PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Pickens (ranked 6559 p4p, 613 weight class) and Viktor Drago (ranked 24943 p4p, 679 weight class). Pickens comes to the cage accompanied by Remember the name. Jim Pickens has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Pickens
vs
Drago

186 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jim Pickens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Viktor Drago!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Drago throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pickens tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Drago is in Pickens's guard.
Pickens looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Pickens keeping moving, preventing Drago from controlling successfully.
Pickens controls Drago momentarily but Drago frees himself.
Drago is working Pickens over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Drago slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago looking to pass the guard.
Drago is pushing down on Pickens's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pickens is fighting to maintain full guard but Drago has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago is trying to control. Pickens wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pickens definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Pickens wants to control but Drago is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Drago is nestled in close to Pickens, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Drago really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pickens. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Drago lands strikes from half guard.
Pickens trying to control here.
Drago scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Drago lands strikes from half guard.

Pickens is rocked!

Drago is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pickens is just riding it out for now. Drago eventually gives up the hold.
Oh Pickens is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Drago looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Pickens seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickens is refusing to be controlled, as Drago sits in half guard.
Drago controlling the action here.
Drago sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pickens defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago lands with a punch from half guard.
Drago is trying to control. Pickens wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Pickens is defending against the submission attempts here by Drago.
Pickens is staying active underneath Drago, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Drago wants to stand up but Pickens has a hold of him and won't allow it.

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.
Drago is pressing down on Pickens's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pickens is holding on for now.

Drago is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pickens doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Drago.
Drago is looking to take a break and control but Pickens is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Drago dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Drago gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pickens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Drago.
Drago stalling.
Pickens misses with a knee strike.
Pickens tries to break the clinch but Drago is controlling the position.
Pickens is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Drago gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Drago gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Pickens is staying active underneath Drago, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago works his way into side control.
Drago trying to control the action but Pickens is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pickens is trying to get back to half guard.

Drago decides to stand back up.

Drago moves into the clinch successfully.

Drago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Drago throws a head kick that misses.
Pickens fails with the takedown.

Drago manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Pickens on his heels. He'll look to pass Pickens's guard now, I'm sure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago wants to get up but he can't break Pickens's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Drago wants to control from the top but Pickens keeps moving.
Drago stays in close to Pickens's body and controls the position.

Pickens looking for a guillotine here but Drago defends easily.
Drago is looking to stand up but Pickens won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago trying to control but Pickens is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Drago throws out a leg kick but Pickens moves out of range and Drago only half commits.

Drago has closed the distance and engaged Pickens in a clinch.
Drago has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Drago pulls guard.
Pickens throws a strike but Drago rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Drago stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pickens swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago pushes down on Pickens's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pickens is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Drago's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Drago's back!
Drago tries to break free.
Will Pickens go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pickens working for a choke but Drago is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Drago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Drago pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Pickens back to the cage. Drago follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Drago lands a nice looking body shot.

Drago shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Drago was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Drago in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Pickens looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Drago turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Viktor Drago!