PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between ange fili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drago has chosen Eye of the tiger as his entrance music. Ivan Drago has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

fili
vs
Drago

190 cm
22
270 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

195 cm
20
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Balco Boys - Hilo
Balco Boys - Hilo

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, ange fili!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Drago!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
fili keeps the fight on the outside.
Drago is looking to clinch.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Drago. fili shrugs it off though.

Drago closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Drago stops a takedown attempt from fili.
Drago wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Drago has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics fili uses from the top position.

fili is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Drago is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Drago has escaped and now he's on top!
Drago thows a big elbow that misses.

fili is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Drago working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
fili punching from the bottom.
Drago throwing strikes but missing.
Drago content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
fili wants to sweep here but Drago controlling him for the moment.
Drago throws a big right hand that misses.

fili looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Drago drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but fili manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Drago has fili in his guard.
fili throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drago works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Drago throws his legs up looking for a submission but fili uses it to pass to side control.

fili wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Drago, who protects the arm well.

fili thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Drago performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Drago is looking to take a break and control but fili is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

fili is defending against the submission attempts here by Drago.

fili is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Drago pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

fili is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Drago pulls his head out easily.
fili wants to control but Drago is keeping busy and won't allow it.
fili is looking to improve his position.
Drago winds up and cracks fili with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Drago looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Drago is looking to pass fili's guard but actually fili recovers to full guard.
Drago pushing down on fili's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four 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.
fili is pressing down on Drago's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Drago stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. fili swivels though and keeps the full guard.

fili throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Drago slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

fili is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
fili is breathing heavily.

fili has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Drago can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Drago trying to control but fili is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ivan Drago will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Drago misses with a wild combination.

Drago has taken the fight to the clinch.
fili blocks an elbow strike.
Drago is looking for a takedown up against the cage. fili gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Drago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Drago tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but fili swivels and escapes.

Drago decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Drago throws a strike but fili avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

fili working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Drago doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Drago manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

fili throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Drago wants to pass the guard but fili is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
fili keeping moving, preventing Drago from controlling successfully.
fili being controlled here, momentarily.
Drago wants to control from the top but fili keeps moving.
fili striking off his back but it's not causing Drago any problems.

fili is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Drago lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
fili wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
fili keeping moving, preventing Drago from controlling successfully.
Drago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
fili keeping full guard, as Drago tries to pass.
fili trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Drago passes fili's left leg - he's now in half guard.
fili tries to get to full guard but Drago has control of the leg.
Drago not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
fili gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. fili swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Drago trying to control but fili is working from the bottom.
Drago throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
fili manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

fili looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
fili thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Drago taking shots to the head.
Drago is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
fili landing strikes, looking to finish!

fili is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Drago has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Drago!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drago wants to pass the guard but fili is keeping the position.

fili has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Drago can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Drago forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ange fili dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Drago closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Drago wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
fili can't get the takedown.
fili changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Drago fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Drago doesn't manage to clinch there - fili circles away.
Drago fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Drago, right into the meat.
Drago shoots in but no luck this time.
fili on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Drago pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Drago lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but fili circles away quickly and effectively.
Drago dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on fili. That did some damage!
Drago looks to land a body kick but fili moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
fili keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Drago throws a head kick but fili moves out of range.
Drago lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
fili shoots in for a takedown but Drago shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for ange fili. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Drago gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Drago putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has fili in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
fili stops a takedown attempt from Drago.
Drago has had enough of the clinch but fili keeps him there for the moment.

fili gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
fili throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drago works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Drago pushes fili off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

fili shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
fili prevents Drago from getting back to his feet.
fili tries to free his leg and advance position but Drago is retaining full guard.
fili lands a couple of elbows.
Drago looking for a sweep. Not yet Drago, not yet.
fili 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. fili swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Drago preventing the sweep.
Drago stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. fili swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

fili is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

fili looking for a guillotine here but Drago defends easily.
Drago wants to control from the top but fili keeps moving.
fili strikes from his own guard.

fili has his foot on Drago's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Drago works his way back into a safe position though.
Drago's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago wants to control from the top but fili keeps moving.

fili looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

fili is looking for a triangle but Drago pushes his legs off easily.
Drago tries to free his leg and advance position but fili is retaining full guard.

Drago got a little sloppy there for a moment and fili has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Drago has managed to get both his arms back between fili's legs - danger averted.
fili is trying to control the position but Drago postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Drago.
Drago misses with a jab, cross combination.

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 ange fili.
I think fili 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... ange fili!