PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and KO King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Drago
vs
King

195 cm
25
215 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
212 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Tends to cut

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Drago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, KO King!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King works the jab nicely.

It looks like Ivan Drago has been cut.
Drago takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
King lands a nice shot to the body.
Drago just misses with a punch to the body.
Drago misses with a body shot.
King now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Drago tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but King was well out of range. Poor timing from Drago.
King is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Drago with a body shot.
King thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Drago if he has to take too many more of those.

Drago closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Drago controlling the position from side mount.
King stops Drago from passing to mount.
King tries to bench press Drago off him but Drago keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Drago working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Drago is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt King will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Drago's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
KO King is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Drago shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Drago content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Drago.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Drago decides to stand and escape the position.
Drago keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from King.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
King keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
King has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
King lands a jab to Drago's midsection.
King misses with an uppercut.
That kick from King tenderised Drago's leg. Drago is trying to keep his angry face on.
Drago ducks under a wild hook from King.
Drago moves forwards but King connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Drago lands the left hand.
Drago chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before King can pounce on him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Drago clinches.
Drago tries a body shot but King blocks it.
Drago drops to a knee looking for a takedown but King gets the underhooks and prevents it.
King blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
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 Ivan Drago's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Drago takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Drago throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
King misses with a wild body shot.
Drago scores with a shot to the body.
Drago wants to land a leg kick but King is out of range.
Drago throws a big shot that misses.
King chopping away at his opponent's legs.
KO King seems to be getting the better of the standup.
King throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
King counters with a body kick.

Drago changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. King looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
King is trying to get back to half guard.
Drago content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King manages to work his way to half guard, despite Drago's best efforts.
Drago is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that King can do to turn this around?
Drago wants to free his trapped foot but King is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Drago performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Drago scores with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Drago.
Drago takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King defending well as Drago loads up on a big left hand.

King moves into range and clinches up with Drago.
King stops a takedown attempt from Drago.
King creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Drago softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
King creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Drago's defenses.
Drago wants a takedown.
King lands a damaging elbow.
King lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
King lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Drago has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. King avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Drago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the fighters up against the cage, King throws an elbow but misses.
King swings wildly with an uppercut but Drago uses good head movement to avoid it.
Drago wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago can't get the takedown.
Drago presses King against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
King misses with an elbow strike.
Drago tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Drago wants to take the fight to the mat but King manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
King lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Drago has King pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. King manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
King lands an elbow that stopped Drago in his tracks for a moment.
King creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Drago's defenses.
Drago has a couple of punches blocked by King.
Drago blocking some punches.
King lands an elbow just above Drago 's eye.
King throws an elbow but it misses.
King throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
King tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Drago is looking for a takedown.
Drago takes an elbow to the forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

KO King showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ivan Drago's cut.
That's time! Drago's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A jab from Drago misses.
The fighters circle, before King throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Drago's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! King lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). KO King!