PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diego Valdez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Victor Drago has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Diego Valdez's chin.

Valdez
vs
Drago

179 cm
19
208 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

225 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Diego Valdez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Drago!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Valdez misses.
Some wild striking there from Valdez.
Drago fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Drago ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valdez moves away.
Valdez misses with a two punch combination.
Drago showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Valdez.
Valdez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Diego Valdez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valdez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Valdez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Valdez misses with a few strikes there.
Drago is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Drago forces Valdez back against the cage and clinches.
Drago controlling the action here for a moment.
Valdez 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.

Drago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valdez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Valdez blocks the body kick.
Valdez misses with a double jab.
Valdez misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drago forces Valdez back against the cage and clinches.
Valdez blocks the elbow strike.
Drago has a couple of punches blocked by Valdez.
Drago can't find room to land a body shot as Valdez controls the action.
Drago avoiding damage.
A short body shot lands from Drago as the two fighters clinch.

Drago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Drago shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Valdez as he avoids it easily.
No joy there for Valdez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Valdez swinging wildly here.
Valdez is breathing heavily.

Drago closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Valdez trying to remain calm as Drago controls from the top position.
Drago throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Drago has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Valdez trying to remain calm as Drago controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drago decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago misses with a hook. Valdez ducked under it nicely.
Drago plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Diego Valdez has been cut.
Nice takedown defense from Valdez. No joy for Drago on that attempt.
Diego Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Drago.
Valdez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Drago.
Valdez misses with the combination.
Valdez misses with a wild combination.
Drago changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Valdez tries to avoid it but Drago manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Valdez to the ground. Valdez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Drago shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Valdez pinned against the cage. Valdez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Drago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Drago takes a swing at Valdez's ribcage but misses.
Drago looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Valdez is fending him off so far but Drago persists. Nope, Valdez circles away and we're back to standing.
Valdez swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdez misses with a wild combination.
Valdez tries to bum rush Drago with a series of wild strikes but Drago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Valdez misses with a series of wild punches.
Valdez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Drago fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Drago shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Valdez throws a series of punches but Drago avoids them all with ease.
Valdez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Drago drives through and clinches with Valdez against the cage.
Valdez working hard to break the clinch.
Drago working Valdez over with knees to the body.
Drago will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Valdez up against the cage.

Drago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Drago dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Diego Valdez's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Valdez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Valdez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Some wild striking there from Valdez.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The referee is keeping an eye on Drago - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Valdez avoiding damage as Drago throws knees to the body.

Drago pulls guard successfully.
Drago wants to sweep here but Valdez controlling him for the moment.
Valdez wanted to stand there but Drago had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Drago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Drago seems keen to control Valdez's posture.
Valdez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez wanted to stand there but Drago had control of the position.
Drago trying to keep a closed guard but Valdez is proving a slippery customer.

Valdez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Drago throws a wild body kick that Valdez sees coming a mile off.
Diego Valdez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Drago rushes Valdez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Drago throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Drago is working for takedown but Valdez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Drago is breathing heavily.
Drago will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Valdez up against the cage.
Valdez wants to get back to striking at distance but Drago won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Drago stalling the fight.
Valdez working hard to break the clinch.

Drago jumps into guard, dragging Valdez to the mat.
Drago not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Drago pulls Valdez in close to his closed guard and prevents Valdez from doing any damage or advancing position.

Valdez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
No joy there for Valdez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Valdez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Valdez throws a right and a left that Drago avoids nicely.
Drago misses with a jab, cross combination.
A combination from Valdez does no damage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Valdez throws a combination that misses

and Drago counters by clinching up.
Valdez is looking to break free of the clinch but Drago has double underhooks.

Drago breaks the clinch.
Valdez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Drago counters by moving into the clinch.
Drago jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Valdez walks away with a smile on his face. Drago gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Drago gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Drago tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Valdez smiles and moves away.
Diego Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Drago.
Valdez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Drago counters with a shoot takedown. Valdez fights it but they end up in guard.
Drago forces his way into half guard.
Drago content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drago stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Valdez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Drago counters by moving into the clinch.
Valdez is trying to break the clinch but Drago is controlling him.

Drago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valdez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Valdez throws a combination that misses

and Drago counters by clinching up.
Valdez is looking to break free of the clinch but Drago has double underhooks.
Drago has Valdez pressed against the cage, preventing Valdez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Drago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Diego Valdez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Drago moves into the clinch.
Drago lands a knee to the head.
Drago will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Valdez up against the cage.

Drago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Valdez misses with the combination.
Valdez misses with a two punch combination.
Valdez misses with a series of wild punches.
No joy there for Valdez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Drago rushes Valdez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Drago decides to pull guard.
Drago is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Valdez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Drago is proving hard to escape from.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Drago manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Valdez.
Drago throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Drago tries for a takedown but Valdez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Drago throws a wild body kick that Valdez sees coming a mile off.

Drago closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Drago tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Drago tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Valdez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Diego Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Drago.

Drago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No joy there for Valdez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diego Valdez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drago has managed to clinch.

Drago is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Valdez can't fight it off and eventually Drago manages to take the fight to the floor. Valdez looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Victor Drago has got the better of the ground game so far.
Valdez is wriggling around but Drago manages to pass to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Drago content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez has hold of Drago's hands but Drago slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Valdez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Drago is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Drago slows the pace down in half guard.

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.
Valdez is staying active underneath Drago, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Victor Drago is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Drago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Drago 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Drago!