PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Darell Cantu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darell Cantu has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cantu
vs
Drago

205 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Darell Cantu!
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, Ivan Drago!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cantu's waist but Cantu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Drago off to one side.
Drago throws a combination. Cantu tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Darell Cantu has been cut.
Cantu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Drago.
Cantu swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cantu shoots in for a double leg but Drago sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Drago tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cantu sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Drago somewhat.
Darell Cantu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Drago.
No luck for Drago with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago closes the distance and clinches up with Cantu, looking for a takedown. Drago pushes Cantu against the cage but Cantu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Drago shoots and misses
and Drago takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cantu leaves Drago with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantu tries to clinch but Drago moves out of range.
Drago throws a sloppy head kick and Cantu moves out of range easily.

Cantu clinches up against the cage.
Drago gets underhooks to prevent Cantu's takedown attempt.
Drago tries to break the clinch but Cantu is controlling the position.
Cantu really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Drago blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Drago can't break the clinch.
Drago is trying to stall.
Cantu with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Cantu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Drago is defended easily by Cantu.
Drago looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cantu throws a right hand that Drago ducks under and follows up with a left that Drago also avoids with ease.
Cantu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Drago as he avoids it easily.
Drago looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cantu is fending him off so far but Drago persists. Nope, Cantu circles away and we're back to standing.
Drago tries for a takedown but Cantu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cantu forces Drago back against the cage and clinches.
Drago is pushing Cantu up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cantu taking a breather.
Cantu is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Drago is keeping busy.
Cantu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Drago's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cantu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Drago moves into range and clinches up with Cantu.
Drago is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Cantu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Drago shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cantu but Cantu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Drago dives in for a single leg takedown but Cantu sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Cantu closes the distance and clinches.
Cantu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cantu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cantu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cantu wants to get back to striking at distance but Drago won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cantu's efforts to push away.
Drago wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cantu misses with a hook to the ribs.
The referee is keeping an eye on Drago - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cantu is trying to push Drago away but Drago has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Drago prevents a body shot from Cantu.
Drago is trying to push Cantu away but Cantu has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cantu struggles to land a body shot inside as Drago controls his hands.
Cantu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Drago's efforts to push away.
Cantu misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darell Cantu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Darell Cantu's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Drago shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cantu defends it nicely.
Darell Cantu is winning the standup battle so far.
Drago circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick misses from Drago.

Cantu clinches up against the cage.
Cantu letting Drago take a breather here.
Drago blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cantu is pushing Drago up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Drago letting Cantu take a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Drago drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cantu pulls his leg out and moves away.
Drago is looking to land body kicks.
Cantu blocks a head kick by Drago.
Cantu looks for the body kick but Drago saw that one coming.

Drago pushes Cantu up against the cage in a clinch.
Cantu is looking to break free of the clinch but Drago has double underhooks.
Cantu is looking to break free of the clinch but Drago has double underhooks.
Cantu is trying to break free.
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 Cantu walks away with a smile on his face. Drago gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Darell Cantu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Drago.
Drago looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Darell Cantu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drago has closed the distance and engaged Cantu in a clinch.
Drago tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Drago is breathing heavily.
Cantu is trying to break the clinch but Drago has him pressed against the cage.
Cantu has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Drago is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cantu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Darell Cantu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cantu looking to stall.

Drago has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cantu uses from the top position.
Cantu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Drago looking to control.

Cantu drops back looking for a leg! Drago is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Drago manages to kick Cantu off! Cantu jumps back into Drago's guard.
Drago working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cantu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cantu is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Cantu drops back looking for a leg! Drago is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Drago manages to kick Cantu off! Cantu jumps back into Drago's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cantu prevents Drago from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Cantu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Drago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Drago avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Cantu. No joy for Drago on that attempt.
Drago throws a sloppy head kick and Cantu moves out of range easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cantu.
And Drago responds with a good body kick, but Cantu manages to step out the way in time.
Cantu is looking to clinch but Drago is avoiding it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Drago avoids the head kick by Cantu.
Sloppy strikes from Cantu. Those never looked like landing.
Drago drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Cantu defends it well.
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.
The cut man is working on Darell Cantu's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Drago blocks a head kick by Cantu.

Drago drives through and clinches with Cantu against the cage.
Cantu trying to stall but Drago improves his position.
Drago has Cantu pressed against the cage, preventing Cantu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Drago has had enough of the clinch but Cantu keeps him there for the moment.
Cantu with a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cantu.

Drago jumps into guard, dragging Cantu to the mat.

Drago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cantu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cantu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago managing to control the position.
Cantu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantu stopping the sweep attempt from Drago.
Cantu stops Drago from standing up.
Drago is looking to sweep but instead, Cantu has passed into half guard.
Drago is trying is best to control the position here.
Drago is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Cantu is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Drago keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cantu scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Drago makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Drago.
Drago is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago with a poor takedown
and Cantu makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Drago takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Drago looks for a takedown but Cantu sprawls well.
Cantu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Drago misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Drago keeps the fight on the outside.
Cantu throws a head kick that misses.
Drago keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Cantu has managed to clinch.

Drago pulls guard effortlessly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cantu throwing strikes but missing.

Drago has an active guard here but Cantu has managed to pass into half guard.

Cantu is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cantu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Drago can do to turn this around?

Cantu is looking for a kimura but Drago is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cantu to get the leverage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darell Cantu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cantu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darell Cantu!