PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Stanton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Predrag Dragovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Stanton
vs
Dragovic

171 cm
18
140 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

170 cm
25
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oliver Stanton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Predrag Dragovic!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dragovic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dragovic looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Dragovic moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Dragovic.
Dragovic wants to stand but Stanton has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Dragovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dragovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stanton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stanton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Dragovic wants to stand and escape but instead Stanton has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton sitting in guard here, content to control.
Dragovic trying to keep a closed guard but Stanton is proving a slippery customer.
Stanton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dragovic is looking to stand up but Stanton isn't so interested in that idea.
Stanton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two 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.

Stanton drops back looking for a leg! Dragovic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dragovic manages to kick Stanton off! Stanton jumps back into Dragovic's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stanton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Dragovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stanton controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dragovic.
Dragovic with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanton takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Dragovic throws a quick inside leg kick.
Dragovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stanton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dragovic lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Dragovic throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stanton was covering up waiting for the punch and Dragovic finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Stanton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Stanton keeping moving, preventing Dragovic from controlling successfully.
Stanton has control of Dragovic's left arm, preventing Dragovic from doing any damage.
Dragovic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stanton keeping moving, preventing Dragovic from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragovic wants to stand and escape but instead Stanton has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Dragovic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stanton is controlling him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Stanton drops back looking for a leg! Dragovic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dragovic manages to kick Stanton off! Stanton jumps back into Dragovic's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Predrag Dragovic dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dragovic throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Dragovic throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Stanton stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Dragovic.
Dragovic lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Dragovic throws a sloppy head kick and Stanton moves out of range easily.

Stanton tries to sprawl but Dragovic drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Dragovic blocks the strikes from Stanton.
Stanton is holding on to half guard well.
Stanton landing small, sideways elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dragovic seems to be working for a kimura but Stanton defends the submission attempt.
Dragovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dragovic wants to stand but Stanton has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Dragovic is breathing heavily.
Dragovic is trying to control. Stanton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Dragovic with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stanton blocks the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dragovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dragovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Stanton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Stanton shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stanton showed some decent athleticism there.
Stanton is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Stanton 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.

Stanton is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stanton is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Stanton is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Stanton is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dragovic looks like he's trying to stand up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stanton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Predrag Dragovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stanton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stanton lands in his opponent's guard.
Dragovic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stanton is controlling him.
Stanton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dragovic wants to stand and escape but Stanton is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dragovic has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Stanton has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Stanton gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Dragovic wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragovic is controlling Stanton's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Dragovic wants to get back to his feet.

Stanton is working for a submission of some sort.
Stanton not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dragovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Stanton content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Dragovic pushes Stanton off but Stanton dives into side control.

Stanton decides to stand back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stanton fails to pull guard.

Stanton is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Dragovic can't fight it off and eventually Stanton manages to take the fight to the floor. Dragovic looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stanton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stanton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stanton is working Dragovic over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Predrag Dragovic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stanton landing some decent shots from guard.
Stanton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dragovic trying to control the position.
Dragovic being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dragovic motions for Stanton to come forward. Dragovic throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dragovic bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stanton moves in looking to clinch but Dragovic pushes him off.
Dragovic throws a leg kick but Stanton moved away.
Oliver Stanton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stanton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oliver Stanton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dragovic has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Predrag Dragovic!