PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Duke Richard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitch Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duke Richard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Richard
vs
Drake

176 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
159 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Duke Richard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mitch Drake!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richard scores a takedown into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drake gets back to half guard.

Drake actively working from the bottom here.
Drake wants to improve his position but Richard is controlling well.
Drake wants to get back to his feet.
Drake is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richard is working for a kimura but Drake is defending it quite comfortably.
Drake wants to get back to his feet.
Richard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Richard shoots in for a double leg but Drake sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mitch Drake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Drake fails in his attempt to clinch.
Drake tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Drake looks to land a right hand but Richard moved out of range.
Richard circles away from the clinch attempt.

Richard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Drake manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake misses with a head shot. Richard uses the momentum to regain guard.
Drake looking to sit in guard and control but Richard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Richard wants to control from the top but Drake keeps moving.

Drake looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Richard passes into half guard.

That's four 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.
Drake gets full guard.
Richard is breathing heavily.
Drake trying to keep a closed guard but Richard is proving a slippery customer.

Drake has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Richard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drake trying to strike off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Richard dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Drake fails in his attempt to clinch.
Drake throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Richard has a takedown stuffed.
Richard stuffs the takedown.
Richard takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Richard circles away quickly and effectively.
Drake with a poor takedown

so Richard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Drake working for a triangle but Richard defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Richard prevents Drake from getting back to his feet.
Drake working a defensive guard here.

That's two 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.

Drake is looking for a triangle but Richard pushes his legs off easily.

Drake working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Richard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Richard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Drake working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Richard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richard postures up.
Drake bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Richard's guard.
Drake sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Richard's guard.

Drake is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Richard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Drake.
Drake moves into full mount! Richard won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richard taking shots to the head.
Drake looking to land elbow strikes but Richard uses the position to regain half guard.
Drake seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mitch Drake will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Drake clinches but Richard breaks the clinch

and Richard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Drake's guard now.
Drake is looking to stand back up but Richard counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Drake.
Duke Richard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Drake is looking to control Richard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Drake avoid being mounted?
Drake is trying to stand.
Richard blocks the strikes from Drake.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richard prevents Drake from improving his position.
Richard trying to pass the guard but Drake defending well.
Drake manages to get to full guard.

Drake has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Richard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Richard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drake swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Drake looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake tries to strike from the bottom.

Drake looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Drake is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Drake has his feet on Richard's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake is looking to clinch but Richard is avoiding it.
Richard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Decent striking displayed by Drake there.
Drake shoots in for a double leg but Richard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Drake throws a head kick that Richard semi-blocks.
Drake misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mitch Drake.
I think Drake 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitch Drake!