PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Grigori Draugovich Ii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arnold Rothstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grigori Draugovich Ii has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Draugovich Ii
vs
Rothstein

175 cm
26
145 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

170 cm
27
140 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

HGH Nutrients Q160 Tycoons Best Quality supps
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Grigori Draugovich Ii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arnold Rothstein!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rothstein feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Draugovich Ii's calf.
Rothstein throws a sloppy head kick and Draugovich Ii moves out of range easily.
Draugovich Ii takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A jab from Draugovich Ii finds it's way through Rothstein's defenses.
Draugovich Ii goes for a double leg but Rothstein avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rothstein continues to drive forward.
Rothstein lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Draugovich Ii or not.
Rothstein has Draugovich Ii pushed against the cage.
Draugovich Ii has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Draugovich Ii has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Draugovich Ii controlling the action here for a moment.
Draugovich Ii looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rothstein can't break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Draugovich Ii as Rothstein tries to tie him up.
Draugovich Ii has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rothstein after a bit of a struggle.
Rothstein is looking to control Draugovich Ii's arms but Draugovich Ii gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rothstein has his back to the cage.
Rothstein taking a breather.
Draugovich Ii is trying to force a seperation but Rothstein has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draugovich Ii is trying to break free.
Rothstein wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Draugovich Ii is stalling here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Draugovich Ii as Rothstein tries to tie him up.
Draugovich Ii being controlled against the cage.
Draugovich Ii leaning his opponent against the cage.

Draugovich Ii breaks from the clinch.
Rothstein swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rothstein throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Draugovich Ii scores with a hook to the body. Rothstein takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Draugovich Ii closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Draugovich Ii stalling away here and it's allowed Rothstein to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Draugovich Ii wants to control from the top but Rothstein keeps moving.
Rothstein is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Draugovich Ii wants to control from the top but Rothstein keeps moving.
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!
Draugovich Ii tries to free his leg and advance position but Rothstein is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draugovich Ii looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Grigori Draugovich Ii wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A left and a right from Rothstein both land. Nice combination.
A telegraphed right hand from Draugovich Ii misses the target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rothstein.
Rothstein throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rothstein throws a leg kick but Draugovich Ii moved away.
Rothstein swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rothstein drops his hands momentarily and Draugovich Ii takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The fighters circle momentarily. Draugovich Ii darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rothstein throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rothstein fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rothstein throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Draugovich Ii walks into a jab.
A shot to the liver by Rothstein. Beautiful body shot.
A combination from Rothstein does no damage.
Draugovich Ii avoids the head kick by Rothstein.
Rothstein lands a slapping body shot.
Rothstein is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Draugovich Ii rather than just go for the knockout.
Rothstein scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Draugovich Ii misses with the combination.
Arnold Rothstein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Draugovich Ii misses with a jab, cross combination.
Draugovich Ii throws a body punch but Rothstein moves out of range.
Draugovich Ii throws a jab when Rothstein was well out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rothstein is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Draugovich Ii.
Draugovich Ii doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Draugovich Ii fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rothstein avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grigori Draugovich Ii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Rothstein.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Rothstein dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rothstein moves out of range of the leg kick from Draugovich Ii.
Rothstein misses with a body kick.
Draugovich Ii misses with a body shot.
Rothstein scores with a shot to the body.
A slow jab from Draugovich Ii misses its intended target.
Draugovich Ii misses with a left hand
and Rothstein counters with a left to the body.
Rothstein looks to score with a jab to the body but Draugovich Ii is just out of range.
Rothstein is looking to score with low kicks.
Rothstein thows a body shot but no joy.
Draugovich Ii fails to land the takedown.
Rothstein scoring well with a low kick there.
Arnold Rothstein seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Draugovich Ii throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rothstein uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Draugovich Ii.
Draugovich Ii just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothstein throws a nice looking combination but Draugovich Ii bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Draugovich Ii swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Draugovich Ii tries to land a leg kick but Rothstein saw it coming and moves away.
Both fighters circling a little - Rothstein finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Rothstein throws a wild body kick that Draugovich Ii sees coming a mile off.
Nice body punch from Rothstein.
Some bone on bone action there as Rothstein checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Rothstein darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rothstein slows the pace down in half guard.
Rothstein is trying to control. Draugovich Ii wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Draugovich Ii has hold of Rothstein's hands but Rothstein slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rothstein not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rothstein is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Draugovich Ii is not content to let Rothstein control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rothstein with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Arnold Rothstein hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Draugovich Ii misses with a looping right.
An inside leg kick lands from Rothstein.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein is looking to land body kicks.

Rothstein gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Draugovich Ii to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Draugovich Ii scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rothstein is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rothstein might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Draugovich Ii haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rothstein tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Draugovich Ii stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rothstein swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Draugovich Ii accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Draugovich Ii won't allow Rothstein to sweep him here.
Draugovich Ii throwing strikes from guard but Rothstein blocks nicely.
Rothstein trying to keep a closed guard but Draugovich Ii is proving a slippery customer.
Rothstein tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Arnold Rothstein has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rothstein avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Draugovich Ii looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rothstein is fending him off so far but Draugovich Ii persists. Nope, Rothstein circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Rothstein showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rothstein misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Draugovich Ii.
Rothstein uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Draugovich Ii.
Draugovich Ii ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Draugovich Ii takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rothstein lands a body shot.
Draugovich Ii throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rothstein misses with a jab, cross combination.

Rothstein shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Draugovich Ii's guard.
Rothstein is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Arnold Rothstein has got the better of the ground game so far.
Draugovich Ii is trying to keep Rothstein in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothstein sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rothstein is looking to score with low kicks.
Rothstein pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rothstein slips a jab and a cross from Draugovich Ii.
Rothstein scores with a head kick.
Draugovich Ii moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rothstein throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rothstein takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Draugovich Ii lands a right hook to the body.
Draugovich Ii takes a swing at Rothstein's ribcage but misses.
Grigori Draugovich Ii has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rothstein lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Draugovich Ii circles away quickly and effectively.
Rothstein throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rothstein misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Draugovich Ii.
Rothstein avoids the body shot from Draugovich Ii.

Draugovich Ii shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rothstein's guard.
Draugovich Ii loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Draugovich Ii trying to control the position from guard on top but Rothstein is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rothstein preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draugovich Ii trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Draugovich Ii preventing the sweep.
Rothstein pulls Draugovich Ii in to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rothstein working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Draugovich Ii.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rothstein controls Draugovich Ii momentarily but Draugovich Ii frees himself.
Draugovich Ii slips nicely into half guard.
Draugovich Ii is just content to waste time from the top position. Rothstein takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rothstein is on top in guard.
Draugovich Ii looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rothstein is one step ahead there.
Rothstein trying to control the position from guard on top but Draugovich Ii is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Draugovich Ii is trying to keep Rothstein in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Draugovich Ii working for a triangle but Rothstein defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Arnold Rothstein.
I've got Rothstein winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arnold Rothstein!
An out of breath Arnold Rothstein thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.