PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilya Dragunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Calvin Duran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duran has chosen Seven devils - Florence as his entrance music. 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.

Dragunov
vs
Duran

185 cm
29
196 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

185 cm
31
193 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Reaper Combatwear

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilya Dragunov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Calvin Duran!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duran misses with a body kick.
Dragunov slips under a jab.
Duran throws a right hand that misses
and Dragunov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Duran thinking.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Duran, right into the meat.
Dragunov throws an overhand right that lands on Duran's shoulder, as Duran tries to avoid the shot.

Duran has Dragunov up against the cage in a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Duran.
Duran told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Dragunov lands a body shot in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Duran - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Dragunov lands with a short punch from the clinch.

It looks like Calvin Duran has been cut.
Nice body punch from Dragunov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dragunov struggles to land a body shot inside as Duran controls his hands.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Duran misses with some punches.
Duran lands a nice uppercut.
Duran throws a punch but it's blocked by Dragunov.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dragunov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragunov misses with some punches.
Duran misses with the head strike.
Dragunov lands a hook that snaps the head of Duran backwards.
Dragunov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dragunov wants a takedown but no success here.
Duran lands with a short shot to the head.

It looks like Ilya Dragunov has been cut.
Duran misses with a punch to the body.
Dragunov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Dragunov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duran lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Dragunov blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Duran fails to land.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dragunov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Duran looking to stall.
Dragunov tries a body shot but Duran blocks it.
Duran dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Duran lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dragunov lands with a short shot to the head.

Dragunov drags the fight down to the ground.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Duran not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Dragunov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Duran gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Duran passes Dragunov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Dragunov is staying active underneath Duran, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duran controlling the pace.
Duran tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Duran is controlling the pace.

Calvin Duran has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Dragunov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Duran.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duran tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dragunov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Dragunov.
Duran misses with a low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Duran misses the target.
Duran misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dragunov.
Duran takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Duran doesn't manage to clinch there - Dragunov circles away.
That kick from Dragunov tenderised Duran's leg. Duran is trying to keep his angry face on.
Dragunov takes a swing at Duran's ribcage but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dragunov walks into a stiff left hand from Duran.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Duran.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Duran misses with a two punch combination.
Duran walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Duran cracks Dragunov with a good jab.
Calvin Duran seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Duran throws a head kick but Dragunov moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Calvin Duran dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dragunov moves out of range as Duran strikes.
Duran takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd cheers as Dragunov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Duran doesn't seem phased though.
Duran uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Dragunov tries to land a front kick but Duran steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Duran rushes Dragunov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Dragunov.
Duran misses with an elbow strike.
Dragunov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dragunov blocks a body shot from Duran.
Dragunov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Duran blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Duran controlling the action here for a moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short uppercut from Duran.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Dragunov.
Duran misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragunov lands with a left to the head.
Dragunov blocking some punches.
Dragunov dodges an elbow strike from Duran.

Dragunov gets control of Duran's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dragunov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Dragunov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Duran sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Dragunov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Duran throwing strikes from guard but Dragunov blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov is trying to control the position but Duran postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duran is looking to stand up but Dragunov won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dragunov working for a triangle but Duran defends it easily.
Duran pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dragunov is keeping the position for now.
Duran passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov trying to get back to full guard but Duran takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Duran trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Duran avoids the attempt from Dragunov to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Duran stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Dragunov throws a shot from downtown. Duran moves away and avoids it.
Dragunov throws out a leg kick but Duran moves out of range and Dragunov only half commits.
Dragunov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Duran tries to bum rush Dragunov with a series of wild strikes but Dragunov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Duran moves into the clinch.
Dragunov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Duran is defending well for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Duran working aggressively here.
Duran is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Duran misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ilya Dragunov will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Dragunov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Duran takes a swing at Dragunov's ribcage but misses.
Ilya Dragunov is winning the standup battle so far.
Dragunov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Duran throws out the jab.
Dragunov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jab by Duran.
A swing and a miss from Duran.
Duran pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dragunov throws a head kick but Duran moves out of range.
Dragunov is looking to clinch but Duran is avoiding it.
Dragunov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Dragunov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Duran moves away.
Dragunov throws the kick towards the body but Duran avoids it.
Dragunov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Dragunov defending well as Duran loads up on a big left hand.
Dragunov throws a push kick but Duran slaps the foot to one side.
Duran throws a low kick but Dragunov moves out of range easily.
Good shot there by Duran.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragunov thows a body shot but no joy.
Some bone on bone action there as Dragunov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Duran scores with a three punch combo!
Duran lands a jab to the head.
Dragunov throws a front kick aimed at Duran's knee but Duran avoids it well.
Duran throws a jab but it's blocked by Dragunov.
Duran misses with a low kick.
Duran wants to clinch.
Duran throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Dragunov on the side of the head.
Dragunov looks to score with a jab to the body but Duran is just out of range.
Duran checks a leg kick nicely.
Dragunov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Duran misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duran tries to work over Dragunov's front leg with a kick but Dragunov checks it.
Duran lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A jab from Dragunov does it's job there.
Dragunov looks to land a body kick but Duran moved away.
Duran throws a hook but Dragunov avoids it easily.
Duran looks to throw the jab but Dragunov is out of range.
Dragunov is looking to wear down Duran with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Dragunov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A slow jab from Dragunov misses its intended target.
A low kick from Duran misses

and Dragunov counters with a single leg into guard. Duran didn't expect that.
Duran avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Duran keeping full guard, as Dragunov tries to pass.
Duran is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dragunov is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Duran is pulling down on Dragunov's head. It's preventing any offense from Dragunov, at least for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ilya Dragunov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Dragunov with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov thows a body shot but no joy.
Duran cracks Dragunov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Duran chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Dragunov can pounce on him.
A slapping leg kick lands for Dragunov.
Duran throws a leg kick but Dragunov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Duran slips under a jab from Dragunov.
Dragunov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Duran tries to close the distance and clinch but Dragunov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dragunov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Some wild striking there from Dragunov.
Dragunov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Duran at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dragunov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Duran takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Dragunov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

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 Ilya Dragunov.
I think Dragunov 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

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