PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dragan Dragic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ghoul Ghotha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ghoul Ghotha has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dragic
vs
Ghotha

194 cm
29
281 lbs
22 - 7 - 0

207 cm
38
272 lbs
33 - 30 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

CEC Nutrition Q160

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 22 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dragan Dragic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 30 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ghoul Ghotha!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ghotha is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

It looks like Ghoul Ghotha has been cut.
Dragic misses with a body shot.
Ghotha fails with the takedown.
Dragic staying out of range there.
Ghotha with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Dragic to score with a decent uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ghotha slips a straight right by Dragic.
Dragic throws a low kick, looking for Ghotha's leg but Ghotha calmly moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Dragic. No joy for Ghotha on that attempt.
Ghotha fails with the takedown.
Dragan Dragic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ghoul Ghotha.
Dragic slaps away a takedown attempt from Ghotha, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Dragic, as that shot connected.
Dragic lands with a hook. Ghotha tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Ghotha closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dragic wants to improve his position but Ghotha is controlling well.
Ghotha thows a huge punch but Dragic dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghotha wants to pass to mount but Dragic is defending the position.
Dragic looks like he's trying to stand up.

Dragic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ghotha lands with a punch from half guard.
Ghotha prevents Dragic from standing back up.
Ghotha working the head and body with strikes.
Ghotha throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dragic won't allow Ghotha to pass to mount.
Dragic works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ghotha trying to control the position from guard on top but Dragic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Dragic is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ghotha defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ghotha wants to control from the top but Dragic keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dragic keeping full guard, as Ghotha tries to pass.
Ghotha postures up.
Ghotha throws a big elbow that misses.
Ghotha scoring with some ground and pound.
Ghotha throwing strikes from guard but Dragic blocks nicely.
Dragic might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Dragic keeping moving, preventing Ghotha from controlling successfully.
Ghotha postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghotha throwing strikes but missing.
Dragic pulls Ghotha in to control the position.
Ghotha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dragic is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dragan Dragic just wasn't active enough.
Dragic throws a series of punches but Ghotha avoids them all with ease.
Ghotha ducks under a wild hook from Dragic.
Dragic throws a lazy right hand but Ghotha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dragic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ghotha.
Dragic leaves Ghotha with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dragic will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghotha shoots in for a takedown but Dragic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dragan Dragic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dragic's corner calls for a 1-2. Dragic obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Dragic throws a head kick but Ghotha moves out of range.
Dragic misses with a straight left.

Dragic gets caught napping as Ghotha dives in and scores a takedown. Dragic manages to retain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dragic pulls Ghotha in to control the position.
Ghotha slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Dragic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ghotha is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jab, jab by Dragic - just one landing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dragic pushes Ghotha away with a front kick.
Dragic closes the distance and lands a one-two.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dragan Dragic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ghoul Ghotha's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Dragic.

Ghotha changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Dragic looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Dragic tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dragic can't do much from the bottom here.
Ghotha trying to control the position but Dragic is working away.
Ghotha landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
You can see the frustration on Dragic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dragic trying to control but Ghotha flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Ghotha throwing sloppy strikes.
Ghotha lands strikes to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dragic is really stuck here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragic tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
BOOM! Ghotha connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ghotha punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ghotha wants to control but instead Dragic manages to regain half guard.
Dragic trying to control but Ghotha postures up.
Ghotha winds up and cracks Dragic with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ghotha prevents Dragic from improving his position.
Ghotha works his way into side control.
Ghotha takes a little break here. Dragic wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragic on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Dragic dodges the ground and pound from Ghotha.
Ghotha throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ghotha wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dragic keeps working.
Dragic is looking to regain half guard here but Ghotha keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Dragic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dragic wants to get back to his feet.
Dragic tries to buck Ghotha off but Ghotha is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragic can't do much from the bottom here.

Ghotha working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Dragic keeping his opponent close.
Dragic is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ghotha just content to control the position.
Ghotha grinds an elbow into Dragic's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ghotha is trying to get an arm triangle but Dragic is defending well.
Dragic struggling a bit here.
Dragic gets back to half guard.
Ghotha working the head and body with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Dragic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ghotha pulls his head out easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ghotha scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dragic trying to hold on to Ghotha's head to control him but Ghotha postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ghoul Ghotha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ghoul Ghotha's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

Ghotha shoots in for a takedown but Dragic shows good takedown defense.
Dragic tries a head kick but it misses.
Dragic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dragic lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Dragic misses with a kick to the body.
Ghotha throws a looping overhand right but Dragic ducks down to avoid it.
Dragic works Ghotha's body with a nice hook.
Dragic misses with a body kick.
Dragic does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Dragic lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ghotha has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ghotha and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ghotha has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ghotha there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ghotha looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The fighters circling - Dragic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dragic misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragic stuffs the takedown.
Dragan Dragic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ghoul Ghotha.
Dragic connects with an inside leg kick.
Dragic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A cross from Dragic lands.
Dragic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ghotha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dragic.
Ghotha takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A slow jab from Dragic misses its intended target.
A big right from Dragic misses.

Ghotha drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dragic can't do much from the bottom here.
Ghotha lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Dragic down.
Dragic dodges the ground and pound from Ghotha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ghotha is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dragic knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dragic is trying to improve his position.

Ghotha is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dragic has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ghotha throws a strike aimed at the side of Dragic's head but Dragic avoids it well.
Ghotha controls the position.

Ghotha tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ghotha has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Dragic is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ghotha connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragic wants to get back to his feet.
Dragic is looking for a sweep.
Ghotha has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ghotha controls the position from side control.
Dragic sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragic trying to control here.
Ghotha lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dragic is trying to control but can't.
Dragic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ghoul Ghotha has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dragic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ghotha.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dragic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
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!
Ghotha working the head and body with strikes.

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 Dragan Dragic.
I think Dragic 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dragan Dragic!
After the fight, Dragan Dragic was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.