PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tanishk Soni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zdravko Dren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dren is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: GETO BOYS - mind of a lunatic. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Soni
vs
Dren

200 cm
50
259 lbs
33 - 38 - 2

194 cm
34
260 lbs
16 - 14 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 38 - 2, fighting out of New York, Tanishk Soni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Zdravko Dren!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Eddie Farnsworth and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Dren. Those never looked like landing.
Soni dives in and grabs Dren's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dren pushes down on Soni's head and hops out.
Dren unleashes a big counter combination but Soni bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sloppy strikes from Dren. Those never looked like landing.
Soni throws a lazy right hand but Dren sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A thudding body kick lands there by Soni!
Soni on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Soni misses with a takedown attempt

and Dren holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Soni with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Dren breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dren blocks a leg kick.
Soni throws a leg kick that misses.
A nice side step and Dren releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soni with a poor takedown
and Dren counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tanishk Soni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Soni pushes Dren up against the cage in a clinch.
Soni wants to take the fight to the mat but Dren manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Dren dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Soni is trying to push Dren away but Dren has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dren tries to throw a body punch but Soni avoids it by throwing Dren back against the cage.
Soni will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dren up against the cage.
The referee calls for Dren to work.
Dren utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Soni is breathing heavily.
A shot in the inside from Dren.
A right hook to the body lands for Dren.
Soni is looking to break free of the clinch but Dren has double underhooks.
Dren's coach down at ~T~ Troid - Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Dren's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Dren breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dren lands a nice shot that snaps Soni's head back.

It looks like Tanishk Soni has been cut.
Soni waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dren.

Dren cracks Soni with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Dren has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Soni to stand back up!

Soni is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dren darts in and lands a big hook, right on the button! Soni's legs crumble underneath him as he falls to the canvas! The ref tackles Dren before he gets to land any more shots to his stricken foe.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:07 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Zdravko Dren!
After winning the bout, Zdravko Dren thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.