PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stringer Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Bell
vs
Drago

186 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stringer Bell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Drago!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago shoots in for a double leg but Bell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Drago tries to close the distance and clinch but Bell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Drago throws a right and a left that Bell avoids nicely.
Horrible takedown by Drago or perhaps it was just good defense by Bell which made him look bad.

Bell gets the takedown into side control.

Bell working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Bell thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Drago tries to improve position but can't.
You can see the frustration on Drago's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Drago, who protects the arm well.
Bell is looking to take a break and control but Drago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Drago is looking to reverse the position.
Drago is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bell's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Bell wants to work for an arm triangle but Drago is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bell is breathing heavily.
Drago is pressing down on Bell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bell postures up.

That's two 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.
Drago tries to strike from the bottom.

Bell is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Drago is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Drago has escaped and now he's on top!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Drago trying to control the position from guard on top but Bell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drago slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Drago working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Drago working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell tries to bench press Drago off him but Drago keeps the position.
Drago tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Drago is looking to take a break and control but Bell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Drago tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Drago has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bell is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Drago's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Drago trying to control from half guard but Bell is working away.

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.
Drago slips a nice elbow through Bell's hands, connecting with Bell's forehead.
Drago looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Drago trying to control from half guard but Bell is working away.
Bell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Drago trying to control but Bell is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drago is pushing down on Bell's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bell is fighting to maintain full guard but Drago has managed to sneak the leg through.
Drago tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Stringer Bell will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Drago tries for a takedown but Bell circles away easily

and Bell counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Drago keeping moving, preventing Bell from controlling successfully.

Drago is looking for a triangle but Bell pushes his legs off easily.
Bell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bell is working hard here to advance position.
Drago not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Bell drops back looking for a leg! Drago is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Drago manages to kick Bell off! Bell jumps back into Drago's guard.
Bell wants to control from the top but Drago keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Bell looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Drago!

Bell looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Bell wants to take his opponent's back but Drago doesn't allow it.
Bell trying to control but Drago is having none of it.

Bell jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Drago is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Drago and Bell has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bell is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Drago has escaped the position, nice work there.
Drago gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Bell is working for a submission of some sort.
Drago is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bell's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bell's back!
Bell can't escape the position.
Bell trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bell fending off the submission attempt from Drago.
Bell turns into Drago and is now in his guard.
Bell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drago is keeping the position for now.
Drago is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Drago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stringer Bell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drago is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell wants to control from the top but Drago keeps moving.
Bell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drago is keeping the position for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Drago throws a left and a right that both miss

so Bell counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bell wants to pass the guard but Drago is keeping the position.
Bell forces his way into half guard.
Drago is looking for a sweep. Bell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bell content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Drago is pressing down on Bell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stringer Bell dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Drago stuffs the takedown attempt from Bell. Bell gets slowly back to his feet.

Bell decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Bell is working for a kimura but Drago is defending it quite comfortably.
Drago moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bell wants to control from the top but Drago keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bell tries to free his leg and advance position but Drago is retaining full guard.
Drago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Drago manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bell manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell can't keep his opponent in guard - Drago advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bell is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drago winds up and cracks Bell with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bell is not content to let Drago control the position.

Bell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Drago is keen to just control but Bell is a slippery customer.
Bell works his way to full guard. Good work.

Bell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Drago wants to control from the top but Bell keeps moving.

Bell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Drago's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Drago with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell keeping full guard, as Drago tries to pass.
Bell trying to keep a closed guard but Drago is proving a slippery customer.
Drago trying to control the position from guard on top but Bell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bell looking for a guillotine here but Drago defends easily.
Drago trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Bell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Drago trying to control the position from guard on top but Bell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bell working for a triangle but Drago defends it easily.

Drago avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Drago must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Drago has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bell is proving hard to escape from.
Ivan Drago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Drago avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stringer Bell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stringer Bell!