PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Repe Sorsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Dragunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dragunov has chosen Respirar você - Capital Inicial as his entrance music. Ivan Dragunov told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sorsa
vs
Dragunov

190 cm
24
250 lbs
11 - 7 - 1

188 cm
27
278 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Repe Sorsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Dragunov!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dragunov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sorsa momentarily.
Sorsa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sorsa lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sorsa throws a front kick aimed at Dragunov's knee but Dragunov avoids it well.
Dragunov swings for the body but Sorsa moves out of range.
Sorsa moves away from the strike by Dragunov.
Sorsa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sorsa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dragunov throws out the jab.
Dragunov misses with a straight left.
Sorsa punishes Dragunov's body with a nice straight punch.

Sorsa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dragunov is trying to buck Sorsa off.

Sorsa goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Dragunov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sorsa but great work by Dragunov.
Sorsa is trying to improve his position.
Sorsa manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragunov wants to improve his position but Sorsa is controlling well.
Sorsa wants to pass the guard but Dragunov is defending well.
Sorsa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sorsa trying to mount his opponent but Dragunov defends it.
Dragunov is looking to escape.
Sorsa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Sorsa is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dragunov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sorsa.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sorsa trying to mount his opponent but Dragunov defends it.

That's two 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.

Sorsa is trying to work for a kimura but Dragunov is defending well.
Dragunov is looking for a sweep. Sorsa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sorsa wants to free his trapped foot but Dragunov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sorsa is trying to control. Dragunov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dragunov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dragunov trying to control from the bottom.
Sorsa is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Sorsa scoring with strikes but Dragunov is staying in there.

Sorsa jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Dragunov is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Dragunov and Sorsa has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Sorsa looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Dragunov is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sorsa is trying to get an arm triangle but Dragunov is defending well.
Dragunov is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sorsa connects with a decent elbow.
Sorsa works to advance to full mount. Dragunov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Dragunov is trying desperately to improve position.
Sorsa landing strikes from the mount and Dragunov is in trouble!
Sorsa content just to control the position here.
Sorsa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorsa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dragunov is looking to escape.
Dragunov is desperately trying to improve his position but Sorsa has a good base and remains in mount.
Sorsa trying to control but Dragunov is having none of it.
Sorsa with the ground and pound from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sorsa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dragunov is looking to escape.
Sorsa scores with a couple of good head shots there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sorsa tries to control but Dragunov wriggling away.
Sorsa looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Repe Sorsa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sorsa throws a right and a left that Dragunov avoids nicely.
Sorsa attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sorsa shoots in for a takedown but Dragunov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dragunov. Sorsa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dragunov blocks a head kick by Sorsa.
Dragunov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sorsa counters with a one-two to the body.
Sorsa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dragunov pinned against the cage. Dragunov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sorsa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sorsa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Dragunov counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Repe Sorsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorsa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sorsa throws a head kick but Dragunov moves out of range.
Dragunov tries to clinch up.
A jab from Dragunov misses.
Sorsa shoots for a double leg takedown but Dragunov sprawls well. He's pushed Sorsa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sorsa misses with a straight left.

Dragunov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Dragunov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sorsa manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Sorsa stops Dragunov from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorsa is trying to control the action in half guard but Dragunov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sorsa is looking to advance position but Dragunov won't allow it.

Sorsa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dragunov defends it well.
Sorsa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sorsa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sorsa passes to full mount!
Sorsa trying to control but Dragunov is having none of it.
Sorsa lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Dragunov hang on?
Sorsa controlling the position easily from mount.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Sorsa here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Sorsa is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Dragunov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Sorsa trying to control but Dragunov is having none of it.
Dragunov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sorsa wants to control the pace but Dragunov is squirming around nicely.
Sorsa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Dragunov looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov is desperately trying to improve his position but Sorsa has a good base and remains in mount.
Sorsa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dragunov is looking to escape.
Dragunov regains half guard.
Dragunov is trying to stand back up but Sorsa is controlling him
Repe Sorsa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sorsa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dragunov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sorsa winds up and cracks Dragunov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Repe Sorsa 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sorsa throws a sloppy head kick
and Dragunov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sorsa misses with a hook. Dragunov ducked under it nicely.
Sorsa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sorsa scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Sorsa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Sorsa tries to control but Dragunov wriggling away.

Dragunov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sorsa.
Sorsa has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sorsa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sorsa landing punches.
Sorsa looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sorsa with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sorsa with a couple of short strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragunov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sorsa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dragunov can do to turn this around?
Sorsa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sorsa wants to control the pace but Dragunov is squirming around nicely.
Dragunov tries to hold on but Sorsa pushes him away.
BOOM! Sorsa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Dragunov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sorsa tries to control but Dragunov wriggling away.
Sorsa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dragunov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorsa looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sorsa pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Sorsa is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Dragunov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sorsa is working for a guillotine from mount but Dragunov frees his head quite easily.
Sorsa tries to control but Dragunov wriggling away.

Sorsa working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Sorsa wants to control the pace but Dragunov is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorsa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Dragunov looks a forlorn figure.
Sorsa in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Sorsa goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Dragunov is on top in guard.

Dragunov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dragunov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sorsa keeping moving, preventing Dragunov from controlling successfully.
Dragunov postures up in Sorsa's guard and throws a big left but Sorsa blocks it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sorsa is on top in guard.
Ivan Dragunov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Repe Sorsa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorsa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Sorsa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dragunov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sorsa has managed to get both his arms back between Dragunov's legs - danger averted.
Dragunov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sorsa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sorsa stands and throws Dragunov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sorsa tries to move into full mount but can't pass Dragunov's legs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dragunov seems a little lost for a moment, as Sorsa dominates the positioning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Repe Sorsa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sorsa 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:26
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Repe Sorsa!