for Dragonov's leg but Dragonov calmly moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragonov thuds a left hand into Horner's body.
Horner throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Horner pushes Dragonov away with a front kick.
Horner slips under a jab.
Horner keeps the fight on the outside.
Horner throws a jab but it's blocked by Dragonov.
A shot to the liver by Dragonov. Beautiful body shot.
Horner takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Horner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Dragonov instigates a clinch.

Horner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Horner.
Horner throws a front kick aimed at Dragonov's knee but Dragonov avoids it well.
Dragonov misses with a straight left.
Dragonov tries to clinch up but Horner circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragonov tries to clinch up but Horner circles away and keeps his distance.
Dragonov tries to clinch up.
Horner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Horner loads up on a big right hand but Dragonov slips the punch.
Dragonov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Horner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Horner.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Horner uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dragonov.
Horner misses with a looping right.
Mike Horner is winning the standup battle so far.
Horner tries to land a leg kick but Dragonov saw it coming and moves away.
Horner tries to land a front kick but Dragonov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Dragonov swinging wildly here.
Dragonov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Dragonov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragonov misses with a few strikes there.
Horner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dragonov lands a two punch combo.
Dragonov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dragonov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dragonov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Dragonov doesn't manage to clinch there - Horner circles away.
Mike Horner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Horner ducks under a wild hook from Dragonov.

Dragonov has Horner up against the cage in a clinch.
Dragonov tries to circle away but Horner has him pinned against the cage.
Dragonov tries to land knees in the clinch but Horner avoids the damage to the body.
Horner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Horner lands a right hand.
Dragonov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragonov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Horner avoiding damage as Dragonov throws knees to the body.

Dragonov manages to break the clinch.
Horner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dragonov moves away.
Dragonov tries to clinch but Horner is having none of it.
Dragonov tries to clinch up
and Horner counters with a nice low kick that buckles Dragonov's knee momentarily.
Marco Dragonov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dragonov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dragonov moves in looking to clinch but Horner pushes him off.
Dragonov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Horner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Good standup being displayed there by Horner as he connects with a hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dragonov is looking to clinch but Horner is avoiding it.
Dragonov fails in his attempt to clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Dragonov blocks the leg kick.
Horner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

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 Mike Horner.
I think Dragonov 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Marco Dragonov!
Marco Dragonov tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.