PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricci Morocco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drago's entrance music is Drago. A fine choice. Ivan Drago has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Drago
vs
Morocco

200 cm
30
265 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

191 cm
27
213 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ivan Drago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricci Morocco!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago walks forward, straight into a front kick from Morocco.
Drago loads up on a big right hand but Morocco slips the punch.
Drago throws an overhand right that lands on Morocco's shoulder, as Morocco tries to avoid the shot.
Drago throws a body punch but Morocco moves out of range.
Morocco follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Ricci Morocco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morocco stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like Ivan Drago has been cut.
Morocco tries to land a front kick but Drago steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A nice inside leg kick there by Morocco. That's going to slow Drago down.
Drago comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Morocco displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Drago throws out the jab.
Morocco throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Drago's head.
Drago blocks the body kick.
Drago misses the jab.
A countering left hand to the body from Morocco misses.
Nice body kick there by Morocco.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morocco steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Drago.
Morocco has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Morocco misses with a kick to the body.
Morocco throws a push kick but Drago slaps the foot to one side.
Morocco tries to work over Drago's front leg with a kick but Drago checks it.
Drago catches Morocco with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Morocco defending well as Drago loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago misses with a hook. Morocco ducked under it nicely.
A big left from Drago misses.
Morocco has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Morocco there as he acknowledges the shot.
Drago lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Morocco at a distance.
Drago uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Morocco.
Drago appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Drago swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Drago slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Morocco moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Drago getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The fight stays on the outside here - Morocco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Morocco throws a low kick but Drago avoids it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Morocco.
Morocco misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Drago.
Morocco fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Drago is out of range.
Drago throws a big counter combination but Morocco scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Drago looks to throw the jab but Morocco is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago digs a good body shot into Morocco's ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Drago checks a leg kick.
A big right from Drago misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Drago. Morocco does a little dance to reset his feet.
Morocco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Drago.
Morocco slips under a jab from Drago.
Drago has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Drago there as he acknowledges the shot.
Morocco scores with a spinning back kick!
Drago misses with a two punch combination.
Drago looks to land a right hand but Morocco moved out of range.
Drago throws a hook to the side of Morocco's head but Morocco sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Morocco looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Drago takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Morocco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morocco takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Morocco throws a shot to the body.
Morocco delivers a nice body kick.
Morocco is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Drago rather than just go for the knockout.
Drago is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Morocco, right into the meat.
Morocco scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Morocco gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Drago misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Drago blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Morocco scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Morocco fails to land.
Morocco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Drago is trying to break the clinch but Morocco is controlling him.
Morocco with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Drago breaks the clinch.
Drago throws a hook but Morocco blocks it.
Morocco misses with a body kick.
Drago has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Morocco.
Drago fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Morocco manages to avoid it.
Drago throws the left hand but Morocco avoids the punch easily.
Morocco throws a body shot but no joy.
Drago jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Morocco misses its intended target.
Morocco looks for the body kick but Drago saw that one coming.
Drago is looking to counter punch.
Drago throws the left hand but Morocco avoids the punch easily.
Morocco lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morocco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Morocco ducks under a wild hook from Drago.
Drago misses with an uppercut
and Morocco counters with a nice body kick.
Drago throws a hook but Morocco blocks it.
Drago misses with a wild body shot.
Morocco lands a nice shot that snaps Drago's head back.
Morocco lands a high kick!
Crunch! Morocco slams his shin into Drago's torso.
A good leg kick by Morocco.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Morocco lands a big head kick that sends Drago tumbling to the mat! Morocco takes a step backwards and waves Drago back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Drago is rocked!
Drago doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Oh Drago is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Morocco scores with a leg kick.
Morocco lands with a kick to the ribs.
Morocco lands with a kick to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricci Morocco dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Drago's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Morocco throws a head kick but Drago moves out of range.
Drago seems to have got his legs back now.
Drago will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Morocco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drago was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Morocco thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Drago if he has to take too many more of those.
Drago throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Morocco sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A head kick misses from Morocco.
Drago swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Drago scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Morocco throws a low kick but it's checked well by Drago.
Morocco slips under a jab.
Drago throws a right and a left that both miss.
Drago looks to land a left hand but Morocco moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago lands a slapping body shot.
Morocco jabs at Drago's body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drago misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Morocco tries to clinch up but Drago circles away and keeps his distance.
Drago misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Morocco. Morocco obviously looking to wear him down.
Morocco connects with a body shot.
Morocco scores with a push kick.
Morocco looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Drago blocks the body kick.
Morocco throws a leg kick but Drago checks it.
Morocco throws a leg kick which misses Drago's front leg but catches the back leg as Drago tries to avoid it.
Morocco fakes the leg kick and cracks Drago in the body.
Drago slips under a jab.
Morocco misses with a kick to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Morocco.
Morocco bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Morocco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters circling - Drago throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Morocco lands a nice looking kick to the body. Drago takes a step back to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Morocco lands a big head kick that sends Drago tumbling to the mat! Morocco takes a step backwards and waves Drago back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Morocco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Drago misses the shot to the body.
Drago on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Morocco. Morocco obviously looking to wear him down.
Morocco throws the left hand but Drago avoids the punch easily.

Drago gets tackled into the cage by Morocco. Morocco maintains the clinch.
Morocco blocks a body shot from Drago.
Morocco is looking to control Drago's arms but Drago gets an underhook and turns him. Now Morocco has his back to the cage.
Morocco is struggling to control the position.
Morocco tries to work over Drago's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Drago wants to break free but Morocco has control.
Drago's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.

Drago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Morocco throws a sloppy head kick and Drago moves out of range easily.
Morocco misses with a wild body shot.
Drago was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Drago avoids a kick to the body.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Morocco in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Morocco sizes up Drago with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morocco tries to bum rush Drago with a series of wild strikes but Drago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Drago was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Morocco misses with an uppercut. Drago saw that one coming.
Drago misses with a double jab.
Morocco scoring well with a low kick there.
Drago throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Morocco throws a sloppy head kick
and Drago cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Morocco staying out of range there.
Morocco throws the kick towards the body but Drago avoids it.
Drago is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Morocco chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Drago slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Morocco ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Morocco lands a leg kick that knocks Drago off balance momentarily.
Drago throws out a loose jab but Morocco uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago checks a leg kick.
Morocco looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morocco misses with a head kick.
Morocco is looking to clinch but Drago is avoiding it.
A little feinted left hand from Drago on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Drago misses with a straight right.
Morocco throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Morocco is looking to slow Drago down with leg kicks.
Morocco is looking to slow Drago down with leg kicks.
Morocco misses with a hook.
Morocco scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Drago swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Drago works over Morocco's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drago misses with a hook.
Morocco throws a leg kick but Drago moved away.
An attempted straight right counter from Drago misses the target.
Morocco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricci Morocco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ivan Drago's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Morocco tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Drago manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Morocco lands with a shot to the body.
Morocco takes a swing at Drago's ribcage but misses.
Drago appears to be looking for a big counter.
Morocco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Morocco connects with the punch.
Drago blocks a head kick by Morocco.
Drago throwing a counter right hand but Morocco manages to avoid it.
Ricci Morocco seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A slapping body kick lands there for Morocco.
Nice defenses there by Drago.
A jab from Drago misses.
Drago blocks the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice uppercut lands for Morocco. That snapped Drago's head back.
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?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morocco lands with a nice body kick.
Drago moves out of range of the body kick.
Morocco buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morocco lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Morocco lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The fighters circling - Drago throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Morocco connects with an inside leg kick.
Morocco lands with a nice body kick.
Morocco scoring well with a low kick there.
Sloppy strikes from Morocco. Those never looked like landing.
Morocco tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Drago was well out of range. Poor timing from Morocco.
Drago checks a leg kick nicely.
Drago was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Morocco fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Morocco scoring well with a low kick there.
Morocco throws a right and a left that Drago avoids nicely.
Drago misses with an uppercut.
Drago takes a swing at Morocco's ribcage but misses.
Morocco slips under a jab.
A countering left hand to the body from Morocco misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Drago moves out of range of the leg kick from Morocco.
Drago on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Morocco moves away from the strike by Drago.
Morocco connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Drago checks the leg kick nicely there.
Morocco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Drago.
An inside leg kick lands from Morocco.
Drago throws a hook to the side of Morocco's head but Morocco sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Morocco misses with a low kick as Drago jumps back.
Drago is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Morocco tries to land a front kick but Drago steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
An attempted straight right counter from Drago misses the target.
Drago takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Morocco throws a leg kick but Drago sees it coming and moves out of range.
Morocco throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Drago blocks the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morocco scores with a jab. Drago acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A solid leg kick lands there for Morocco.
A nice inside leg kick there by Morocco. That's going to slow Drago down.
Morocco throws a lazy head kick
and Drago counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Morocco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Drago.
Morocco looks to land a combination but Drago avoids it well.
Drago swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Morocco tries to clinch up.
Drago checks the leg kick nicely there.
Morocco does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
It looked like Drago wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Morocco looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Drago misses with a hook
and Morocco connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Drago moves out of range of the body kick.
Drago misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Drago misses with a few strikes there.
Drago scores with a nice right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morocco misses with a head kick.
Drago lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Morocco lands with a thumping leg kick.
Morocco throws the kick towards the body but Drago avoids it.
Morocco connects with a high kick.
Morocco throws a sloppy head kick and Drago moves out of range easily.
A swing and a miss from Drago.
Morocco lands a head kick. Drago smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Drago scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Drago tries to move into range but Morocco moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Ivan Drago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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?

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricci Morocco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morocco 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricci Morocco!
Ivan Drago was interviewed post fight and said '"He's not human, he's like a piece of iron."'.