PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between vladimir dragunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger Sander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). dragunov comes to the cage accompanied by Russia. The key to victory for vladimir dragunov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

dragunov
vs
Sander

190 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
20
142 lbs
2 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, vladimir dragunov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roger Sander!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sander avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Sander bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
dragunov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Sander working away.

Sander thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on dragunov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sander wants to control but dragunov is keeping him busy.

Sander tries for a kimura but dragunov is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dragunov tries to buck Sander off but Sander is having none of it.
dragunov is pushing Sander's head away, looking to escape. Sander manages to hold on to the position though.
dragunov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
dragunov shoots and misses

and Sander counters with a takedown into side control.
dragunov seems a little lost for a moment, as Sander dominates the positioning.
Sander looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
dragunov tries to improve position but can't.
Sander just content to control the position.
dragunov is looking to regain half guard here but Sander keeps moving and retains side control.
Sander is working dragunov over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sander working away.
dragunov is pushing Sander's head away, looking to escape. Sander manages to hold on to the position though.
Sander works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sander in side control, just content to control the action for now.
dragunov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sander trying to control the action but dragunov is working from the bottom.

Sander wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by dragunov, who protects the arm well.
Sander trying to control the action but dragunov is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Sander dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

dragunov tries to clinch but Sander moves away

and Sander counters with a nice double leg into guard.
dragunov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sander wants to pass the guard but dragunov is keeping the position.
Sander trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sander won't allow dragunov to get back to his feet.
dragunov controls Sander momentarily but Sander frees himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sander sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dragunov is looking to stand up but Sander isn't so interested in that idea.
dragunov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sander controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
dragunov tries to clinch

and Sander counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sander takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sander wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but dragunov has him pressed against the cage.

Sander pulls guard effortlessly.
Sander trying to control the position.
Sander looking to hit a scissor sweep but dragunov is one step ahead there.

That's two 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.
dragunov wants to stand but Sander has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
dragunov looking to sit in guard and control but Sander gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sander controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sander trying to control but dragunov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
dragunov fails with the takedown

and Sander counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in dragunov's guard now.
dragunov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sander sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sander keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of dragunov's head.
Sander content to stall in guard here.
Sander stands up over dragunov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Sander showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

dragunov shoots and misses

and Sander counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sander.
Sander is working dragunov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sander loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sander must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sander's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sander landing with the ground and pound.
dragunov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sander controls the pace.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sander wants to pass the guard but dragunov is keeping the position.
Sander looking to sit in guard and control but dragunov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sander pulls dragunov in close to his closed guard and prevents dragunov from doing any damage or advancing position.
dragunov wants to stand but Sander is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sander controls dragunov momentarily but dragunov frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
dragunov won't allow Sander to sweep him here.
Sander is trying to keep dragunov in close.

Despite being in the dominant position, Roger Sander just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sander shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
dragunov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
dragunov tries to hold on but Sander postures up.
vladimir dragunov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sander controlling the pace for now.
Sander working dragunov over with strikes here.
Sander controlling from the full mount.
Sander's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roger Sander comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sander 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roger Sander!