PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Karma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Drago
vs
Karma

185 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pekka Karma!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Karma thows a body shot but no joy.

Karma closes the distance and pushes Drago back into the cage.
Karma is leaning against Drago and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Drago has clasped his hands together around Karma's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Drago throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Drago is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Karma knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Karma can't do much from the bottom here.

Drago tries for a kimura but Karma is defending well.
Karma is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Drago's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Karma gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karma keeping moving, preventing Drago from controlling successfully.
Karma tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Karma controls Drago momentarily but Drago frees himself.
Drago missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drago lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Drago wants to control from the top but Karma keeps moving.
Karma has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Karma should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karma preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karma pulls Drago in close to prevent any damage.
Karma lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Drago!
Karma tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Drago working to try and regain half guard.
Drago throwing hammer fists to the chest of Karma. What's that going to do exactly?
Drago is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karma takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Karma prevents Drago from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karma controlling his opponent.
Drago is trying to escape the mount.
Karma controlling from mount.
Drago throwing hammer fists to the chest of Karma. What's that going to do exactly?
Drago is trying desperately to improve position.
Karma controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Karma has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Drago is trying to escape the mount.
Karma controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Pekka Karma wasn't active enough on the ground.

Karma closes the distance and pushes Drago back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Karma dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Drago moves out of range of the body kick from Karma.
Karma throws the kick towards the body but Drago avoids it.
Karma throws a half hearted mid kick.
Karma goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Drago tries to keep at a distance but Karma has taken the fight into the clinch.
Karma lands a left hand that snaps the head of Drago backwards.
Karma lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Drago tries to pull guard but Karma forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Karma lands with a light punch inside.
Karma tries a body shot but Drago blocks it.
Drago is looking for a takedown.
Drago is working for takedown but Karma is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Drago. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karma prevents a takedown attempt there.
Karma prevents a takedown attempt there.
Karma tries a body shot but Drago blocks it.
Karma misses with a hook to the ribs.
Karma tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Karma lands with a short shot to the head.
Karma is pushing Drago up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Karma lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Drago backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karma's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Karma lands a left hand.
Karma slows down the pace here.
Karma lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Drago tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Karma just stands there and leans against the cage.
Karma stops a takedown attempt from Drago.
Karma has had enough of the clinch but Drago keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Karma.
Karma misses with a hook to the ribs.
Drago has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Karma is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Karma wants to get back to striking at distance but Drago won't allow it.
Karma wants to get back to striking at distance but Drago won't allow it.
Karma working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Drago is working for takedown but Karma is calmly controlling the position for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karma lands a right hand.
Karma stalling the fight.
Karma throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dragos head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Karma.
Karma is looking to control Drago's arms but Drago gets an underhook and turns him. Now Karma has his back to the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karma working hard to break the clinch.

Drago has clasped his hands together around Karma's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Drago working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Karma tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Karma's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pekka Karma has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karma is looking to regain half guard here but Drago keeps moving and retains side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Karma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Karma has taken the fight to the clinch.
Drago goes for a takedown in the clinch but Karma prevents it.
Drago keeps control of Karma as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Karma stalls.
Drago has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Karma after a bit of a struggle.
Karma misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Drago is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Drago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karma lands a left hand that snaps the head of Drago backwards.
Karma wants to break free but Drago has control.

Drago jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karma seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Drago is looking for a triangle but Karma pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drago being controlled here, momentarily.
Karma trying to stand up but can't free himself from Drago's guard.

Karma stands up and waves to Drago to follow him.
Horrible takedown by Drago or perhaps it was just good defense by Karma which made him look bad.
Karma throws a series of punches but Drago moves out of range.
Pekka Karma is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karma pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drago tries for a takedown but Karma circles away easily

and Karma counters by clinching up.
Karma stops a takedown attempt from Drago.
Karma lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Karma looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Drago is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Karma is trying to break the clinch but Drago is controlling him.
Drago looking for a takedown.
Pekka Karma seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Karma has had enough of the clinch but Drago keeps him there for the moment.
Drago looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karma lands a hook to the side of the head.
Drago jumps guard but Karma turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Drago drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Karma scores with a shoulder strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pekka Karma comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Karma has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pekka Karma!
During a confident post fight interview, Pekka Karma thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.