PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Meitus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominic Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Drago's choice of entrance music: The Name of the Game. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Meitus
vs
Drago

168 cm
18
154 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

179 cm
18
159 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Elite Nutrition Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Meitus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dominic Drago!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Meitus scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Drago wants to improve his position but Meitus is controlling well.
Meitus throws a strike but Drago avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Meitus throws a big right hand that misses.
Drago looking to hit a scissor sweep but Meitus is one step ahead there.
Meitus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drago works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Meitus wants to pass the guard but Drago is keeping the position.
Drago is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Meitus is controlling him.
Meitus passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Meitus trying to control the action but Drago is working from the bottom.
Drago can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Meitus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A combination from Meitus does no damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Meitus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Meitus tries to clinch there but Drago circles away.

Meitus has taken the fight to the clinch.
Meitus misses with a hook from the clinch.

Drago manages to break the clinch.

Meitus closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Meitus working away.
Meitus 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.
Drago might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Meitus kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Meitus landing strikes.
Meitus postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Meitus tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Meitus working the ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Meitus.
Drago is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Meitus stands up.
Meitus swats away the attempt to clinch by Drago.
Meitus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Meitus closes the distance and clinches.
Meitus is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Meitus is breathing heavily.
Drago lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Meitus backwards.
Drago misses with a knee to the head.
Meitus stops a takedown attempt from Drago.

Meitus has hold of one of Drago's legs. Drago is fighting the takedown attempt but Meitus gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Meitus passes Drago's left leg - he's now in half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Meitus is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Meitus stops Drago from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meitus drops an elbow to the side of Drago's head.
Drago has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Meitus is working away from the top position though.
Meitus trying to control from half guard but Drago is working away.
Drago tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Meitus manages to move to mount!
Meitus working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Meitus looking to finish with strikes here!
Meitus avoids the attempt from Drago to control.
Meitus looking to ground and pound but Drago is blocking nicely.
Drago flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Meitus looking to control but Drago is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Drago wants to control but Meitus is having none of it.
Drago is trying to escape the mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Meitus there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Drago is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Meitus raining down shots from the mount!
Drago regains half guard.
Drago is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Meitus dominated that round.
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.

Meitus darts in trying to clinch

and Drago counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Drago is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Meitus gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Drago wants to stall.
Drago can't break the clinch.
Drago using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Meitus prevents the takedown attempt.
Meitus looking to slow down the pace here.
Drago lands an elbow inside that Meitus shrugs off.
Drago wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Meitus is fighting off a takedown attempt but Drago is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Meitus to the mat. Meitus regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Meitus is on top in guard.
Meitus postures up in Drago's guard and throws a big left but Drago blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Meitus works over Drago with some ground and pound from guard.
Drago wants to sweep but no luck.
Meitus working some strikes from top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Drago pushes Meitus off and scrambles back to his feet.
Meitus wants to clinch but Drago slips to the side

and Drago moves into the clinch.
Meitus misses with a short punch on the inside.
Meitus goes for a takedown attempt but Drago pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Drago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Meitus tries to keep at a distance but Drago has taken the fight into the clinch.
Drago lands a hook to the side of the head.
A knee to the head by Drago.

It looks like Vladimir Meitus has been cut.
Drago tries to pull guard but Meitus holds him up against the cage and eventually Drago drops back down to his feet.
Vladimir Meitus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominic Drago.
Drago creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Meitus misses with a punch on the inside.
Meitus lands a hook that snaps the head of Drago backwards.
Drago tries a knee to the head but Meitus blocks it.
A short left from Meitus.

Meitus successfully pulls guard.
Meitus is striking from the bottom but Drago uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Meitus wants to get back to full guard.
Drago scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Meitus regains full guard. Nicely done.
Drago is fighting to break Meitus's control of his arms but Meitus is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Meitus throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago wants to stand but Meitus is controlling his posture from full guard.
Drago preventing the sweep.
Drago stands up out of Meitus's guard for a moment - Meitus manages to land a nice upkick.
Meitus might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Meitus lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Drago!
Meitus has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Drago's face.
Meitus postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Drago looks a forlorn figure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
BOOM! Meitus connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Vladimir Meitus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Meitus lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The referee warns Drago that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meitus landing strikes from the mount.
Meitus looking to finish Drago with some ground and pound. This is bad for Drago!
Drago taking shots to the head.

Drago is rocked!
Meitus punishing his opponent with strikes.
Drago is still in real trouble! Can Meitus finish him?
Drago taking shots to the head.
Meitus is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Meitus with good strikes from the mount here!
Meitus raining down shots from the mount!
Meitus in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Meitus lands a nice shot to the head.
Meitus lands a heavy elbow.
Drago seems to have recovered his senses.
Meitus with the ground and pound from mount.
Drago squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Drago keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Meitus looking to finish with strikes here!
Drago working to try and regain half guard.
Drago tries to lock up and control but Meitus gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Meitus looking to control but Drago is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Drago holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Meitus tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Meitus dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Meitus'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. 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.

Drago instigates a clinch.
Drago lands a knee to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Drago.
Meitus tries for a takedown. No joy.
Meitus lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Meitus lands a right hand.
Meitus wants to stall.
Drago blocks an elbow strike from Meitus.
Drago is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Drago scores a nice knee to the body.
Meitus gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Drago.
Drago lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Drago.

Drago gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Meitus regains guard.
Drago wants to stand and escape but instead Meitus has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Meitus lands a couple of elbows.
Meitus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Meitus throwing strikes but missing.
Drago striking off his back, scoring a few points.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meitus postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Drago is trying to keep Meitus in close.
Meitus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drago is keeping the position for now.
Meitus is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Meitus stands up over Drago, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Meitus is looking to work some ground and pound but Drago has wrist control.
Meitus slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Meitus looking to pass the guard.
Meitus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drago wants to get back to his feet but Meitus is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago keeping moving, preventing Meitus from controlling successfully.
Meitus is fighting to break Drago's control of his arms but Drago is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Drago controls Meitus momentarily but Meitus frees himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Drago fails in his attempt to clinch.

Drago has closed the distance and engaged Meitus in a clinch.
Meitus has a couple of punches blocked by Drago.
Drago with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short right from Meitus.
Drago letting Meitus take a breather here.
Meitus wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Meitus changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Drago fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Meitus tries to clinch but Drago is having none of it.
Drago tries to clinch there but Meitus circles away.
Drago swats away the attempt to clinch by Meitus.
Drago ducks under a wild hook from Meitus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meitus tries to land a front kick but Drago steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Vladimir Meitus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Drago closes the distance and clinches.
Drago lands a knee to the head.
Meitus slows down the pace here.
Drago scores with a hook to the body.
Meitus wants to get back to striking at distance but Drago won't allow it.
Meitus takes a knee right on the jaw!
Meitus stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Meitus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Drago looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Drago in particular looking to stall.
Drago wants to take a breather but Meitus is having none of it.
Meitus slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Meitus looking for a sweep. Not yet Meitus, not yet.
Meitus seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Meitus manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Meitus is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Drago is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Meitus breaks from Drago's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Meitus tries to control but Drago wriggling away.
Meitus lands a big elbow.
Drago in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meitus landing shots from mount.
Dominic Drago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Meitus trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Meitus landing strikes from the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vladimir Meitus.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Meitus, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Meitus!