PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Victor Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Borris Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Drago
vs
Khalidov

225 cm
20
205 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
20
217 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Drago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Borris Khalidov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Drago or perhaps it was just good defense by Khalidov which made him look bad.

Drago scores a takedown into full mount!
Drago controlling the position easily from mount.
Khalidov trying desperately to get to his feet.
Drago controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov tries to buck Drago off but he can't manage it.
Drago controlling from the full mount.
Khalidov wants to try and get back to his feet.

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.
Drago really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Drago controlling his opponent.
Drago's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Drago will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Drago won't let Khalidov get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Khalidov is looking to escape.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Khalidov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Drago controlling his opponent.
Khalidov is squirming around, avoiding Drago's attempts to control the action.
Drago controlling the position easily from mount.

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.
Khalidov is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Drago controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Drago dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Khalidov moves out of range of the body kick from Drago.
Drago avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Khalidov tries to clinch there but Drago circles away.
Drago swats away the attempt to clinch by Khalidov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago checks a leg kick.
Drago lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov tries to clinch up.

Drago changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Khalidov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Victor Drago.
Khalidov swats away the attempt to clinch by Drago.

Drago moves into the clinch successfully.
Khalidov prevents the takedown attempt.
Drago controlling the action here for a moment.
Khalidov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Khalidov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Khalidov looking for a takedown.

Khalidov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Drago pulls Khalidov in to control the position.
Drago working a defensive guard here.
Khalidov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Khalidov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov postures up.
Khalidov with a nice head shot there.
Drago wants to stand up but Khalidov is controlling him.
Drago is trying to control the position but Khalidov postures up.
Khalidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Drago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drago is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Khalidov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Khalidov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Drago's head.
Khalidov scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov throws a strike but Drago rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Drago won't allow Khalidov to get back to his feet.

Khalidov kicks Drago off and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Khalidov with a poor takedown
and Drago finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Victor Drago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Borris Khalidov.
Khalidov is breathing heavily.
Drago lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Khalidov circles away quickly and effectively.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Khalidov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Drago's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Borris Khalidov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Drago misses with a body shot.
Khalidov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Drago counters with a series of strikes. Khalidov will be more careful next time no doubt.

Drago shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Khalidov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Drago prevents Khalidov from escaping the position.

Drago decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov fails with the takedown

and Drago moves into the clinch.
Khalidov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Khalidov tries for a takedown but Drago manages to get underhooks.
Victor Drago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Borris Khalidov.
Drago is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Drago blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Drago tries for a takedown. No joy.
Drago has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Khalidov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Khalidov is trying to break the clinch but Drago has him pressed against the cage.

Drago pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago keeping moving, preventing Khalidov from controlling successfully.
Khalidov landing with the ground and pound.
Khalidov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Khalidov throws a big right hand that misses.
Khalidov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Khalidov wants to pass the guard but Drago is keeping the position.
Drago bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Khalidov's guard.
Drago passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Drago decides to stand back up.
Drago wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Khalidov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Khalidov postures up.
Khalidov lands a couple of digs.
Khalidov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Khalidov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Khalidov trying to control but Drago is working from the bottom.
Khalidov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Khalidov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Drago's head.
Khalidov won't allow Drago to sweep him here.
Drago is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Khalidov is controlling him.
Khalidov throwing strikes from guard but Drago blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Drago showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Drago has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Drago!