PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Largo Vivace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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
Vivace

208 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

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 St Petersburg, 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 St Petersburg, Largo Vivace!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago fails with a takedown attempt.

Vivace takes the fight into the clinch.
Vivace looking to slow down the pace here.

Vivace breaks from the clinch.
Vivace fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Vivace fails in his attempt to clinch.

Drago has Vivace up against the cage in a clinch.

Vivace escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horrible takedown by Vivace or perhaps it was just good defense by Drago which made him look bad.

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

Vivace breaks the clinch.
Drago changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vivace tries to avoid it but Drago manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vivace to the ground. Vivace escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Drago defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vivace.
Ivan Drago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Largo Vivace.
Vivace avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vivace keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vivace tries to clinch

and Drago moves into the clinch.
Vivace is looking to control Drago's arms but Drago gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vivace has his back to the cage.
Vivace is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Drago avoiding damage as Vivace throws knees to the body.

Vivace breaks from the clinch.
Drago scores with a jab to the body.
Vivace dives in and grabs Drago's left leg, looking for a takedown. Drago pushes down on Vivace's head and hops out.
Drago throws a body kick that misses.

Drago closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Drago scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Vivace to see if he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vivace looks gassed!
Drago wants to control but Vivace is keeping him busy.
Vivace sneaks back into half guard.
Drago throwing shots but Vivace is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vivace is not content to let Drago control the position.

Drago is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vivace doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Drago.
Drago wants to take a breather but Vivace is having none of it.
Vivace wants to control but Drago is keeping busy.
Drago trying to control from half guard but Vivace is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vivace wants to clinch.
Drago misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Drago fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vivace throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Drago takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Vivace tries to clinch up but Drago circles away and keeps his distance.
Vivace misses with a kick to the body.
Vivace goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Vivace rushes Drago and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Vivace's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vivace's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A big left from Vivace misses.
Vivace tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Drago counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Drago.

Drago drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Vivace dives on top into guard.
Drago avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vivace passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Vivace in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Largo Vivace dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Drago swats away the attempt to clinch by Vivace.
Vivace shoots in for a double leg but Drago sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Drago bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Vivace's head backwards.
Vivace looks to score with a jab to the body but Drago is just out of range.
Drago wants to clinch.
Drago tries a head kick but it misses.
Drago fails with the takedown.

Vivace fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Drago, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Vivace breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vivace moves out of range as Drago throws a body kick.
Largo Vivace seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vivace looks to clinch

and Drago counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Drago is keen to just control but Vivace is a slippery customer.
Drago knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vivace on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vivace trying to hold on to Drago's head to control him but Drago postures up.
Vivace is trying is best to control the position here.
Drago blocks the strikes from Vivace.
Drago thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vivace's head.
Vivace trying to hold on to Drago's head to control him but Drago postures up.
Drago trying to control from half guard but Vivace is working away.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vivace tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Drago holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Vivace's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Vivace manages to break the clinch.
Drago stuffs the takedown attempt from Vivace. Vivace gets slowly back to his feet.
Vivace is trying hard to land a takedown here. Drago sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ivan Drago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Largo Vivace.

Vivace rushes Drago and presses him up against the cage.
Vivace keeps control of Drago as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Vivace breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd cheers as Vivace lands an impressive looking overhand right. Drago doesn't seem phased though.
A head kick misses from Vivace.
Vivace shoots for a takedown but Drago saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Drago pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vivace looks for a takedown but Drago sprawls well.
Vivace dives in and grabs Drago's left leg, looking for a takedown. Drago pushes down on Vivace's head and hops out.
Drago takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Drago motions for Vivace to come forward. Drago throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice body kick from Vivace.

Drago scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Drago performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Drago seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Vivace for as long as he can get away with.
Vivace manages to get to full guard.
Drago will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vivace striking off his back but it's not causing Drago any problems.
Vivace is pulling down on Drago's head. It's preventing any offense from Drago, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Drago dominated that second round.
That's time! Drago's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Vivace avoids the head kick by Drago.
Vivace throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Drago fails with the takedown.
Vivace is trying hard to land a takedown here. Drago sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vivace tries to close the distance and clinch up but Drago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vivace throws a body kick that misses.
Vivace fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vivace tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Drago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vivace feints and then cracks Drago's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Drago down.
Vivace tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Drago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vivace doesn't manage to clinch there - Drago circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drago swats away the attempt to clinch by Vivace.

Vivace has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vivace lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Vivace breaks from the clinch.
Drago moves out of range of the body kick from Vivace.
Vivace misses with a kick to the body.
Vivace fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Drago avoids it really well and circles away.
Drago shoots for a double leg takedown but Vivace sprawls well. He's pushed Drago's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Drago is looking to clinch.
Drago displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vivace.
Ivan Drago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Largo Vivace.
Drago throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drago tries a low kick but Vivace avoids it.
Vivace tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vivace misses with a takedown attempt - Drago sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Vivace gets caught flat footed, as Drago shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Vivace keeping full guard, as Drago tries to pass.

Vivace had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Drago defends it easily.
Drago loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vivace is trying to keep Drago in close.
Vivace has control of Drago's left arm, preventing Drago from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vivace manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Drago manages to get himself to full guard.
Drago wants to improve his position but instead Vivace has moved into half guard.
Vivace moves into full mount! Drago won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vivace manages to capitalize on a mistake by Drago to take his back!
Vivace punches the canvas rather than the man.
Vivace has the hooks in. Drago is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Drago trying to control the hands but Vivace won't let him.
Drago staying busy and making it hard for Vivace to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Vivace working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Largo Vivace comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vivace has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Largo Vivace!