PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Didier Drogba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexey Bykov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drogba comes to the cage accompanied by Dirty house. Bykov has chosen ГРОТ - Мы ждём as his entrance music. Didier Drogba had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 187.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Drogba
vs
Bykov

190 cm
25
205 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

186 cm
27
197 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Didier Drogba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Bykov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Drogba.
Bykov fails to land with a series of punches.
Drogba is looking to clinch but Bykov is avoiding it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Drogba.
Drogba throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A head kick misses from Bykov.
Drogba will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Bykov throws a head kick but Drogba moves out of range.
Drogba looks for the body kick but Bykov saw that one coming.
No joy there for Bykov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bykov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bykov misses with a body kick.
Drogba dodges the punch combination from Bykov.
Drogba misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bykov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bykov checks a low kick from Drogba.
Sloppy strikes from Bykov. Those never looked like landing.
Drogba misses with a body kick.
Drogba misses with a low kick.
Drogba tries a head kick but it misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Drogba.
Drogba looks for the body kick but Bykov saw that one coming.
Bykov misses with a head kick.
Good work by Bykov as he checks the leg kick.
Bykov scores with a jab.
Drogba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drogba throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bykov makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Drogba really felt that one!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drogba is looking to clinch but Bykov is avoiding it.
Bykov scores with a push kick.
Drogba slips a jab and a cross from Bykov.
Bykov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alexey Bykov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bykov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drogba scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bykov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bykov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Drogba.
Bykov avoids the head kick by Drogba.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Drogba pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bykov is out of range and Drogba settles back down.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bykov!
Drogba avoids the head kick by Bykov.
Drogba blocks a head kick by Bykov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogba dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bykov. That did some damage!
Drogba scoring well with a low kick there.
Drogba blocks a head kick by Bykov.
Bykov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Bykov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Drogba throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Bykov looks gassed!
Drogba misses with a body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Drogba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bykov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bykov misses with a double jab
and Drogba counters with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Bykov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A punch combination from Bykov misses.
Bykov fails to land with a series of punches.
Bykov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drogba tries to land a front kick but Bykov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A leg kick checked by Bykov.
Bykov looks to land a combination but Drogba avoids it well.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Drogba.
Drogba swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Drogba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Drogba is looking to clinch but Bykov is avoiding it.
Bykov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drogba throws a chopping leg kick but Bykov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Didier Drogba will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Drogba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bykov checks a leg kick.
Drogba connects with a body shot.
Drogba tries to land a front kick but Bykov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Drogba is looking to land body kicks.
Bykov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Alexey Bykov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bykov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Drogba counters with a nice body shot.
Bykov checks a leg kick nicely.
Drogba will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Bykov scores with a kick to the body.
Drogba misses with a head kick.
Didier Drogba is winning the standup battle so far.
Bykov throws a head kick that half lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drogba tries a low kick but Bykov avoids it.
Bykov just misses with a punch to the body.
Drogba avoids the head kick by Bykov.
Bykov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Drogba is looking to wear down Bykov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bykov looks to land a combination but Drogba avoids it well.
Bykov checks a leg kick.
A combination from Bykov does no damage.
Bykov looks to throw the jab but Drogba is out of range.
Bykov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Drogba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Drogba tries a head kick but it misses.

Drogba clinches up with Bykov and pushes him back against the cage.
Drogba is pressed up against the cage. Bykov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Drogba down to the mat. Drogba avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Drogba throws a head kick but Bykov moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bykov avoids the head kick by Drogba.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drogba throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bykov's head.
A punch combination from Drogba misses.
Bykov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
An inside leg kick lands from Bykov.
Bykov misses with a two punch combination.
Bykov blocks a head kick by Drogba.
Drogba takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Drogba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bykov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bykov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Drogba throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bykov tries to bum rush Drogba with a series of wild strikes but Drogba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Drogba clinches with his opponent.
Bykov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Drogba gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Bykov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Drogba walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Bykov throws a series of punches but Drogba avoids them all with ease.
Bykov throws a head kick that misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Drogba.
Drogba throws a head kick but Bykov moves out of range.
Drogba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bykov moves away.
Bykov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Drogba avoids the head kick by Bykov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bykov throws a nice looking combination but Drogba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bykov throws a head kick that misses.
Bykov misses with a few strikes there.
Bykov lands a nice looking kick to the body. Drogba takes a step back to recover.
Drogba fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bykov!
Bykov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Drogba avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fight stays on the outside here - Drogba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bykov scores with a spinning back kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexey Bykov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Drogba goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Drogba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bykov tries to bum rush Drogba with a series of wild strikes but Drogba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Drogba attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Drogba slips a jab and a cross from Bykov.
Bykov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Drogba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bykov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bykov throws a right and a left that Drogba avoids nicely.
A bone on bone clash there as Bykov blocks the leg kick.
Drogba avoids the head kick by Bykov.
Drogba fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bykov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Drogba blocks a head kick by Bykov.
Bykov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bykov throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bykov throws a series of punches but Drogba moves out of range.
Bykov throws a head kick but Drogba moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Drogba. Bykov does a little dance to reset his feet.
A head kick misses from Bykov.
Drogba tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bykov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A low kick from Drogba misses
and Bykov counters with a big head kick but Drogba shrugs it off.
Drogba tries to land a front kick but Bykov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bykov blocks a head kick by Drogba.
A left and a right from Bykov both land. Nice combination.
Bykov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Bykov.
Bykov misses with a head kick.
Drogba lands with a slapping head kick.
Drogba throws a head kick that misses.
Bykov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Drogba tries to score with a low kick but Bykov moves his leg out of the way.
Bykov misses with a few strikes there.
Drogba throws a low kick but Bykov moves out of range easily.
Drogba connects with an inside leg kick.
Drogba wants to clinch.
Drogba feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bykov's calf.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogba ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bykov throws a series of punches but Drogba moves out of range.
Drogba moves out of range of the body kick from Bykov.
Bykov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Good leg kick by Drogba there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A head kick misses from Drogba.
Drogba shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jab, jab by Bykov - just one landing.
Bykov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bykov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Bykov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bykov throws a series of punches but Drogba avoids them all with ease.
Bykov throws a nice looking combination but Drogba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Drogba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bykov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bykov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drogba scoring well with a low kick there.
Drogba cracks the inside of Bykov's front leg.
Drogba moves in looking to clinch but Bykov pushes him off.
Bykov misses with a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bykov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Drogba circles away quickly and effectively.
Bykov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Bykov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

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 Didier Drogba.
Well Drogba 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Didier Drogba!
Didier Drogba decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.