PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stipe Drvis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergey Sazonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Drvis
vs
Sazonov

178 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
17
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes comics

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stipe Drvis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Sazonov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Viktor Lagutenko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drvis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stipe Drvis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drvis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sazonov counters with a three punch combo that has Drvis backing up. Drvis nods at Sazonov to acknowledge the strikes.
Drvis tries to clinch there but Sazonov circles away.
Sazonov keeps the fight on the outside.
Drvis falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sazonov counters with a straight right hand.
Drvis dips to his left and cracks Sazonov with an uppercut!

Sazonov looking to score a takedown here. Drvis is defending well but Sazonov drives through and ends up in Drvis's guard.
Drvis controls Sazonov momentarily but Sazonov frees himself.
Sazonov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drvis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Drvis is trying to control. Sazonov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drvis controlling the action here.

Drvis decides to return to a standing position.

Sazonov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sazonov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sazonov landing a few strikes.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Sazonov has eaten all the pies!
Drvis manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Drvis controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Sazonov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Drvis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Drvis pushes Sazonov off looking to stand but Sazonov dives back in and keeps control.
Drvis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Drvis throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Drvis is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Sazonov presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Drvis jumps into guard, dragging Sazonov to the mat.
Drvis is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Drvis has his feet on Sazonov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sazonov blocks a head kick by Drvis.

Drvis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sazonov, pushing him back against the cage.

Drvis manages to pull guard.
Drvis throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Drvis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Drvis scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Drvis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sazonov sprawls well. Sazonov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Drvis gets slowly back to his feet.

Sazonov gets a double leg takedown into Drvis's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drvis is trying to keep Sazonov in close.
Drvis doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Drvis has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sazonov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sazonov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sazonov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Drvis kicks Sazonov off and gets back to his feet.
Drvis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sazonov pinned against the cage. Sazonov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sazonov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stipe Drvis dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Drvis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It seemed like Sazonov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Drvis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Drvis instigates a clinch.
Drvis can't get the takedown.
Drvis taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Drvis is looking to take this one to the mat.

Drvis manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sazonov gets a takedown into half guard.
Sazonov winds up and cracks Drvis with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sazonov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Drvis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Drvis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sazonov working some strikes from top position.
Drvis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sazonov manages to get himself to full guard.

Drvis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Drvis is pushing down on Sazonov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sazonov is fighting to maintain full guard but Drvis has managed to sneak the leg through.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sazonov can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sazonov is looking to escape.
Sazonov is staying active underneath Drvis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sazonov pushes Drvis off looking to stand but Drvis dives back in and keeps control.
Drvis is trying to control the action in half guard but Sazonov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stipe Drvis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sazonov tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Drvis manages to move to mount!

Drvis is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sazonov to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sazonov shrugs it off.
Drvis takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drvis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Drvis controlling his opponent.
Drvis'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 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.
Drvis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Drvis looking to ground and pound but Sazonov is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Drvis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Drvis fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sazonov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
No luck for Drvis with that takedown attempt.
As Drvis backs off Sazonov throws a huge counter combo but Drvis manages to avoid it all.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Drvis.
Drvis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sazonov can do to turn this around?

Drvis takes the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sazonov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Drvis regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drvis kicks off Sazonov and gets to his feet.
Drvis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sazonov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Despite the aggression on Sazonov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Sazonov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Drvis to the ground. Sazonov is now in Drvis's guard.
Sazonov connects with a couple of short punches.
Drvis pulls Sazonov in to control the position.
Sazonov throws a big right hand that misses.
Drvis lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Drvis preventing the sweep.

Drvis gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Drvis sizes up Sazonov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sergey Sazonov seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sazonov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sazonov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sazonov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Drvis gets back to half guard.
Drvis works his way to full guard. Good work.

Drvis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sazonov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sazonov prevents Drvis from getting back to his feet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Drvis is on top in guard.

Drvis controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sazonov keeping moving, preventing Drvis from controlling successfully.
Drvis content to stall in guard here.
Further stalling from Drvis.

That's four 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.

Drvis stands and steps away. Sazonov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Stipe Drvis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Drvis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sazonov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Drvis, right into the meat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drvis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sazonov was well out of range. Poor timing from Drvis.
Sazonov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Drvis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Stipe Drvis.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Drvis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stipe Drvis!