PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zdravko Dren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tanishk Soni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dren comes to the cage accompanied by GETO BOYS - mind of a lunatic. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Dren
vs
Soni

194 cm
35
260 lbs
18 - 15 - 0

200 cm
50
259 lbs
35 - 40 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Zdravko Dren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 40 - 2, fighting out of New York, Tanishk Soni!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Alyssa Summers and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dren fails to land with a series of punches.
Dren stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dren wants it to stay on the feet.
Dren stuffs the takedown attempt from Soni. Soni gets slowly back to his feet.
Dren misses with a few strikes there.
It seemed like Soni was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Soni throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Soni rushes Dren and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dren is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Soni looking to throw knees to the head but Dren is blocking nicely.
Soni misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Soni breaks the clinch.
Soni tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dren swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soni slips under a jab.
Dren stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like Tanishk Soni has been cut.
Dren looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Dren tries to land a front kick but Soni steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Soni shoots in but Dren avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zdravko Dren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tanishk Soni.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soni tries to score with a low kick but Dren moves his leg out of the way.
Soni misses with a kick to the body
and Dren counters with a body kick.
Dren buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Dren stuffs the takedown.
Sloppy strikes from Dren. Those never looked like landing.
Soni tries to clinch but Dren moves out of range.
Soni staying out of range there.

Soni gets a takedown into half guard.
Dren pushes Soni off looking to stand but Soni dives back in and keeps control.
Dren is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dren wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dren makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dren.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Dren holds on and takes a little breather.
Soni won't allow Dren to get back to his feet.
Dren is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dren works Soni's body with a nice hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soni wants to clinch
and Dren counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Soni thinking.
Soni looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soni wants to clinch.
Dren closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Soni tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dren paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Soni throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dren's waist but Dren gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Soni off to one side.
Soni throws a left and a right that both miss
and Dren counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dren lands with an overhand left.
Soni fails in his attempt to clinch.
Soni connects with a right hand. Dren shakes it off.
Dren leaves Soni with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Soni just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soni takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Dren sends Soni crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Dren is motioning to the referee to let Soni up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Soni is rocked!

That has opened up Tanishk Soni's cut even more.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soni walks forward, straight into a front kick from Dren.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Soni crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Dren - the referee stops the clock and Soni gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Dren. Soni manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Soni takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Dren lands with a shot to the body.
Soni takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Dren keeps Soni at a distance using the push kick.
Dren listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

The cut above Tanishk Soni's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Dren connects with a picture perfect right hand that knocks Soni out cold! This one is over in a flash!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Zdravko Dren!
During a confident post fight interview, Zdravko Dren thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.