PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Boe (ranked 2710 p4p, 258 weight class) and Downwith Drago (ranked 1192 p4p, 144 weight class). Boe comes into the arena with Agnes - Release Me blaring out of the sound system. Johannes Boe has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Boe
vs
Drago

202 cm
21
275 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

180 cm
28
265 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johannes Boe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Downwith Drago!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksandr Martynov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago walks into a stiff left hand from Boe.
Boe throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Boe looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Downwith Drago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boe tries to land a leg kick but Drago saw it coming and moves away.
Drago shoots in looking for a takedown but Boe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Drago's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Boe throws a series of punches but Drago moves out of range.
Drago shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Boe but Boe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Some wild striking there from Boe.
Drago is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Boe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Drago circles away quickly and effectively.
Drago shoots in looking for a takedown but Boe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Drago's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Johannes Boe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Downwith Drago.
Boe with a hook.

Drago looking to score a takedown here. Boe is defending well but Drago drives through and ends up in Boe's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Drago working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Boe on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Boe tries to get out of the position.
Boe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Drago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Drago with a flurry of punches that miss.
Boe pulls Drago in close to his closed guard and prevents Drago from doing any damage or advancing position.
Boe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Drago is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boe keeping moving, preventing Drago from controlling successfully.
Drago missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Drago trying to control the position from guard on top but Boe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drago stands up over Boe, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Drago loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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.
Drago in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Drago has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Drago won't allow Boe to sweep him here.
Drago in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boe trying to keep a closed guard but Drago is proving a slippery customer.
Drago preventing the sweep.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Drago with a nice head shot there.
Drago loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Drago lands a couple of elbows.
Drago scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago is pushing down on Boe's leg trying to pass to half guard. Boe is fighting to maintain full guard but Drago has managed to sneak the leg through.
Boe avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Drago.
Drago slips a nice elbow through Boe's hands, connecting with Boe's forehead.
Drago throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Drago slips a nice elbow through Boe's hands, connecting with Boe's forehead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Drago throwing shots but Boe is blocking nicely.
Drago lands strikes from half guard.
Drago thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Boe's head.
Drago throwing shots but Boe is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boe trying to control but Drago postures up.
Drago working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Drago sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Boe defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago drops an elbow to the side of Boe's head.
Drago working over Boe with some ground and pound. Boe looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Drago is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Drago working the head and body with strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Boe is looking for a sweep. Drago is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boe avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Drago.
Drago is keen to just control but Boe is a slippery customer.
Drago winds up and cracks Boe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Drago connects with a nice short shot to Boe's temple.
Drago throws a strike but Boe avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Drago with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Downwith Drago dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Boe throws a head kick that misses.
Boe throws a head kick that misses.
Boe tests Drago's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Horrible takedown attempt by Drago or perhaps it was just good defense by Boe, which made it look bad.
Drago stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Boe.
Boe throws a nice outside leg kick.
Drago fails with a takedown attempt.
Boe throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Boe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Drago moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Drago throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Boe was covering up waiting for the punch and Drago finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Drago throwing strikes from guard but Boe blocks nicely.
Drago is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boe is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Drago trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Drago with a flurry of punches that miss.
Drago lands a couple of elbows.
Boe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Drago working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Drago is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Boe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Drago is in close to Boe's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Drago with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago wants to control from the top but Boe keeps moving.
Drago keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Boe's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boe being controlled here, momentarily.
Drago chips away with some ground and pound.
Boe will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Boe keeping moving, preventing Drago from controlling successfully.
Boe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Drago.
Boe is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Drago is controlling him.
Drago throws an elbow that misses. Boe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Drago's guard. Nice move by Boe!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Drago has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Boe has managed to get both his arms back between Drago's legs - danger averted.
Boe stopping the sweep attempt from Drago.
Boe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Drago is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Boe wants to improve his position but Drago is controlling well.
Boe has hold of Drago's hands but Drago slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago wants to control but Boe is keeping him busy.
Boe taking some punishment here, with Drago in his half guard.
Drago wants to control but Boe is keeping him busy.
Boe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Drago.
Drago throwing shots but Boe is blocking nicely.
Drago looks to land a strike but Boe avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Drago landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Boe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Downwith Drago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Drago keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Boe.

Drago darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Drago there.
Drago has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boe tries to roll over but Drago keeps him under control.
Drago looks to land a strike but Boe avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago throwing strikes but missing.
Drago working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Boe keeping moving, preventing Drago from controlling successfully.
Boe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Drago.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drago lands a couple of elbows.
Drago working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Drago trying to control the position from guard on top but Boe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Drago's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Drago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Drago in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Drago connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Drago missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Drago content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Downwith Drago is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Drago postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Drago scoring with punches to the head and body.
Drago distracts Boe with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Drago engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Drago 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.
Boe is trying to control the position but Drago postures up.
Drago is stalling in the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Drago accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Boe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Drago content to stall in guard here.

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.
Drago chips away with some ground and pound.
Boe being controlled here, momentarily.
Drago postures up and lands a big shot to Boe's brow.
Drago missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Boe can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Drago controls the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Downwith Drago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Drago winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Downwith Drago!
Downwith Drago gave a mention to VanDam Clothing in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).