PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Borre Oppeboen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drago's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Eye of the tiger. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Drago
vs
Oppeboen

195 cm
23
270 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

190 cm
28
260 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

BALCO MMA ELITE
Balco Boys Battle Gear

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Drago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Borre Oppeboen!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oppeboen scores with a jab.
Nice sprawl there from Drago as Oppeboen shoots in.
Oppeboen connects with a nice looking jab.
Oppeboen shoots in and drives through. Drago sprawls well.
Drago throws a shot from downtown. Oppeboen moves away and avoids it.
Oppeboen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Drago lands a jab to the head.

It looks like Borre Oppeboen has been cut.
Oppeboen closes the distance but Drago moves to the side
and Drago counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Oppeboen shoots in for a takedown but Drago shows good takedown defense.
Ivan Drago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Borre Oppeboen.

Oppeboen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Drago sprawls well initially but Oppeboen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Drago works his way to full guard. Good work.

Drago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Oppeboen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Drago is trying to keep Oppeboen in close.
Drago working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Oppeboen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oppeboen chips away with some ground and pound.
Oppeboen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Drago is trying to keep Oppeboen in close.
Oppeboen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Drago doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Oppeboen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Drago is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Oppeboen stops Drago from standing up.
Oppeboen thows a big elbow that misses.
Oppeboen is looking to work some ground and pound but Drago has wrist control.
Oppeboen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Drago lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Oppeboen!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Drago moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Oppeboen has worked his arm free - good work by Oppeboen!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oppeboen keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Oppeboen sneaks out the side door and pushes Drago away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Drago takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Drago throws a push kick but Oppeboen slaps the foot to one side.
Drago scores with a nice right hand.
Oppeboen throws a lazy right hand but Drago sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Oppeboen avoids the body shot from Drago.

Oppeboen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Drago tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Oppeboen is in Drago's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Oppeboen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drago works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Drago manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Oppeboen wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Borre Oppeboen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Borre Oppeboen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Oppeboen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Drago counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ivan Drago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drago scores with a one two! Oppeboen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Drago avoids the head kick by Oppeboen.
Drago lands a lovely overhand right.
Oppeboen is looking to clinch.
A solid body kick from Drago.
Drago swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Drago looks for the body kick but Oppeboen saw that one coming.

Oppeboen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Drago's guard.
Drago preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Drago trying to control the position.
Oppeboen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Oppeboen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Drago is trying to control the position but Oppeboen postures up.
Drago is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Oppeboen is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ivan Drago just wasn't active enough.
Oppeboen clobbers Drago with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Drago throws a right hand that Oppeboen ducks under and follows up with a left that Oppeboen also avoids with ease.
Drago swinging wildly here.
Oppeboen lands with a straight right. Drago didn't see that one coming.
Drago rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Oppeboen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Oppeboen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Drago counters with a straight right hand.
Nice shot by Oppeboen.
Drago looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Drago is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Oppeboen.
Drago stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Drago wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Oppeboen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Oppeboen postures up in Drago's guard and throws a big left but Drago blocks it.
Drago trying to control the position.
Drago bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Oppeboen's guard.
Drago wanted to stand there but Oppeboen had control of the position.
Drago trying to control but Oppeboen is working from the bottom.

Ivan Drago has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Oppeboen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Borre Oppeboen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago throws out a loose jab but Oppeboen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Oppeboen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Drago sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Oppeboen somewhat.

Oppeboen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Oppeboen thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Drago to regain full guard.
Oppeboen thows a big elbow that misses.
Oppeboen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drago looking to control.
Drago avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Drago utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Oppeboen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Oppeboen postures up in Drago's guard and throws a big left but Drago blocks it.
Drago utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Drago avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Oppeboen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Borre Oppeboen has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Oppeboen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Drago is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drago looking to hit a scissor sweep but Oppeboen is one step ahead there.
Oppeboen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Drago's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oppeboen works over Drago with some ground and pound from guard.
Oppeboen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Drago tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Borre Oppeboen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Borre Oppeboen's cut.
That's time! Drago's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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.

Oppeboen moves in looking to clinch but Drago pushes him off.
Oppeboen walks into a stiff left hand from Drago.
Oppeboen shoots in but no luck this time.
Drago lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Drago on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Oppeboen closes the distance and clinches up with Drago, looking for a takedown. Oppeboen pushes Drago against the cage but Drago circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Oppeboen tries for a takedown but Drago circles away easily
and Drago counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Ivan Drago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Borre Oppeboen.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Drago loads up on a big right hand but Oppeboen slips the punch.
Oppeboen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Drago as he avoids it easily.
Drago scores with a head kick.
Oppeboen tries to clinch there but Drago circles away.
Drago throws out a powerful jab.
Oppeboen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Drago takes a swing at Oppeboen's ribcage but misses.
Drago rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Oppeboen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Drago misses with a two punch combination.
Oppeboen moves to clinch but Drago breaks away
and Drago counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago misses with a few strikes there.
Drago throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Oppeboen's waist but Oppeboen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Drago off to one side.
Drago scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Drago misses with a few strikes there.
Ivan Drago is winning the standup battle so far.
Drago throws a right and a left that both miss.
Oppeboen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Oppeboen cracks Drago with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A shot to the liver by Drago. Beautiful body shot.
Oppeboen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Oppeboen shoots for a double leg takedown but Drago sprawls well. He's pushed Oppeboen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Oppeboen pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Oppeboen clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Oppeboen fails to land.
Oppeboen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Drago backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago misses with the head strike.
Drago is trying to break the clinch but Oppeboen has him pressed against the cage.
Oppeboen throws a head punch that misses.
Drago misses with a punch to the body.
Oppeboen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A body shot lands from Drago.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Drago.
Oppeboen misses with a punch on the inside.
Oppeboen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Oppeboen working aggressively here.
Oppeboen misses with the head strike.

Drago pulls guard.
Drago is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Drago wants to control but Oppeboen is keeping him busy.
Drago not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago is trying to control the action in half guard but Oppeboen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Oppeboen can do anything to dispel that myth.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Drago is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Drago is trying to control. Oppeboen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ivan Drago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Drago tries to pass the half guard into mount. Oppeboen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

We're going to have a standup here because Ivan Drago wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Oppeboen misses with an uppercut
and Drago counters with a right hand to the body.
Drago looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drago fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Oppeboen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Oppeboen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Drago showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Oppeboen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 29:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!