PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Drago (ranked 4343 p4p, 4352 weight class) and Hans Grundich (ranked 454 p4p, 455 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Drago
vs
Grundich

198 cm
18
261
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
225
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ivan Drago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hans Grundich!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Grundich.
Grundich misses with an uppercut
and Drago counters with a right hand to the body.
Drago lands a nice shot that snaps Grundich's head back.
Drago cracks Grundich with a good jab.

Drago moves into range and clinches up with Grundich.
Grundich working hard to break the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Drago - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A frustrated look appears on Grundich's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Drago creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Grundich is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grundich tries to break free but Drago pushes him back against the cage.
Drago scores with a nice hook to the head.
Drago has Grundich pressed against the cage, preventing Grundich from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on Grundich's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Drago working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Stalling in the clinch from Drago.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Grundich wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Drago has him pressed against the cage.
Grundich can't break the clinch.
Grundich has had enough of the clinch but Drago keeps him there for the moment.
Drago stalling.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Drago.
Grundich tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Drago lands with a short shot to the head.
Grundich tries to break the clinch but Drago is controlling the position.
Grundich dodges an elbow strike from Drago.
Grundich being controlled against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Drago for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Grundich has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Drago lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Hans Grundich has been cut.
Drago working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago slows down the pace here.
Drago pressing his opponent against the cage.
Drago blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Drago makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Grundich.

Grundich breaks the clinch.
Drago lands a lovely overhand right.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grundich throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Drago scores with a jab to the jaw.
Grundich falls off balance throwing a combination
and Drago counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grundich uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Drago.
Drago drops his hands momentarily and Grundich takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Jab, jab by Drago - just one landing.
Drago throws a hook but Grundich blocks it.
Drago takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Drago throws a shot from downtown. Grundich moves away and avoids it.
Grundich walks into a left hand.
Drago throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Grundich.
Ivan Drago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Drago avoids the body shot from Grundich.
A right-left combo lands from Grundich.
Grundich slips a jab and a cross from Drago.
Grundich avoids a punch combination nicely.
Drago is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Drago lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Grundich at a distance.
A head kick misses from Grundich.
Grundich looks winded!
Grundich avoids a punch combination nicely.
Grundich ducks under a wild hook from Drago.

Grundich fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Drago, pushing him back against the cage.
Drago lands a left hand that snaps the head of Grundich backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Drago as Grundich tries to tie him up.
Drago prevents Grundich from breaking the clinch.
Grundich has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Drago has Grundich pushed against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Drago dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hans Grundich's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Drago clinches with his opponent.
Drago blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Drago is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Still in the clinch, Drago scores with a nice short uppercut.
Grundich lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Drago keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Grundich's efforts to push away.
Drago softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grundich letting Drago take a breather here.
Drago pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Drago taking a breather.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Grundich throws a sloppy head kick and Drago moves out of range easily.
As Grundich looks to move away, Drago throws a big counter combo but Grundich just gets out of the way.
Drago throws a body shot but no joy.
Drago swings for the body but Grundich moves out of range.
No joy there for Grundich, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ivan Drago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Drago, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Drago lands a jab-cross combination.
Grundich takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Grundich connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Drago momentarily.
Drago throws a jab but it's blocked by Grundich.
Grundich scores with a hook.
Grundich feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Dragos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Drago throws an overhand right that lands on Grundich's shoulder, as Grundich tries to avoid the shot.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Drago misses with a two punch combination.
Hans Grundich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Drago. Grundich does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ivan Drago is winning the standup battle so far.
Grundich shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Drago seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Grundich has Drago up against the cage in a clinch.

Grundich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Drago misses with a double jab.
Grundich takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Grundich.
Grundich fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Drago on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grundich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Drago as he jumps to the side.
Ivan Drago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hans Grundich.
Grundich bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Drago lands with a right hand.
Grundich moves out of range as Drago strikes.
Grundich fails with a takedown attempt.
Grundich lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Drago circles away quickly and effectively.
Grundich misses with a jab, cross combination.
Drago tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Grundich was well out of range. Poor timing from Drago.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Drago throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Grundich to counter with a crisp jab.

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

Grundich breaks the clinch.
Drago scores with a jab. Grundich acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Drago misses with an uppercut.
Grundich looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Grundich closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Drago lands a right hand that snaps the head of Grundich backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Drago creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Drago is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Grundich can do to turn this around?
Drago is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Grundich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Drago dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hans Grundich's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Grundich darts in looking for a takedown but Drago gets double underhooks and turns Grundich into the cage.
Drago slips a jab and a cross from Grundich.
Drago throws a nice looking combination but Grundich bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Drago throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Grundich throws a sloppy head kick and Drago moves out of range easily.
Drago went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Drago scores with a hook to the body. Grundich takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Drago connects with a nice looking jab.
Drago cracks Grundich with a right hand to the side of the head.
Drago ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grundich moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago throws a right hand that Grundich ducks under and follows up with a left that Grundich also avoids with ease.
Grundich misses with a series of wild punches.
Grundich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Drago lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Grundich. Those never looked like landing.
Grundich moves out of range as Drago strikes.
Grundich closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Drago fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A right-left combo lands from Grundich.
Grundich throws a right hand that misses
enabling Drago to counter with a crisp jab.
Grundich goes for a double leg but Drago avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Drago continues to drive forward.
A jab lands there for Drago.
Drago sizes up Grundich with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Drago scores with a nice right hand.
Grundich avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Drago lunges at Grundich with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Grundich's hand.
Grundich steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Drago.
Drago swings for the body but Grundich moves out of range.
Grundich lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Grundich cracks Drago with an open hand slap.
Decent striking displayed by Drago there.
Grundich swinging wildly here.
Drago appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Drago throws a lazy right hand but Grundich sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Grundich misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A shot to the liver by Grundich. Beautiful body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Grundich's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grundich is trying to push Drago away but Drago has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Drago is stalling here.
Drago lands with a left to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Drago.
Ivan Drago is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Come on Drago - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Grundich scores with a hook to the body.
The referee calls for Drago to work.
Drago lands a nice elbow.
Drago misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grundich can't break the clinch.
Grundich is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ivan Drago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hans Grundich.
Grundich misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Drago.
Grundich swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Drago lands with a light punch inside.
Grundich avoids the elbow strike from Drago, against the cage.
Drago lands a damaging elbow.

Grundich manages to break the clinch.
Drago works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Drago gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hans Grundich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Drago.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Drago showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Drago 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Drago!
Ivan Drago got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'