PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Guilherme Valenzuela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drago has chosen James Brown - Living In America as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Valenzuela
vs
Drago

184 cm
24
223 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

190 cm
31
220 lbs
15 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

BioPharm Nutrition
Malicious Intent Fight Gear

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Guilherme Valenzuela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ivan Drago!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Dean Styles and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Valenzuela, as that shot connected.
Valenzuela takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Valenzuela throws an off balance right hand

and Drago holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Drago lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Drago misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Valenzuela tries to work over Drago's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Valenzuela throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Drago misses with a body punch.
Drago lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Valenzuela lands a damaging elbow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Valenzuela throws an elbow but misses.
Drago works on Valenzuela's body with a couple of short punches.
A nice left hand lands by Drago.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valenzuela wants to stall.
Valenzuela can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Valenzuela misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Drago.
Drago pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Drago on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Valenzuela stalling the fight.
Drago working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Valenzuela controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Guilherme Valenzuela.
Valenzuela walks into a jab.
Valenzuela takes a swing at Drago's ribcage but misses.
Drago ducks under a wild hook from Valenzuela.
Valenzuela lands with a shot to the body.

Drago has Valenzuela up against the cage in a clinch.
Valenzuela doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Valenzuela misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Valenzuela will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Drago up against the cage.
Drago avoiding damage as Valenzuela throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago digs a right hand into Valenzuela's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Valenzuela's gas tank.
Drago managing to block the knees to the body from Valenzuela.
Drago struggles to land a body shot inside as Valenzuela controls his hands.
Drago can't find room to land a body shot as Valenzuela controls the action.
Drago is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Drago tries a body shot but Valenzuela blocks it.
Valenzuela is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Valenzuela blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Drago tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Valenzuela's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valenzuela crunches a lovely knee into Drago's ribcage.

Drago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Drago moves into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Valenzuela.
A short left from Drago.
Valenzuela misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Drago.
Drago blocks an elbow strike.
Drago goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valenzuela throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Drago blocks it with crossed arms.
Drago lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Valenzuela - that landed with a thud.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ivan Drago will probably get the nod.
That's time! Valenzuela's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Drago throws a head punch that misses.
Ivan Drago seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Drago on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Drago managing to block the knees to the body from Valenzuela.
Drago wants to get back to striking at distance but Valenzuela won't allow it.
Valenzuela tries to land a knee to the head but Drago blocks with his arms.
Valenzuela displaying some good clinch control by pressing Drago up against the cage.
Valenzuela lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Valenzuela is trying to maintain a safe position but Drago gets an underhook and turns Valenzuela into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Drago.
Drago tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Drago lands a right hand that snaps the head of Valenzuela backwards.
Valenzuela tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Drago on the inside.
Valenzuela misses with a knee to the head.
Drago misses with a body punch.
Valenzuela blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Drago misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Drago being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Valenzuela missing with knees to the body.
Valenzuela using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Drago has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Valenzuela'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.
Drago tries to throw a body punch but Valenzuela avoids it by throwing Drago back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Drago avoiding damage as Valenzuela throws knees to the body.

Drago breaks from the clinch.

Drago moves into the clinch.
Valenzuela leaning against his opponent.
Valenzuela tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Drago avoids it.

Drago breaks the clinch.

Drago moves into range and clinches up with Valenzuela.
A short left from Drago.
Valenzuela misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Valenzuela just misses with a elbow thrown towards Drago's brow.
Valenzuela is trying to stall.
Drago stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Valenzuela wants to stall.
Valenzuela unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Valenzuela'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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valenzuela pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ivan Drago will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Drago takes the fight into the clinch.
Drago lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Valenzuela or not.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Drago.
Drago throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Drago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Drago fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Valenzuela, pushing him back against the cage.
Valenzuela blocks a body shot from Drago.
Drago lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Drago tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Valenzuela's elbow.
Drago lands a body shot.
Good body shot from Drago.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drago manages to break the clinch.
The fighters circling - Valenzuela throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Drago fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Valenzuela, pushing him back against the cage.
Drago tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Drago using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Valenzuela has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Valenzuela is looking to control Drago's arms but Drago gets an underhook and turns him. Now Valenzuela has his back to the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Drago.
Valenzuela stalling the fight.
Drago lands an elbow inside that Valenzuela shrugs off.
Drago being controlled against the cage.
Valenzuela blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Valenzuela slowing the pace effectively.
Valenzuela misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Drago.
Valenzuela stalling the fight.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Guilherme Valenzuela.
Drago slips a jab and a cross from Valenzuela.

Drago clinches.
Valenzuela throws an elbow that misses.
Drago working aggressively here.
Drago scores with a shoulder strike.
Valenzuela with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ivan Drago is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valenzuela is trying to maintain a safe position but Drago gets an underhook and turns Valenzuela into the cage.
Drago managing to block the knees to the body from Valenzuela.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Drago.
Drago works on Valenzuela's body with a couple of short punches.
Drago lands a nice uppercut.
Drago misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from Drago on the inside.
Drago is working Valenzuela over against the cage.
Drago lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Valenzuela backwards.
Drago avoiding damage as Valenzuela throws knees to the body.
Guilherme Valenzuela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Drago fails to land.
A short uppercut from Drago.
Valenzuela blocks an uppercut.
Valenzuela tries a knee to the head but Drago blocks it.
Drago prevents a body shot from Valenzuela.
Valenzuela has Drago pressed against the cage.
Valenzuela with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valenzuela takes an elbow to the forehead.
Valenzuela throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Drago blocks it with crossed arms.
Valenzuela misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Drago!
Our winner, Ivan Drago, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.