PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lakoj Dresden (ranked 1673 p4p, 214 weight class) and Stephan Letter (ranked 918 p4p, 121 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dresden
vs
Letter

180 cm
29
224 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

195 cm
25
215 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Sin City Allstars
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lakoj Dresden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephan Letter!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Fedor Mirinova and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dresden closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Letter did well to prevent Dresden getting side control.

Dresden is looking for a kimura here.
Dresden working over Letter with some ground and pound. Letter looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Dresden thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Letter wants to get back to his feet.

Dresden is working for a submission of some sort.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in half guard, Dresden seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dresden thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Letter is staying active underneath Dresden, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dresden tries to pass to full mount but Letter defends it.
We've been hearing good reports from Dresden's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Letter is trying to stand.

Dresden is working for a kimura but Letter is defending it quite comfortably.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dresden stops Letter from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Letter has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Dresden tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Dresden looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stephan Letter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dresden tries to clinch up but Letter circles away and keeps his distance.

Dresden closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Letter quickly recovers to half guard.
Dresden uses his free foot to push down on Letter's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Letter.
Dresden punching from mount but Letter doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poor strikes thrown by Dresden there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Letter is squirming around, avoiding Dresden's attempts to control the action.
Letter is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Letter in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Letter blocking the ground and pound.
Dresden throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Letter wants to try and get back to his feet.
Dresden looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dresden thowing shots but they're missing.
Letter tries to buck Dresden off but he can't manage it.
Dresden can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Letter is looking to escape.
Dresden thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dresden controlling the position easily from mount.
Letter is squirming around, avoiding Dresden's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lakoj Dresden dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Letter tries to sprawl but Dresden drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Letter has one foot on Dresden's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Dresden shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Letter's guard.
Letter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dresden slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Dresden has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Letter keeping moving, preventing Dresden from controlling successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Letter wants to stand up but Dresden is controlling him.
Dresden is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Letter can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dresden is stalling in the full guard.
Dresden looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Letter gets tackled into the cage by Dresden. Dresden maintains the clinch.

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.
Dresden fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Letter is working Dresden over against the cage.

Letter manages to break the clinch.
Letter throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Letter connects with a right hand. Dresden shakes it off.
Stephan Letter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Letter tries to work over Dresden's front leg with a kick but Dresden checks it.
Dresden changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dresden.

Dresden fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Letter sprawls well initially but Dresden persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Letter tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Dresden manages to move to mount!

Letter bucks Dresden off and manages to get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Letter.
Letter cracks Dresden with a right hand to the side of the head.
Letter swats away the attempt to clinch by Dresden.
Dresden shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lakoj Dresden. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dresden tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Letter counters with a crisp one two that drops Dresden! Letter thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Dresden to his feet! Dresden is in big trouble!

Dresden is rocked!
Stephan Letter seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Dresden changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Letter looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Letter pushes Dresden away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Dresden gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Dresden is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Letter knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dresden postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dresden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Letter keeps working.
Dresden throws a strike aimed at the side of Letter's head but Letter avoids it well.
Letter is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Dresden has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Dresden wants to control but Letter is keeping him busy.
Letter is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Dresden has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephan Letter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dresden throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Letter's waist but Letter gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dresden off to one side.
Letter throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dresden shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Letter pinned against the cage. Letter gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Letter misses with a wild combination.
Letter lands with a hook. Dresden tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dresden is defended easily by Letter.
Letter is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lakoj Dresden. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dresden drives through and clinches with Letter against the cage.
Letter misses with a hook to the ribs.
Letter wants to break free but Dresden has control.
Dresden is trying to drag Letter to the mat but Letter just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Dresden is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Letter to keep the fight standing.
Letter tries a body shot but Dresden blocks it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Letter creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Letter lands a hook that snaps the head of Dresden backwards.
Dresden tries to pull guard but Letter won't allow it.
Letter dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Dresden is looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dresden is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Letter to keep the fight standing.
Letter lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dresden backwards.
Letter tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dresden's elbow.
Letter is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dresden is keeping busy.
Dresden tries to pull guard but Letter holds him up against the cage and eventually Dresden drops back down to his feet.
Letter lands with a right to the head.
Letter working aggressively here.
Dresden is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Letter to keep the fight standing.
Dresden goes for a takedown attempt but Letter pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Letter misses with a double jab.
Dresden drops down looking for a counter takedown but Letter sprawls and moves away.
Letter thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Dresden if he has to take too many more of those.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Dresden has Letter up against the cage in a clinch.
Dresden is trying to drag Letter to the mat but Letter just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dresden is looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Letter scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Letter trying to control the position but instead, Dresden has worked for underhooks and has pushed Letter into the cage.
Letter misses with a short punch on the inside.

Dresden manages to pull guard.
Dresden is trying to keep Letter in close.
Letter has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dresden is proving hard to escape from.
Dresden working a defensive guard but Letter manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dresden is looking for a sweep.

Letter decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Dresden tries for a takedown but Letter circles away easily
and Letter counters with a left and a right that stings Dresden.
Both fighters circling a little - Letter finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Dresden tries to move into range but Letter moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Lakoj Dresden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dresden shoots in for a double leg but Letter sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Letter lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephan Letter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Letter has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephan Letter!
During a confident post fight interview, Stephan Letter thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.