PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Dragunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Berkut Rain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dragunov
vs
Rain

195 cm
24
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Dragunov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Berkut Rain!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rain is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dragunov looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Dragunov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rain counters with a two punch combo.
Rain tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dragunov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rain thuds a left hand into Dragunov's body.
Rain shoots in for a takedown but Dragunov shows good takedown defense.
Dragunov blocks a head kick by Rain.
Rain avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rain tries a low kick but Dragunov avoids it.
Dragunov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rain tries to clinch but Dragunov is having none of it.
Rain throws a right hand that Dragunov ducks under and follows up with a left that Dragunov also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rain shoots for a double leg takedown but Dragunov sprawls well. He's pushed Rain's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rain looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rain shoots for a takedown but Dragunov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ivan Dragunov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Berkut Rain.
Dragunov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rain is defended easily by Dragunov.
A punch combination from Rain misses.

Dragunov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rain quickly recovers to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Dragunov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dragunov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Dragunov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Dragunov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Dragunov seems to be working for a kimura but Rain defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov is trying to control. Rain wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dragunov stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rain wants to control but Dragunov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rain is refusing to be controlled, as Dragunov sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ivan Dragunov.
Rain tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dragunov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rain shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dragunov is refusing to be controlled, as Rain sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Berkut Rain will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dragunov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rain's guard.
Dragunov trying to control the position from guard on top but Rain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dragunov tries to stand but Rain is controlling from the bottom.

Dragunov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rain looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rain looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rain!
Rain prevents Dragunov from escaping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rain fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Dragunov struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rain is trying to get an arm triangle but Dragunov is defending well.
Rain wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dragunov keeps working.
Rain is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Rain seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Rain tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Dragunov is looking to regain half guard here but Rain keeps moving and retains side control.
Rain tries to get to his feet but Dragunov is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Rain in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dragunov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rain doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rain manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Dragunov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rain is one step ahead there.
Rain tries to free his leg and advance position but Dragunov is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dragunov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rain looking to pass the guard.
Rain prevents Dragunov from getting back to his feet.
Dragunov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Dragunov 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Dragunov. No joy for Rain on that attempt.
Rain shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dragunov sprawls well. Dragunov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rain gets slowly back to his feet.
Dragunov misses with a few strikes there.
Dragunov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rain looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dragunov is fending him off so far but Rain persists. Nope, Dragunov circles away and we're back to standing.
Ivan Dragunov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Berkut Rain.
A low kick from Rain misses

and Dragunov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dragunov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dragunov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dragunov gets to his feet - Rain follows without any prompting.
Rain shoots in for a double leg but Dragunov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Dragunov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Dragunov postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Rain to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rain tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dragunov swivels and escapes.
Some wild striking there from Dragunov.
Dragunov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dragunov pushes Rain away with a front kick.
Rain looks to land a combination but Dragunov avoids it well.
Ivan Dragunov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Dragunov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rain's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rain being controlled here, momentarily.
Dragunov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rain's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dragunov stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rain to get to his feet.
Berkut Rain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dragunov misses with a two punch combination.
Dragunov shoots in looking for a takedown. Rain tries to sprawl out of it but Dragunov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rain manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rain looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rain tries to clinch but Dragunov moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rain shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dragunov defends it nicely.
Dragunov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rain throws a leg kick but Dragunov checks it.
Rain swinging wildly here.
Rain tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dragunov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rain somewhat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rain shoots in and drives through. Dragunov sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Dragunov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dragunov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

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