PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Van Rijn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Rijn comes to the ring accompanied by Francesco Zappalà - No Way Out. Mike Van Rijn has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Van Rijn
vs
Drago

196 cm
29
221 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

183 cm
28
218 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

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 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Van Rijn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nikolai Drago!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago's corner calls for a 1-2. Drago obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

It looks like Mike Van Rijn has been cut.
Van Rijn wants to land a leg kick but Drago is out of range.
Van Rijn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Van Rijn throws a head kick that half lands.
Drago misses with a takedown
and Van Rijn makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Drago really felt that one!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Drago has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn lands a head kick!
Van Rijn throws a nice inside leg kick.
Drago blocks a head kick by Van Rijn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Van Rijn does no damage.
Drago shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Van Rijn but Van Rijn pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Drago doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Van Rijn counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Drago thinking.
Mike Van Rijn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Drago.
Drago looks gassed!
The crowd cheers as Van Rijn lands an impressive looking overhand right. Drago doesn't seem phased though.
Van Rijn throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Van Rijn scores with a jab. Drago acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Van Rijn pushes Drago up against the ropes in a clinch.
Van Rijn unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Van Rijn drops Drago with a big knee straight up the middle! Drago is covering up against the ropes but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

Drago is rocked!

It looks like Nikolai Drago has been cut.
I'm just looking down at my notes here and I see that.... oh! Van Rijn has cracked Drago with a big right, followed by a left! He's out on his feet! Van Rijn lands another huge swinging hook and Drago tumbles to the canvas! The ref dives in to save Drago, before Van Rijn can land any more shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:15 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Mike Van Rijn!
Mike Van Rijn tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.