PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Samantha Florida (ranked 5663 p4p, 121 weight class) and Dragan Draganov (ranked 8914 p4p, 151 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Florida
vs
Draganov

200 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
260 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Samantha Florida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dragan Draganov!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Draganov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Florida shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Draganov defends it nicely.

Draganov shoots in and bounces Florida off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Florida pushes Draganov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Florida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Florida goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Florida gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Draganov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Florida can't fight it off and eventually Draganov manages to take the fight to the floor. Florida looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Florida pushes Draganov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Florida will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Florida shoots in looking for a takedown but Draganov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Florida's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samantha Florida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Draganov tries to clinch there but Florida circles away.

Florida gets a clinch.
Florida tries for a takedown but Draganov manages to get underhooks.
A nice left hand lands by Draganov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Florida jumps guard but Draganov stands there with Florida around his waist. Florida gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Florida changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Draganov fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Draganov gets a double leg takedown into Florida's guard.
Draganov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Draganov won't allow Florida to sweep him here.

Draganov stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Draganov thuds his shin into the meat of Florida's side.
Florida is breathing heavily.
Draganov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Florida's waist but Florida gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Draganov off to one side.
Florida is looking for a counter combo.
Florida avoids a kick to the body.
Florida shoots for a takedown but Draganov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Florida throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Florida fails with a takedown attempt.

Draganov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
It looks like Draganov might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Florida struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Draganov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Florida takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Samantha Florida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Draganov misses with an attempted mid kick.

Florida has Draganov up against the cage in a clinch.
Draganov has had enough of the clinch but Florida keeps him there for the moment.
Florida is looking to take this one to the mat.
Florida jumps guard but Draganov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Florida is trying to maintain a safe position but Draganov gets an underhook and turns Florida into the cage.
Florida tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dragan Draganov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Florida shoots and misses

and Draganov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Florida's guard.
Draganov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Florida throws his legs up looking for a submission but Draganov uses it to pass to side control.
Draganov taking a breather here.
Let's hope that Draganov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draganov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Florida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dragan Draganov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Draganov just content to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Florida is trying to control Draganov's posture but Draganov avoids it.
Florida is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Draganov off and has taken his back!
Florida trying to control momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Draganov just trying to survive but Florida is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draganov prevents Florida from getting a body triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Draganov rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Florida is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Draganov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Draganov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Draganov scores with a nice shot.
Draganov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Draganov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Florida defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Draganov controls Florida momentarily but Florida frees himself.
Draganov throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Draganov striking off his back but it's not causing Florida any problems.
Draganov punching from the bottom - just letting Florida know he's still in a fight.
Draganov striking off his back but it's not causing Florida any problems.
Draganov wants to hit a switch here but Florida passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Draganov there!
Draganov is trying to escape the mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Draganov is squirming around, avoiding Florida's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dragan Draganov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Draganov tries to clinch but Florida is having none of it.
Florida fails to land the takedown.
Draganov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Florida tries to score a power double leg takedown but Draganov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Florida somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Florida tries for a takedown but Draganov circles away easily
and Draganov counters with a nice kick to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samantha Florida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Draganov has managed to clinch.
Draganov fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Florida tries to pull guard but Draganov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Draganov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Florida to keep the fight standing.
Draganov is struggling to control the position.
Draganov jumps guard but Florida stands there with Draganov around his waist. Draganov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Draganov manages to break the clinch.
Draganov doesn't manage to clinch there - Florida circles away.

Draganov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Draganov showed some decent athleticism there.

Florida has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Draganov is on him like a limpet, forcing Florida back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Draganov is looking to take this one to the mat.

Florida manages to break the clinch.

Draganov pushes Florida up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Florida wants to take the fight to the mat but Draganov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Florida breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Draganov tries to land a leg kick but Florida saw it coming and moves away.
Florida with a poor takedown
and Draganov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Draganov clinches up against the cage.
Draganov effectively controlling the action here.
Draganov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Florida trying to stall but Draganov improves his position.

Draganov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Draganov keeps the fight on the outside.
Florida sets himself, and Draganov steps forward looking for the clinch! Florida avoids it this time.
Florida fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Florida has a takedown stuffed.
Draganov looks to land a body kick but Florida moved away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Florida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Draganov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Florida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Draganov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Florida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Draganov throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Florida tries to sprawl but Draganov drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Draganov is working for a kimura but Florida is defending it quite comfortably.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Draganov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dragan Draganov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Draganov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Dragan Draganov!