PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Downwith Drago (ranked 2746 p4p, 269 weight class) and Tu Barrels (ranked 1735 p4p, 195 weight class). Tu Barrels will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Drago
vs
Barrels

180 cm
31
265 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

195 cm
22
265 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Downwith Drago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tu Barrels!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Drago gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Barrels's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Barrels gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Barrels is not content to let Drago control the position.
Drago looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Barrels with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Barrels is looking to control Drago's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Barrels avoid being mounted?
The fighters are battling for position here. Barrels manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drago stopping the sweep attempt from Barrels.
Barrels seems keen to control Drago's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Let's hope that Barrels has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Drago makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Drago preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Barrels holds on and takes a little breather.
Drago throws an elbow that misses. Barrels uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Drago's guard. Nice move by Barrels!

Barrels won't allow Drago to sweep him here.
Drago lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Barrels pulls Drago in to control the position.
Drago landing with the ground and pound.
Barrels has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Barrels's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
More stalling from Barrels.
Barrels bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Drago's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Drago is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Drago missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Drago is nestled in close to Barrels, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Barrels keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Barrels has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Drago is working away from the top position though.
Drago drops an elbow to the side of Barrels's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barrels 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!
Barrels doesn't have the hooks in and Drago manages to turn into his guard.
Barrels told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Drago landing some decent shots from guard.
Drago throwing strikes but missing.
Drago pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barrels is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago won't allow Barrels to sweep him here.
Barrels working a defensive guard here.
Barrels is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Drago accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barrels has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Barrels is continuing to stall.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Barrels.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Drago throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barrels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Drago might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Barrels controlling the position.
Drago preventing the sweep.
Drago scoring with some ground and pound.
Barrels is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Drago is controlling him.
Drago scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Barrels tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Drago is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Drago wants to control from the top but Barrels keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Drago's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Drago scoring with some ground and pound.
Drago throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barrels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Drago in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Drago scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Drago makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Downwith 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.

Barrels keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Drago shoots in but no luck this time.
Barrels lands with a shot to the body.
Drago goes for a double leg but Barrels avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barrels continues to drive forward.
Barrels swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Downwith Drago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drago displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barrels throws out the jab.

Drago fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Barrels sprawls well initially but Drago persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Drago prevents Barrels from improving his position.
Drago thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barrels is trying to control but Drago manages to pass to mount!
Barrels tries to reverse the position but Drago maintains control.
Barrels tries to hold on but Drago pushes him away.
Barrels is in all sorts of trouble here.
Barrels wants to hold on but Drago pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago landing strikes, looking to finish!
Drago with shots to the head and body - Barrels looks very uncomfortable down there.
Barrels wants to hold on but Drago pushes him away.
Barrels really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Barrels in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Barrels wants to control but Drago is having none of it.
Barrels might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Drago haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barrels can do anything to dispel that myth.
Drago landing shots from mount.

Barrels is rocked!
Drago loads up with a big shot that hurts Barrels! He's pulled Drago in close but Drago has postured up and lands more strikes. Can Barrels survive? More strikes from Drago and Barrels is out! The ref jumps in to save him! Brutal ground and pound!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Downwith Drago!
An out of breath and clearly excited Downwith Drago thanked VanDam Clothing for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).