PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Petr Vondrachek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Drago
vs
Vondrachek

183 cm
21
200 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
216 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Syndicate Drugs

Predator Nutrition

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Drago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Petr Vondrachek!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Vondrachek to score with a decent uppercut.
Nice body punch from Vondrachek.
Vondrachek throws a right and a left that both miss.

Drago darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Drago sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vondrachek defending well though.
Drago is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Drago blocks the strikes from Vondrachek.
Vondrachek trying to hold on to Drago's head to control him but Drago postures up.
Drago wants to pass to mount but Vondrachek is defending the position.
Vondrachek trying to hold on to Drago's head to control him but Drago postures up.
Drago prevents Vondrachek from improving his position.
Vondrachek missing with punches from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Drago looks for a takedown but Vondrachek sprawls well.
Vondrachek fails to land with a series of punches.
A lazy left from Vondrachek finds it's target.
Vondrachek throws a right and a left that Drago avoids nicely.
Vondrachek throws a series of punches but Drago moves out of range.
Drago fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Vondrachek misses with a body kick.
Vondrachek misses with a straight left.
Vondrachek misses with a straight right.
Petr Vondrachek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vondrachek looks to land a right hand but Drago moved out of range.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drago gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Vondrachek regains guard.
Drago is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Drago prevents Vondrachek from getting back to his feet.
Vondrachek keeping full guard, as Drago tries to pass.
Drago trying to control the position from guard on top but Vondrachek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drago stops Vondrachek from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Drago gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drago working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Vondrachek tries to escape but Drago is in control.
Drago trying to control the action but Vondrachek is working from the bottom.
Vondrachek is looking for a sweep.
Drago working the head with strikes.
Vondrachek is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Drago asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Drago is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Vondrachek wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drago tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Drago is looking to take a break and control but Vondrachek is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vondrachek throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Drago tries to score with some ground and pound. Vondrachek controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vondrachek is not content to let Drago control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Drago clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nikolai Drago will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Vondrachek misses with an uppercut. Drago saw that one coming.

Drago shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Poor strikes thrown by Drago there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Drago can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Vondrachek is looking to escape.
Drago lands a big shot there that rocks Vondrachek but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
You get the feeling that Vondrachek really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Vondrachek throwing hammer fists to the chest of Drago. What's that going to do exactly?
Vondrachek swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Vondrachek is trying desperately to improve position.
Vondrachek is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Vondrachek tries to lock up and control but Drago gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Drago looking to control but Vondrachek is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Drago manages to capitalize on a mistake by Vondrachek to take his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vondrachek defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

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

Vondrachek preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Drago.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vondrachek tries to roll but Drago sticks to his back.
Drago biding his time, controlling Vondrachek.

Drago working for a choke but Vondrachek is defending well.
Drago misses with a punch to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vondrachek trying to control the action but Drago just sinks the hooks in.
Drago has the hooks in. Vondrachek is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Vondrachek wants to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Vondrachek's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Vondrachek is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Vondrachek trying to get back to his feet but Drago is in full control for now.
Vondrachek is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Drago off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
I really don't envy Vondrachek right now.
Drago is trying to stick to Vondrachek's back but Vondrachek is turning into Drago. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Drago's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Vondrachek.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vondrachek stopping the sweep attempt from Drago.
Drago has a closed guard, preventing Vondrachek from standing up.

Vondrachek decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Drago, up you get!

Drago drives through and clinches with Vondrachek against the cage.
Vondrachek wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vondrachek is looking to break free of the clinch but Drago has double underhooks.
Drago tries for a takedown. No joy.
Vondrachek can't break the clinch.

Drago pulls guard effortlessly.
Drago manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Vondrachek is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Drago blocks Vondrachek's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Drago wants to control the pace but Vondrachek is squirming around nicely.

Drago has hold of Vondrachek's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Vondrachek manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Vondrachek tries to reverse the position but Drago maintains control.
Drago takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Drago dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Vondrachek misses with an uppercut. Drago saw that one coming.
Vondrachek misses with a few strikes there.
Vondrachek throws a series of strikes that have Drago backpedaling.
Vondrachek misses with a straight left.
Vondrachek lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Drago gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Vondrachek being controlled against the cage.
Vondrachek wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vondrachek wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vondrachek wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Drago has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago tries to pull guard but Vondrachek holds him up against the cage and eventually Drago drops back down to his feet.

Drago ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Drago no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Vondrachek throwing strikes from guard but Drago blocks nicely.
Vondrachek wants to stand but Drago is controlling his posture from full guard.
Vondrachek stopping the sweep attempt from Drago.
Vondrachek throws a strike but Drago rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Drago works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Drago is trying to work for a kimura but Vondrachek is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago wants to pass the guard but Vondrachek is defending well.
Drago wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vondrachek keeps working.
Vondrachek slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Drago stops Vondrachek from standing up.
Vondrachek throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Vondrachek is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Drago is controlling him.
Vondrachek takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Drago bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Drago is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Vondrachek knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vondrachek is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Drago is controlling him well.
Drago has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Vondrachek!
Vondrachek is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Nikolai Drago overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Drago controlling the pace for now.

Drago with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Drago trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vondrachek is working to get back to half guard.
Vondrachek tries to strike from the bottom but he's left himself exposed and Drago has taken his back.
Petr Vondrachek has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Drago is looking to control Vondrachek but Vondrachek is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Vondrachek holding both Drago 's hands and preventing any damage.
Nikolai Drago is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vondrachek tries to roll but Drago sticks to his back.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Vondrachek is trying to get back to his feet but Drago has full control of the position and if anything, Vondrachek has just worked his way into a worse spot.
You can see the frustration on Vondrachek's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nikolai Drago.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Drago, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

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