PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilham Aliyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aliyev comes into the arena with Why Can't We Be Friends? blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aliyev
vs
Drago

185 cm
24
185 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

185 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilham Aliyev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Drago!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aliyev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Drago misses with a hook. Aliyev ducked under it nicely.
Aliyev scores with a jab.
Aliyev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Drago throws out the jab.
Drago throws out a loose jab but Aliyev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Aliyev ducks under a wild hook from Drago.
Aliyev connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Aliyev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Drago.
Drago throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Drago connects with a good right hand that stumbles Aliyev. Aliyev circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Aliyev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Drago.

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

Aliyev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Drago uses from the top position.
Drago advances position into side control!
Aliyev misses with a strike from the bottom.
Aliyev is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Aliyev is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago wants to stand but Aliyev is controlling his arm.
Aliyev tries to improve position but can't.
Drago really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aliyev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Aliyev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Aliyev gets full guard.
Drago has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aliyev is proving hard to escape from.

Aliyev working for a triangle but Drago defends it easily.
Drago won't allow Aliyev to sweep him here.
Drago wants to control from the top but Aliyev keeps moving.

Aliyev had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Drago is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Aliyev Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Drago's back instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev lands shots from the back.
Aliyev 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.
Aliyev scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
I really don't envy Drago right now.
The referee is taking a good look at Drago as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Aliyev!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aliyev lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Aliyev is looking for the choke from the back position but Drago is controlling his hands well.

Aliyev is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Aliyev is trying to stick to Drago's back but Drago is turning into Aliyev. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Aliyev's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Drago.
Drago looks gassed!
Aliyev is trying to control the position but Drago postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Aliyev pulls Drago in close to prevent any damage.
Aliyev trying to control the position.
Aliyev looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Drago puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Aliyev looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Drago.
Aliyev gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Drago postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aliyev 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.
Drago wants to control from the top but Aliyev keeps moving.

Aliyev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Drago can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Aliyev looking for a guillotine here but Drago defends easily.

Drago stands up and waves to Aliyev to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilham Aliyev dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Aliyev thuds his right hand into Drago's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Drago throws a right hand that Aliyev ducks under and follows up with a left that Aliyev also avoids with ease.
Drago throws a jab when Aliyev was well out of range.
Aliyev drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Drago loads up on a big right hand but Aliyev slips the punch.
Aliyev misses with an uppercut. Drago saw that one coming.
Ivan Drago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aliyev changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Drago 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Aliyev slips under a jab from Drago.
Drago throws an overhand right that lands on Aliyev's shoulder, as Aliyev tries to avoid the shot.
Drago lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aliyev circles away quickly and effectively.
Aliyev connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Aliyev scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Drago is breathing heavily.
Aliyev ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aliyev connects with a good right hand that stumbles Drago. Drago circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A combination from Drago does no damage.
Aliyev scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Aliyev digs a good hook to Drago's body.

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

Aliyev manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Drago must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Aliyev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Aliyev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Drago gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aliyev thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Aliyev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Aliyev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Drago has hold of Aliyev's hands but Aliyev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Aliyev is trying to control. Drago wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aliyev seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Drago is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Ilham Aliyev!