PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dragan Bakalov (ranked 4546 p4p, 451 weight class) and Thor Ragardo (ranked 4811 p4p, 470 weight class). Bakalov comes to the cage accompanied by Time for pain!. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bakalov
vs
Ragardo

191 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

198 cm
23
268 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dragan Bakalov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thor Ragardo!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ragardo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bakalov walks into a left hand.

It looks like Dragan Bakalov has been cut.
Ragardo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bakalov avoids it really well and circles away.

Ragardo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Bakalov!
Bakalov wants to get back to his feet but Ragardo drags him back down.

Ragardo decides to stand back up. Ragardo steps back and let's Bakalov get back to his feet.

Ragardo shoots in and gets a takedown into Bakalov's guard.

Bakalov pushes Ragardo off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Bakalov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ragardo as Bakalov tries to tie him up.
Bakalov tries to throw a body punch but Ragardo avoids it by throwing Bakalov back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ragardo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Ragardo breaks the clinch.
Bakalov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bakalov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ragardo tries a head kick but it misses.
Ragardo catches Bakalov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bakalov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Bakalov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ragardo throws a right hand that Bakalov ducks under and follows up with a left that Bakalov also avoids with ease.

Ragardo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bakalov on his heels. He'll look to pass Bakalov's guard now, I'm sure.
Ragardo wanted to stand there but Bakalov had control of the position.
Ragardo prevents Bakalov from getting back to his feet.

Bakalov has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ragardo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bakalov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Ragardo tries to keep at a distance but Bakalov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bakalov stalling the fight.
Ragardo being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakalov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Bakalov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bakalov has a couple of punches blocked by Ragardo.
Bakalov misses with the head strike.
Ragardo is trying to break the clinch but Bakalov is controlling him.
Ragardo is trying to break the clinch but Bakalov has him pressed against the cage.
Ragardo tries to break the clinch but Bakalov is controlling the position.
Ragardo lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bakalov.
A head punch on the inside from Bakalov fails to land.
Bakalov blocking some punches.
Ragardo lands with a right to the head.
Ragardo tries to circle away but Bakalov has him pinned against the cage.
Ragardo is trying to maintain a safe position but Bakalov gets an underhook and turns Ragardo into the cage.
Bakalov is trying to maintain a safe position but Ragardo gets an underhook and turns Bakalov into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakalov lands an elbow inside that Ragardo shrugs off.

It looks like Thor Ragardo has been cut.
Ragardo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bakalov has him pressed against the cage.
Bakalov could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ragardo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bakalov stalling in the clinch.
Ragardo tries to break the clinch but Bakalov is controlling the position.
Bakalov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bakalov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ragardo up against the cage.
Bakalov prevents Ragardo from breaking the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ragardo as Bakalov tries to tie him up.
A head punch on the inside from Ragardo fails to land.
We've been informed that Ragardo has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Ragardo misses with a short punch on the inside.

Bakalov manages to break the clinch.

Ragardo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bakalov napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Ragardo has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Bakalov avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ragardo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bakalov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Ragardo drops Bakalov with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Bakalov looks back up at him and smiles so Ragardo waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Bakalov is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ragardo fakes the body blow, causing Bakalov to drop his hands! Left hook to the temple! Bakalov goes stiff, and falls face first into the mat. Goodnight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:16 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Thor Ragardo!
After winning the bout, Thor Ragardo thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.