PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sarge Dela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sarge Dela has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Nikolai Drago's chin.

Drago
vs
Dela

183 cm
21
200 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

190 cm
20
200 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Hellbent, Inc.

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Drago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sarge Dela!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dela fails with the takedown.

Drago drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Drago working away.
An elbow from Drago crashes against the mat.
Dela is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Drago wants to free his trapped foot but Dela is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Dela desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drago performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Drago is working for a kimura but Dela is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Dela is trying to control the position but Drago postures up.
Dela tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Drago throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dela works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Drago trying to control but Dela is working from the bottom.
Drago is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Drago throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Drago postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Dela is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Drago, into his guard.
Drago being controlled here, momentarily.
Dela with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drago trying to control the position.
Dela tries to free his leg and advance position but Drago is retaining full guard.
Dela passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela is trying to control the action in half guard but Drago is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Drago regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dela sitting in guard here, content to control.
Drago is trying to control the position but Dela postures up.
Dela must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dela wants to pass the guard but Drago is keeping the position.

Drago working for a triangle but Dela defends it easily.
Drago is trying to keep Dela in close.
Dela is pushing down on Drago's leg trying to pass to half guard. Drago is fighting to maintain full guard but Dela has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dela is working away from the top position though.

Dela is looking for a kimura here.
Drago blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dela.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drago regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dela advances to half guard.
Dela is trying to control the action in half guard but Drago is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Drago actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nikolai Drago will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Drago tries to move into range but Dela moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Drago looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Drago missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dela avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Drago.
Drago with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Dela wants to improve his position but Drago is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drago is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dela doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Drago.
Drago controlling the action here.
Dela has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Drago is working away from the top position though.
Drago passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Dela!
Dela keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Drago throws some wild stikes that Dela manages to avoid easily.
Drago trying to control but Dela is having none of it.
Dela reaches up to try and control the position but Drago seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Dela rolls and tries to escape and now Drago has his back!
Drago struggling to keep hold of the position.
Drago keeps control of the position easily here as Dela tries to buck him off.

Drago is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Drago is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Dela has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela manages to reverse the position and now he's in Drago's guard. Nice work there by Dela.
Drago is controlling Dela's posture.
Dela preventing the sweep.
Drago is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dela is controlling him.
Dela wants to control from the top but Drago keeps moving.

Dela avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Drago looking to control.
Dela's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Dela avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drago trying to control the position.
Drago looking for a sweep. Not yet Drago, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Drago has his foot on Dela's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dela works his way back into a safe position though.
Drago wants to sweep but no luck.
Dela looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Drago dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Drago needs to keep his hands up - Dela had a free shot at his head there.
Horrible takedown by Drago or perhaps it was just good defense by Dela which made him look bad.
Dela throws a big shot that misses.
Sarge Dela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drago fails with the takedown
and Dela connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dela missing with a left hand there. Drago was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dela takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Drago shoots and misses

and Dela counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dela.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Drago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drago is keeping the position for now.
Dela trying to control but Drago is working from the bottom.
Dela looking to pass the guard.

Drago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Drago keeping full guard, as Dela tries to pass.
Drago is trying to hold Dela in close to prevent damage but Dela has managed to pass into half guard.
Drago is staying active underneath Dela, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two 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.

Dela 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.
Dela works his foot free and advances to mount.
Drago is looking to improve his position but Dela isn't that keen on the idea.
Drago is bucking up trying to escape but Dela cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Drago tries to reverse the position but Dela maintains control.
Dela trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago tries to lock up and control but Dela gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dela looking to control but Drago is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dela controlling his opponent.
Sarge Dela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Drago wants to control but Dela is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dela looking to control but Drago is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Drago is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Drago is working to get back to half guard.
Nikolai Drago is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Drago wants to hold on but Dela pushes him away.
Dela tries to control but Drago wriggling away.

Dela working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Dela working the ground and pound effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sarge Dela comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Drago 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nikolai Drago!