PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Surkho Dratchev (ranked 1998 p4p, 2918 weight class) and Boniface Randriamaholison (ranked 235 p4p, 335 weight class). Dratchev's entrance music is Schweine by Glukoza Nostra. A fine choice. Randriamaholison is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Careless Whisper (Remastered). On his way into the cage it seems that Surkho Dratchev has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Surkho Dratchev seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Dratchev
vs
Randriamaholison

194 cm
22
265
6 - 3 - 0

182 cm
22
265
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Surkho Dratchev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Boniface Randriamaholison!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dratchev tries to keep at a distance but Randriamaholison has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dratchev lands an uppercut.
Randriamaholison working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Dratchev throws a punch but it's blocked by Randriamaholison.

Dratchev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dratchev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Randriamaholison tries to clinch but Dratchev moves out of range.
Randriamaholison uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dratchev.
Randriamaholison darts in trying to clinch
and Dratchev counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Randriamaholison tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dratchev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dratchev changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Randriamaholison tries to clinch there but Dratchev circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Randriamaholison.

It looks like Surkho Dratchev has been cut.
Dratchev finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Dratchev throws a head kick but Randriamaholison moves out of range.
Randriamaholison throws a jab but it's blocked by Dratchev.
Randriamaholison takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Dratchev moves out of range of the strikes.
Randriamaholison wants to clinch.
Dratchev throws a quick counter kick to the body but Randriamaholison avoids it.
Dratchev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Randriamaholison circles away quickly and effectively.
Dratchev fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Dratchev.
Dratchev throws a body punch but Randriamaholison moves out of range.
Randriamaholison on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Dratchev.
Randriamaholison fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dratchev keeps the fight on the outside.
Dratchev throws a jab but it's blocked by Randriamaholison.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Randriamaholison misses with a hook. Dratchev ducked under it nicely.
Randriamaholison wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Randriamaholison throws a hook but Dratchev blocks it.
Dratchev seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Randriamaholison takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Randriamaholison tries to clinch but Dratchev moves out of range.
Dratchev wants to land a leg kick but Randriamaholison is out of range.
It seemed like Randriamaholison was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Randriamaholison tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dratchev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Randriamaholison throws a body punch but Dratchev moves out of range.
Dratchev staying out of range there.

Randriamaholison moves into the clinch successfully.
Randriamaholison can't find room to land a body shot as Dratchev controls the action.
Randriamaholison is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Dratchev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dratchev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Randriamaholison working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dratchev breaks from the clinch.
Randriamaholison fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Dratchev darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Randriamaholison ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Randriamaholison forces Dratchev back against the cage and clinches.

Dratchev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dratchev jabs at Randriamaholison's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Some wild striking there from Dratchev.
Dratchev misses with the combination.
Dratchev scores with a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Surkho Dratchev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Surkho Dratchev's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Randriamaholison uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dratchev.
Randriamaholison with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Dratchev to score with a decent uppercut.
A punch combination from Dratchev misses.
Dratchev misses with a straight right.
Randriamaholison let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Randriamaholison darts in trying to clinch
and Randriamaholison takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Boniface Randriamaholison seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice leg kick from Dratchev, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Randriamaholison uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dratchev.

Randriamaholison takes the fight into the clinch.
Dratchev is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dratchev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dratchev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Randriamaholison connects with a knee to the head.
Randriamaholison using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dratchev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dratchev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dratchev tries to score a body lock takedown but Randriamaholison shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Randriamaholison lands with a left to the head.
Randriamaholison working aggressively here.
Randriamaholison landing knees to the head.
Dratchev misses with a punch to the body.
Dratchev misses with a punch to the body.

Dratchev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Randriamaholison on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Dratchev lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dratchev lands a body shot.
Randriamaholison moves to clinch but Dratchev breaks away
and Dratchev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dratchev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dratchev throws out a powerful jab.
Randriamaholison misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Randriamaholison takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dratchev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Randriamaholison can do to turn this around?
Dratchev misses with an uppercut
enabling Randriamaholison to counter with a crisp jab.
It looks like Dratchev has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Randriamaholison moves away from the strike by Dratchev.
A countering left hand to the body from Randriamaholison misses.

Randriamaholison drives through and clinches with Dratchev against the cage.
Randriamaholison scores with a shot to the side of Dratchev's head.
Dratchev working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Randriamaholison connects with a knee to the head.
Randriamaholison throws a punch but it's blocked by Dratchev.

Dratchev breaks from the clinch.
Dratchev with a nice calf kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dratchev connects with an inside leg kick.
Dratchev tries to bum rush Randriamaholison with a series of wild strikes but Randriamaholison uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Randriamaholison is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Randriamaholison looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dratchev cracks Randriamaholison with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Randriamaholison misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dratchev.
Dratchev scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Randriamaholison misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dratchev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randriamaholison takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Randriamaholison tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dratchev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Randriamaholison instigates a clinch.
Dratchev tries to circle away but Randriamaholison has him pinned against the cage.
Dratchev is trying to push Randriamaholison away but Randriamaholison has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Dratchev is trying to force a seperation but Randriamaholison has the dominant position.
Randriamaholison with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Still in the clinch, Dratchev scores with a nice short uppercut.

Dratchev jumps into guard, dragging Randriamaholison to the mat.

Dratchev is looking for a triangle but Randriamaholison pushes his legs off easily.

Dratchev is looking for a triangle but Randriamaholison pushes his legs off easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Surkho Dratchev dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Surkho Dratchev's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Randriamaholison has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Dratchev finds it's way round the side to connect with Randriamaholison's head.
Randriamaholison misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dratchev.
Nice jab there from Randriamaholison.
Randriamaholison moves in looking to clinch but Dratchev pushes him off.
Randriamaholison swinging wildly here.
Dratchev appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dratchev jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Randriamaholison forces Dratchev back against the cage and clinches.
Randriamaholison misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randriamaholison swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Randriamaholison stalling the fight.
Dratchev tries to pull guard but Randriamaholison forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Randriamaholison's coach down at Stormcrow Centre was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Randriamaholison's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
A short right from Dratchev.
Boniface Randriamaholison seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Randriamaholison softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Randriamaholison using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dratchev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short right from Randriamaholison on the inside.

Dratchev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Randriamaholison lands with a good body shot.
Randriamaholison closes the distance looking to clinch
and Dratchev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Randriamaholison keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dratchev.
Randriamaholison tries to clinch up
and Dratchev counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dratchev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Randriamaholison has managed to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Dratchev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Randriamaholison tries to clinch up but Dratchev circles away and keeps his distance.
As Randriamaholison tries to get set, Dratchev tries to push him back and clinch up but Randriamaholison manages to avoid the attempt.
Randriamaholison wants to clinch up but Dratchev keeps it at a distance.
Dratchev feinted with a counter takedown.
Dratchev lands a right hook to the body.
Randriamaholison tries to clinch up.
Randriamaholison checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Randriamaholison doesn't manage to clinch there - Dratchev circles away.
Dratchev is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Randriamaholison gets a clinch.
Randriamaholison lands with a short shot to the head.

Dratchev manages to pull guard.

Dratchev working for submissions but it's allowed Randriamaholison to get to half guard.
Randriamaholison tries to pass to full mount but Dratchev defends it.
Dratchev is in trouble now - Randriamaholison has advanced to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randriamaholison can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dratchev is looking to escape.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Dratchev is wriggling around trying to escape.
Randriamaholison pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Randriamaholison is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boniface Randriamaholison comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dratchev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Surkho Dratchev!
After winning the bout, Surkho Dratchev thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.