PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Naseem Hamed (ranked 4415 p4p, 4439 weight class) and Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hamed comes to the cage accompanied by Thriller. Naseem Hamed could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ivan Drago's chin.

Hamed
vs
Drago

164 cm
23
145
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
24
265
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Naseem Hamed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Drago!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hamed misses with a body shot.

Drago clinches up with Hamed and pushes him back against the cage.
Hamed prevents Drago from breaking the clinch.
Hamed can't find room to land a body shot as Drago controls the action.
Hamed misses with some punches.
Drago blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Drago wants to get back to striking at distance but Hamed won't allow it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Drago.

Drago breaks the clinch.
Hamed misses the shot to the body.
Drago tries to close the distance and clinch but Hamed swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hamed misses the shot to the body.
Hamed throws a body shot but no joy.

Drago closes the distance and pushes Hamed back into the cage.

Drago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Drago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hamed scores with a punch to the head.
Drago tries to clinch but Hamed moves out of range.
Hamed is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hamed avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Drago moves into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Drago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hamed clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamed misses with a punch to the body.

Drago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Drago avoids the body shot from Hamed.
The fight stays on the outside here - Drago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Drago closes the distance and clinches.
Drago wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Drago.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hamed.
Drago tries to break free but Hamed pushes him back against the cage.

Hamed's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Drago tries to clinch but Hamed moves out of range.
Drago tries to clinch there but Hamed circles away.
A quick step to the side and Hamed tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hamed throws out a loose jab but Drago uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hamed fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hamed misses with a wild body shot.
Drago swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Drago doesn't manage to clinch there - Hamed circles away.

Drago gets a clinch.
Drago tries to circle away but Hamed has him pinned against the cage.
Hamed keeps control of Drago as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Drago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drago moves into the clinch successfully.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Drago as Hamed tries to tie him up.

Drago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Drago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hamed misses the shot to the body.
Drago looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Drago tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hamed manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hamed throws a body shot but no joy.
Hamed swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Hamed.
Drago tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hamed swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Hamed darts in and clinches Drago up against the cage.

Drago breaks the clinch.
Drago wants to clinch up but Hamed keeps it at a distance.
Drago is looking to clinch but Hamed is avoiding it.

Drago clinches up with Hamed and pushes him back against the cage.
Hamed is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hamed keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Drago's efforts to push away.
Drago wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short left from Hamed.

Hamed breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hamed.
Hamed ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Drago wants to clinch.

Drago clinches up with Hamed and pushes him back against the cage.

Drago manages to break the clinch.

Drago closes the distance and clinches.
Hamed throws a knee to the head but misses.

Drago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Drago gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Drago wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hamed has him pressed against the cage.

Drago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hamed swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hamed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Drago dodges the punch combination from Hamed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drago closes the distance and pushes Hamed back into the cage.
Hamed throws a head punch that misses.
Drago has had enough of the clinch but Hamed keeps him there for the moment.
Drago blocking some punches.

Drago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hamed is looking to wear down Drago with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Drago pushes Hamed up against the cage in a clinch.

Drago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Drago is looking to clinch but Hamed is avoiding it.
Hamed lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A shot to the liver by Hamed. Beautiful body shot.
Drago takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hamed misses with a series of wild punches.
Hamed uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drago fails in his attempt to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hamed. Drago does a little dance to reset his feet.
Drago tries to clinch up.
Hamed looks to land a combination but Drago avoids it well.
Hamed looks to score with a jab to the body but Drago is just out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Naseem Hamed dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Drago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hamed swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hamed lands a jab to the nose.

Drago gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hamed is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A hook to the body from Hamed.
Hamed lands with a short shot to the head.

Drago breaks from the clinch.
Hamed is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Drago can do to turn this around?
Drago avoids the body shot from Hamed.
Drago keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hamed throws a nice looking combination but Drago bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hamed lands a jab to Drago's midsection.
Hamed swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hamed fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Drago manages to avoid it.

Hamed closes the distance and pushes Drago back into the cage.

Drago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Drago tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hamed paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Drago is looking to clinch.
Hamed swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hamed lands a nice shot to the body.
Hamed throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Drago gets a clinch.

Drago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hamed throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hamed just misses with a punch to the body.
Hamed misses with a double jab.
Hamed throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Drago moves in looking to clinch but Hamed pushes him off.
Drago moves in looking to clinch but Hamed pushes him off.

Drago gets a clinch.
Ivan Drago seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hamed stalling in the clinch but Drago improves position.
Hamed working aggressively here.
Drago wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hamed has him pressed against the cage.
Hamed prevents Drago from breaking the clinch.
Hamed looking to slow down the pace here.
Still in the clinch, Hamed scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hamed has a couple of punches blocked by Drago.
Hamed keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Drago's efforts to push away.

Drago breaks from the clinch.

Drago closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamed swings wildly with an uppercut but Drago uses good head movement to avoid it.

Drago manages to break the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Drago.
Drago tries to clinch there but Hamed circles away.
Drago avoids the body shot from Hamed.
Drago tries to clinch but Hamed is having none of it.
Drago tries to clinch but Hamed is having none of it.
Drago tries to clinch up.

Drago fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hamed, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Drago breaks the clinch.
Drago keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hamed swings for the body but Drago moves out of range.
Hamed just misses with a punch to the body.
Naseem Hamed is winning the standup battle so far.
Drago tries to clinch up but Hamed circles away and keeps his distance.
Drago avoids the body shot from Hamed.

Drago tries to keep at a distance but Hamed has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hamed keeps control of Drago as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hamed misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamed wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Drago has him pressed against the cage.
Hamed wants to get back to striking at distance but Drago won't allow it.
Hamed misses with the head strike.
Hamed wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Drago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hamed misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Drago.
Hamed takes a swing at Drago's ribcage but misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Drago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Drago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hamed tries to keep at a distance but Drago has taken the fight into the clinch.

Drago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hamed fails to land with a series of punches.
Drago is looking to clinch but Hamed is avoiding it.
Hamed misses with a series of wild punches.
Hamed fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Drago manages to avoid it.
Drago tries to clinch up.
Hamed swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Drago tries to clinch but Hamed moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamed looks to score with a jab to the body but Drago is just out of range.

Drago rushes Hamed and presses him up against the cage.
Hamed keeps control of Drago as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Hamed fails to land.
Drago takes a shot to the head.

Drago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Drago moves into range and clinches up with Hamed.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hamed softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Drago has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hamed lands an uppercut.
Drago blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Drago blocking some punches.

Drago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hamed ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Drago moves away.

Drago closes the distance and clinches.
Hamed misses with a hook from the clinch.

Hamed breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hamed fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Drago manages to avoid it.
Drago is looking to clinch.
Drago fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Naseem Hamed dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Drago darts in and clinches Hamed up against the cage.

Drago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hamed moves in looking to clinch but Drago pushes him off.
Hamed misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Drago.
Hamed keeps the fight on the outside.
Drago tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hamed manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Drago moves into the clinch.
Hamed has a couple of punches blocked by Drago.
Drago has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Drago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Drago doesn't manage to clinch there - Hamed circles away.

Hamed clinches up with Drago and pushes him back against the cage.

Drago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Drago gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hamed using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Drago has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hamed manages to break the clinch.
Hamed scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Drago doesn't seem bothered though.

Drago closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Drago breaks from the clinch.
Drago on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Drago takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Drago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Drago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamed looks to land a combination. Drago sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hamed swings for the body but Drago moves out of range.
Drago looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hamed throws a nice looking combination but Drago bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hamed throws a right and a left that Drago avoids nicely.

Drago instigates a clinch.
Hamed tries to stall but Drago uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Drago looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hamed swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hamed tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hamed goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hamed working aggressively here.
Drago has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Drago blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Drago manages to break the clinch.

Hamed clinches with his opponent.
Hamed working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hamed working aggressively here.
Drago wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Drago.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hamed lands a hook that snaps the head of Drago backwards.

Drago breaks from the clinch.
Hamed swats away the attempt to clinch by Drago.
Hamed scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Drago tries to close the distance and clinch but Hamed swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hamed shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Drago eats them both and turns towards Hamed to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Hamed will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Drago is looking to clinch but Hamed is avoiding it.
Hamed keeps the fight on the outside.

Hamed pushes Drago up against the cage in a clinch.
Drago has had enough of the clinch but Hamed keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch on the inside from Hamed fails to land.
Drago wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hamed has him pressed against the cage.
Hamed gets through Drago's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hamed.

Drago manages to break the clinch.
Hamed throws a body punch but Drago moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Drago fails with an attempt to clinch.

Drago closes the distance and clinches.
Hamed working aggressively here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hamed creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Drago tries to break the clinch but Hamed is controlling the position.
Hamed throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dragos head.
Hamed trying to control the position but instead, Drago has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hamed into the cage.
Drago takes a shot to the head.
Drago wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hamed has him pressed against the cage.
Drago wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hamed breaks the clinch.
Drago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Drago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hamed avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hamed was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Hamed closes the distance and clinches.
Hamed misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hamed.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Drago.
Hamed throws a punch but it's blocked by Drago.
Hamed working aggressively here.

Drago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Drago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hamed avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
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!
Hamed lands a jab to Drago's midsection.
Hamed keeps the fight on the outside.

Hamed forces Drago back against the cage and clinches.
Drago is looking to break free of the clinch but Hamed has double underhooks.

Drago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Drago keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Come on Hamed - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Hamed misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ivan Drago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Naseem Hamed is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Drago has had enough of the clinch but Hamed keeps him there for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naseem Hamed showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hamed has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Naseem Hamed!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Naseem Hamed!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Naseem Hamed!

Naseem Hamed wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Naseem Hamed thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.