PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Malmsteen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Dragunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malmsteen comes into the arena with Yngwie Malmsteen - Rise up blaring out of the sound system. Dragunov has chosen Respirar você - Capital Inicial as his entrance music. Ivan Dragunov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Malmsteen
vs
Dragunov

182 cm
20
235 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
278 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

Punishment Nutrition - New products in stock!

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Malmsteen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Dragunov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malmsteen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Malmsteen takes a swing at Dragunov's ribcage but misses.
Malmsteen throws a nice looking combination but Dragunov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Malmsteen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Dragunov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Dragunov 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malmsteen is staying active underneath Dragunov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Malmsteen is trying to stand.
Malmsteen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malmsteen looking for a sweep. Not yet Malmsteen, not yet.
Malmsteen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Malmsteen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dragunov wants to pass the guard but Malmsteen is keeping the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Malmsteen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Malmsteen misses with a looping right.
No luck for Dragunov with that takedown attempt.
Malmsteen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dragunov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malmsteen tries to bum rush Dragunov with a series of wild strikes but Dragunov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dragunov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Malmsteen circles away.
Dragunov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
No joy there for Malmsteen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Malmsteen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
James Malmsteen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dragunov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dragunov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Malmsteen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dragunov somewhat.
James Malmsteen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Dragunov.
Malmsteen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dragunov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Malmsteen, as that shot connected.
Malmsteen thows a body shot but no joy.
Malmsteen lands a jab to Dragunov's midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dragunov dives in and grabs Malmsteen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Malmsteen pushes down on Dragunov's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malmsteen throws a jab when Dragunov was well out of range.
James Malmsteen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Malmsteen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Malmsteen lands a jab to the head.
Dragunov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Malmsteen throws an overhand right that lands on Dragunov's shoulder, as Dragunov tries to avoid the shot.
A shot to de liver by Malmsteen. Beautiful body shot.
Dragunov shoots in for a takedown but Malmsteen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dragunov looks gassed!
Dragunov has a takedown stuffed.
No joy there for Malmsteen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Malmsteen scores with a three punch combo!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Malmsteen misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malmsteen fails to land with a series of punches.
Malmsteen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dragunov circles away quickly and effectively.
Malmsteen throws a body punch but Dragunov moves out of range.
Dragunov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Malmsteen tries to bum rush Dragunov with a series of wild strikes but Dragunov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Malmsteen misses with a body shot.
Malmsteen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Malmsteen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Some wild striking there from Malmsteen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malmsteen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No joy there for Malmsteen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Malmsteen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A combination from Malmsteen does no damage.
Malmsteen misses the shot to the body.
Good shot there by Malmsteen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Malmsteen. Dragunov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Malmsteen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dragunov.

Dragunov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Dragunov has gone for a leg lock! Malmsteen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dragunov's guard.
Malmsteen wants to pass the guard but Dragunov is keeping the position.
Malmsteen trying to control the position from guard on top but Dragunov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dragunov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Malmsteen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Malmsteen stands up from Dragunov's guard - Malmsteen perhaps looking for a knockout.

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

Dragunov has gone for a leg lock! Malmsteen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dragunov's guard.

Dragunov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Malmsteen defends well.
Dragunov is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malmsteen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Malmsteen tries to free his leg and advance position but Dragunov is retaining full guard.
Malmsteen wants to control from the top but Dragunov keeps moving.
Malmsteen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Dragunov has a closed guard, preventing Malmsteen from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dragunov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Malmsteen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Malmsteen looking to pass the guard.

Malmsteen gets to his feet - Dragunov follows without any prompting.

Dragunov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Dragunov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Malmsteen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Malmsteen is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Dragunov is controlling him well.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Malmsteen here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malmsteen stops Dragunov from passing to mount.
Malmsteen is looking for a sweep.
Malmsteen wants to control but Dragunov postures up.
Malmsteen is looking to reverse the position.
Malmsteen is working to avoid the ground and pound but Dragunov connects with a decent elbow.
Dragunov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Malmsteen keeps working.
Dragunov working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Dragunov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dragunov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Malmsteen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Malmsteen throws a nice looking combination but Dragunov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
James Malmsteen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Malmsteen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
James Malmsteen is winning the standup battle so far.
Dragunov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Malmsteen defends it nicely.
Dragunov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Malmsteen misses with a double jab.
Dragunov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Malmsteen is looking to wear down Dragunov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Dragunov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Malmsteen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Dragunov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malmsteen can't do much from the bottom here.
Malmsteen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dragunov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Malmsteen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Dragunov.

Dragunov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dragunov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Malmsteen is not content to let Dragunov control the position.

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.

Dragunov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Malmsteen, who protects the arm well.
Malmsteen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Malmsteen wants to get back to full guard.
Dragunov wants to free his trapped foot but Malmsteen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Malmsteen is trying to maintain the position but Dragunov is very close to passing his half guard.
Malmsteen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dragunov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dragunov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Malmsteen is just riding it out for now. Dragunov eventually gives up the hold.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Malmsteen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Malmsteen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dragunov circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from Malmsteen.
Malmsteen throws a right hand that Dragunov ducks under and follows up with a left that Dragunov also avoids with ease.

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.
Malmsteen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dragunov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dragunov tries to clinch up.
Malmsteen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Malmsteen lands with a nice body punch.
Malmsteen looks to land a body kick but Dragunov moved away.
Malmsteen leaves Dragunov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
James Malmsteen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Dragunov.

Malmsteen forces Dragunov back against the cage and clinches.
Dragunov prevents Malmsteen from breaking the clinch.
Malmsteen is looking to break free of the clinch but Dragunov has double underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Malmsteen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dragunov fails to land the takedown.
Dragunov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Malmsteen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Malmsteen 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Malmsteen!