PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hasbulla Magomedov (ranked 2222 p4p, 2699 weight class) and Van Driesen (ranked 121 p4p, 143 weight class). Van Driesen will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Magomedov
vs
Driesen

150 cm
21
130
3 - 1 - 0

164 cm
24
141
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hasbulla Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Van Driesen!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Bruno Lombardi and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Driesen rushes Magomedov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Magomedov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Driesen after a bit of a struggle.
Magomedov is working for takedown but Driesen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Driesen prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've been hearing reports that Magomedov has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hasbulla Magomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Driesen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Magomedov.
Driesen lands a shoulder strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Driesen prevents it.

Driesen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Driesen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Magomedov to the ground. Driesen is now in Magomedov's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Driesen slips nicely into half guard.
Magomedov is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Driesen controlling the action here.
Magomedov is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Magomedov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Driesen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Driesen throwing shots but Magomedov is blocking nicely.
Driesen trying to control the action but Magomedov is working from the bottom.
Magomedov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Driesen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Driesen's back!
Magomedov landing with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driesen covering up well and avoiding damage.
Magomedov lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Driesen staying busy and making it hard for Magomedov to control.
Driesen breaks Magomedov's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Magomedov pulls Driesen in close to prevent any damage.
Driesen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Driesen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Magomedov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Magomedov keeping moving, preventing Driesen from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov is adopting a defensive guard.
Driesen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Driesen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Magomedov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Driesen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Van Driesen dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Driesen stuffs the takedown.
Magomedov sets himself, and Driesen steps forward looking for the clinch! Magomedov avoids it this time.
Magomedov tries for a takedown but Driesen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Driesen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Magomedov shoots for a double leg takedown but Driesen sprawls well. He's pushed Magomedov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hasbulla Magomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Magomedov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Magomedov circles away from the clinch attempt.
A punch combination from Driesen misses.
Driesen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Magomedov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Magomedov enables Driesen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Magomedov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
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!
Magomedov trying to keep a closed guard but Driesen is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Driesen trying to control the position from guard on top but Magomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Driesen stopping the sweep attempt from Magomedov.
Driesen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Magomedov working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Magomedov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Driesen clinches up with Magomedov and pushes him back against the cage.
Driesen is pressed up against the cage. Magomedov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Driesen down to the mat. Driesen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Magomedov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Driesen.

Driesen drives through with a takedown into Magomedov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Magomedov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Van Driesen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Magomedov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Driesen passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driesen trying to control the position but Magomedov is working away.
Magomedov tries to bench press Driesen off him but Driesen keeps the position.
Magomedov can't do much from the bottom here.

Driesen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Magomedov, who protects the arm well.
Magomedov is trying to work for a sweep but Driesen has mounted him!
Driesen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

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.
Magomedov blocking the ground and pound.
Driesen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Magomedov is looking to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Magomedov is desperately trying to improve his position but Driesen has a good base and remains in mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Van Driesen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Driesen throws a right hand that Magomedov ducks under and follows up with a left that Magomedov also avoids with ease.
Magomedov throws a quick counter kick to the body but Driesen avoids it.
Magomedov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Driesen sprawls well. Driesen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Magomedov gets slowly back to his feet.
Driesen tries to clinch but Magomedov moves out of range.
Magomedov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Driesen as he avoids it easily.

Driesen forces Magomedov back against the cage and clinches.
Driesen scores with a shot to the side of Magomedov's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Driesen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Magomedov blocks it with crossed arms.
A right handed body shot lands from Driesen.
Magomedov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Driesen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hasbulla Magomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Driesen.

Driesen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Driesen doesn't manage to clinch there - Magomedov circles away.

Driesen gets a takedown into half guard.
Driesen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Magomedov wants to control but Driesen is keeping busy.
Driesen wants to get back to his feet.
Magomedov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Driesen moves into full mount! Magomedov won't be happy about that!
Driesen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Driesen controlling his opponent.
Magomedov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Driesen unloads with some shots from mount but Magomedov bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driesen wants to control the pace but Magomedov is squirming around nicely.
Driesen controlling the position easily from mount.
Van Driesen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Magomedov tries to hold on but Driesen postures up.

That's four 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.
Driesen controlling the position easily from mount.
Magomedov bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Magomedov stopping the sweep attempt from Driesen.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Driesen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Magomedov is working Driesen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hasbulla Magomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Magomedov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Van Driesen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Driesen 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Van Driesen!
Van Driesen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.