PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grigori Kharkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Drago told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kharkov
vs
Drago

210 cm
18
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

210 cm
23
300 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Diamond Design Clothing
CROWN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight 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, Grigori Kharkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Drago!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago misses with a takedown attempt - Kharkov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kharkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Drago.

Drago closes the distance and clinches.
Kharkov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Drago avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Drago lands a nice knee to the body.

Drago manages to break the clinch.
Kharkov swinging wilding here.
A leg kick checked by Drago.
Drago changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kharkov tries to avoid it but Drago manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kharkov to the ground. Kharkov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Drago fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Grigori Kharkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Drago.
Kharkov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Drago counters by clinching up.
Kharkov is trying to drag Drago to the mat but Drago just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Kharkov is working for takedown but Drago is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kharkov is breathing heavily.

Drago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Drago drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Drago trying to control the position but Kharkov is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kharkov is looking to regain half guard here but Drago keeps moving and retains side control.
Kharkov is not content to let Drago control the position.
Kharkov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Drago wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Drago trying to control the position but Kharkov is working away.

Drago stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Kharkov takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Grigori Kharkov has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kharkov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Drago sprawls well initially but Kharkov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Kharkov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Drago is just riding it out for now. Kharkov eventually gives up the hold.
Drago is looking to improve his position.
Kharkov is tying to control. Drago wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kharkov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drago on the ground.
Ground and pound from Kharkov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Drago is trying to control but can't.
Kharkov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kharkov is pressing down on Drago's thigh, looking to free his foot. Drago is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kharkov throws a strike but Drago avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Kharkov throwing strikes but missing.
Drago keeping moving, preventing Kharkov from controlling successfully.

Drago looking for a guillotine here but Kharkov defends easily.
Kharkov controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kharkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Drago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kharkov wants to pass the guard but Drago is keeping the position.
Kharkov lands a couple of elbows.
Drago keeping moving, preventing Kharkov from controlling successfully.
Drago preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kharkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Kharkov trying to control but Drago is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Drago shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kharkov as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Drago dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Grigori Kharkov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Drago misses with a takedown

and Kharkov counters with a single leg into guard. Drago didn't expect that.
Drago is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kharkov looking to pass the guard.
Drago controls Kharkov momentarily but Kharkov frees himself.
Kharkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Drago is breathing heavily.
Drago is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kharkov scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kharkov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kharkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Drago looking for a sweep. Not yet Drago, not yet.
Kharkov wants to control from the top but Drago keeps moving.
Kharkov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kharkov content to stall in guard here.
Kharkov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kharkov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kharkov lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kharkov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drago is keeping the position for now.

Drago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kharkov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kharkov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kharkov landing some decent shots from guard.
Drago has momentary wrist control but Kharkov slips an elbow through the middle.
Kharkov wants to control from the top but Drago keeps moving.
Kharkov throwing strikes from guard but Drago blocks nicely.
Kharkov stands up over Drago, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kharkov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Drago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kharkov trying to control but Drago is working from the bottom.
Kharkov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kharkov landing with the ground and pound.
Kharkov distracts Drago with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kharkov wants to control from the top but Drago keeps moving.
Drago working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kharkov.
Kharkov works over Drago with some ground and pound from guard.
Drago keeping full guard, as Kharkov tries to pass.
Kharkov is in close to Drago's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kharkov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Drago wants to sweep but no luck.
Kharkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Drago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drago can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kharkov controls the pace.
Drago is trying to keep Kharkov in close.
Kharkov trying to control but Drago is working from the bottom.
Kharkov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kharkov distracts Drago with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grigori Kharkov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Grigori Kharkov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kharkov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Kharkov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Drago is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Grigori Kharkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kharkov trying to control the action but Drago is working from the bottom.
Drago wants to control but Kharkov postures up.
Drago wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Drago dodges the ground and pound from Kharkov.
Drago is looking to regain half guard here but Kharkov keeps moving and retains side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Drago tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Drago gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kharkov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Drago keeping full guard, as Kharkov tries to pass.
Kharkov distracts Drago with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kharkov controlling from the top position.
Drago working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago keeping full guard, as Kharkov tries to pass.
Drago avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kharkov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Drago.
Kharkov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Drago counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kharkov is trying to get back to half guard.
Kharkov misses with a strike from the bottom.
Kharkov struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kharkov tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Drago trying to control the position but Kharkov is working away.
Kharkov is looking for a sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Drago clinches.

Drago gets control of Kharkov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Drago will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Drago is looking for a triangle but Kharkov pushes his legs off easily.
Kharkov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drago swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kharkov stopping the sweep attempt from Drago.
Drago trying to strike off his back.
Kharkov is in close to Drago's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kharkov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kharkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Drago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kharkov won't allow Drago to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A big left from Kharkov misses.
Drago fails in his attempt to clinch.

Kharkov feints and as Drago raises his hands in defense, Kharkov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grigori Kharkov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kharkov 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grigori Kharkov!