PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between melvin lombard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

lombard
vs
Drago

175 cm
22
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 Helsinki, melvin lombard!
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 Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
lombard throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
lombard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Drago will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
lombard misses with a head kick.
lombard misses with a low kick.
Drago doesn't manage to clinch there - lombard circles away.
Drago misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
lombard circles away from the clinch attempt.
lombard lands a glancing blow to the side of Drago's head.
lombard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
lombard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Left hook, right uppercut from lombard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago fails with a takedown attempt.
melvin lombard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Drago.
Drago moves out of range of the body kick from lombard.
lombard lands a jab-cross combination.
lombard cracks Drago with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by lombard.
Ivan Drago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
lombard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drago shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
lombard lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
lombard blocks a head kick by Drago.
Drago shoots for a takedown but lombard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Drago looks gassed!
lombard misses with a head kick.
lombard throws a series of punches but Drago moves out of range.
Drago throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around lombard's waist but lombard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Drago off to one side.
Drago tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but lombard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Drago shoots in for a double leg but lombard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
lombard's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and lombard duly obliges.
lombard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Drago's calf.
Left hook, right uppercut from lombard.
lombard catches Drago with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
lombard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Drago circles away.
lombard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago avoids the head kick by lombard.
Drago blocks a head kick by lombard.
lombard throws a sloppy head kick and Drago moves out of range easily.
lombard is working the combinations to good effect here.
Drago blocks a head kick by lombard.
A left and a right from lombard both land. Nice combination.
Drago misses with a takedown

and lombard counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Drago!
lombard controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
lombard has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

melvin lombard dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A right-left combo lands from lombard.
Drago shoots and misses
and lombard counters with a two punch combo.
melvin lombard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drago takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Drago with a poor takedown
and lombard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Drago shoots and misses
and lombard counters with a right hand to the body.
melvin lombard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Drago.
A leg kick checked by Drago.
lombard displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
lombard paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Drago moves out of range of the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
lombard tries a head kick but it misses.
Drago is breathing heavily.
Drago misses with a takedown
and lombard counters with a stiff right hand.
A right-left combo lands from lombard.
lombard throws a one two combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
lombard works over Drago's head and body with a nice combination.
lombard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drago with a poor takedown
and lombard counters with a left and a right that stings Drago.
Drago is on the wrong end of a nice combination from lombard.
lombard throws a one two combo.
lombard lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
lombard uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Drago has time to react.
lombard displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
lombard throws a head kick but Drago moves out of range.
lombard throws a head kick that misses.
Drago with a lazy takedown attempt
and lombard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
lombard is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
lombard lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
lombard throws a series of strikes that have Drago backpedaling.
A left and a right from lombard both land. Nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
lombard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drago with a poor takedown
and lombard counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
lombard's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and lombard duly obliges.
Drago wants to clinch
and lombard counters with a left and a right that stings Drago.
Drago shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and lombard counters with a straight right hand.
Drago checks the leg kick.
lombard lands with an uppercut that bounces Drago off the cage and back into rage.
Drago doesn't succeed with the takedown
and lombard counters with a three punch combo that has Drago backing up. Drago nods at lombard to acknowledge the strikes.
lombard could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Drago blocks a head kick by lombard.
A head kick by lombard misses
and Drago counters with a body kick.
Drago wants to clinch up but lombard keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago misses with a takedown attempt
enabling lombard to counter with a crisp jab.

Drago closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
lombard wants to get back to his feet.
lombard is staying active underneath Drago, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Drago passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for lombard!
lombard tries to reverse the position but Drago maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
lombard is working hard here to advance position.
lombard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if lombard tries to get out of the position.
lombard is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
lombard wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Drago.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

lombard defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Drago.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

melvin lombard dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Drago moves into range and clinches up with lombard.
Drago lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Drago tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. lombard just stands there and leans against the cage.
Drago is trying to drag lombard to the mat but lombard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
lombard can't break the clinch.
lombard tries to break the clinch but Drago is controlling the position.
Drago tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. lombard smiles and moves away.
melvin lombard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Drago.
Drago gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and lombard counters with a right hand to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
lombard lands a right hook to the body.
lombard goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
lombard moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
lombard throws a sloppy head kick and Drago moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from lombard.
lombard scores with a nice strike.
lombard works over Drago's head and body with a nice combination.
Drago with a poor takedown

and lombard counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Drago!
lombard controlling from mount.
Drago really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
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.
lombard avoids the attempt from Drago to control.
Drago really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
melvin lombard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
lombard controlling the pace for now.

That's four 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
melvin lombard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for lombard, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... melvin lombard!