PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Louden Swain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Swain's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Foreigner "Hot Blooded". 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.

Swain
vs
Drake

175 cm
19
141 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

174 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Das Labor
NATURAL BEAST

Vandal fight Boutique -ACME-

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Louden Swain!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rico Drake!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swain tries to clinch but Drake moves out of range.
Swain tries to clinch but Drake moves out of range.
Swain takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Drake tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Drake wants to clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Drake.
Drake throws a head kick but Swain moves out of range.
Drake throws an overhand right that lands on Swain's shoulder, as Swain tries to avoid the shot.

Swain moves into the clinch successfully.
Swain digs a right hand into Drake's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Drake's gas tank.
Swain digs a right hand underneath Drake's ribcage. Drake let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Drake lands a knee to the head.

Swain breaks the clinch.
Rico Drake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drake circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Swain. No joy for Drake on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake misses with a low kick.
Drake misses with a double jab.
Swain looks to clinch
and Drake counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Drake lands a jab to the nose.
Drake tries a head kick but it misses.

Swain clinches up with Drake and pushes him back against the cage.
Swain blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Drake with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Swain struggles to land a body shot inside as Drake controls his hands.
Swain is leaning against Drake and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Drake misses with the head strike.
Swain lands a body punch.
Drake looks gassed!
Swain lands a body punch in the clinch.
Swain lands a shot to the body.

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

Swain shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Drake's guard.

Swain stands up from Drake's guard - Swain perhaps looking for a knockout.
Swain showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Drake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Swain shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Swain was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Swain takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swain's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swain can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Drake is looking to escape.

Swain stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Swain is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Drake throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Swain.
Swain fails to land with a series of punches.

Swain gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swain is thwarting Drake's attempts to control the position.
Swain tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Drake.
Drake is trying to stand.

Swain decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Swain drops Drake with a left and a right! Oh, Drake is hurt - Swain dives into side control looking to finish!

Drake is rocked!

It looks like Rico Drake has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Swain decides to stand back up.
Drake is still on wobbly legs! Can Swain finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Swain has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louden Swain dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rico Drake's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Drake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Drake seems to have recovered his senses.
Drake fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Drake misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Swain clinches up with Drake and pushes him back against the cage.
Swain misses with a punch to the body.
Swain misses with a body punch.
Drake blocks a body shot from Swain.
Drake prevents a body shot from Swain.
A short body shot lands from Swain as the two fighters clinch.
Swain digs a right hand into Drake's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Drake's gas tank.
Swain lands a body punch.
Swain keeps control of Drake as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Still in the clinch, Swain scores with a nice short uppercut.
Swain pushes Drake back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A right hand to the body from Swain.
Drake is breathing heavily.

Swain pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Drake throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Swain throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Drake avoids the body shot from Swain.
Swain shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Drake but Drake pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Swain staying out of range there.
Drake misses with a looping left.
Drake avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Drake ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Swain moves away.
Drake is looking to clinch.

Swain closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Swain lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drake wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Swain stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Drake wants to clinch.

Swain fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Drake sprawls well initially but Swain persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Swain stands up out of the half guard.

Swain closes the distance and clinches.
Swain lands a nice shot to the body.
Drake working aggressively here.
A right handed body shot lands from Swain.
Drake tries to work over Swain's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Swain lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swain is leaning against Drake and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Swain working some nice short punches in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Swain creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Swain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Drake circles away from the clinch attempt.
Swain shoots in but Drake avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Swain wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Drake.
A nice combination there by Drake.
Drake paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Swain stuffs the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Swain looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Swain fails to land with a series of punches.
A big right from Drake misses.
Drake keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Louden Swain is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drake throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Swain misses with a hook.
Drake attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Drake scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louden Swain dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rico Drake's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Drake fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Swain looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Swain gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Drake throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Swain tries to clinch but Drake moves out of range.
Swain avoids the head kick by Drake.
Swain throws a series of punches but Drake moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drake misses with a low kick as Swain jumps back.

Swain looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Drake!
Swain knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drake on the ground.
Drake is squirming around, avoiding Swain's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swain avoids the attempt from Drake to control.
Swain wants to control the pace but Drake is squirming around nicely.

Swain get's back to his feet.
Drake wants to clinch up but Swain keeps it at a distance.
Drake throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Drake swats away the attempt to clinch by Swain.
Drake misses with a combination

and Swain holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Swain misses with a body punch.
Swain lands a body punch.

Swain breaks from the clinch.
Drake tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Swain counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Swain is leaning against Drake and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Swain is working Drake over against the cage.

Swain breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Drake lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Swain circles away quickly and effectively.
Swain takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Swain moves into the clinch.
A short right from Drake on the inside.
Drake wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Drake wants to break the clinch but can't.
Swain throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Swain lands a body punch.
Drake has had enough of the clinch but Swain keeps him there for the moment.
Swain cracks Drake with a nice body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Swain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Swain.
A body shot lands from Swain.
Swain lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Drake.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Swain.
Swain digs a right hand underneath Drake's ribcage. Drake let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A right handed body shot lands from Swain.
Swain scores with a shot to the side of Drake's head.
Swain is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Drake can do to turn this around?

Swain breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Swain throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Drake's waist but Drake gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Swain off to one side.
Swain shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Drake pinned against the cage. Drake gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Drake shoots for a takedown but Swain saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A combination from Swain does no damage.
Swain is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake tries a head kick but it misses.
Drake connects with a crisp jab.
Drake looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Swain is fending him off so far but Drake persists. Nope, Swain circles away and we're back to standing.
Swain changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Drake tries to avoid it but Swain manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Drake to the ground. Drake escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Louden Swain. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swain takes a jab right on the kisser.
Drake throws a series of punches but Swain moves out of range.
Swain looks for a takedown but Drake sprawls well.
Drake misses with a two punch combination.
Swain tries to clinch but Drake is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louden Swain clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Rico Drake's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Drake tries a head kick but it misses.
Drake closes the distance looking to clinch

and Swain counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Drake!

Swain gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Drake throws a one two combo.
Drake dodges the punch combination from Swain.
Drake fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A combination from Drake does no damage.
Drake throws a left and a right that both miss

and Swain counters by clinching up.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake has had enough of the clinch but Swain keeps him there for the moment.
Swain blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Swain scores with a hook to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Swain.

Swain breaks from the clinch.

Swain gets a takedown into half guard.

Swain postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Drake to stand up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Drake darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Drake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Swain looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Drake misses with a combination

and Swain counters with a nice double leg into side control. Drake won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
You can see the frustration on Drake's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Swain has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Swain lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Drake circles away quickly and effectively.
Drake misses with a two punch combination.
Drake darts in trying to clinch

and Swain counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Swain postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Drake to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swain circles away from the clinch attempt.

Swain moves into the clinch.
Swain lands a right hand.
Swain avoiding damage as Drake throws knees to the body.
Swain lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Swain pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Drake lands a really nice looking cross but Swain seems unphased.
Drake throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drake lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Swain circles away quickly and effectively.
Drake misses with a head kick.
Swain tests Drake's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Swain ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Drake swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A combination from Swain does no damage.
Drake throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Drake gets caught flat footed, as Swain shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Swain wants to stand but Drake has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Swain gets to his feet. Drake looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A shot to de liver by Swain. Beautiful body shot.
Swain fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Drake manages to avoid it.
Drake fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louden Swain had his way with Rico Drake in that round.
The cut man is working on Rico Drake's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Swain tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Drake paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Swain showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Drake.
Drake thows a left - swing and a miss!
Drake fakes the leg kick and cracks Swain in the body.
Swain misses the shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Swain.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swain looks to land a left hand but Drake moved out of range nicely.
Swain moves out of range of the body kick.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Swain doesn't manage to clinch there - Drake circles away.
Drake throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake misses with a wild body shot.

Swain rushes Drake and presses him up against the cage.
Drake wants to break free but Swain has control.
Good body shot from Swain.
Drake wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short uppercut from Swain.
Drake is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Swain lands a body shot in the clinch.

Swain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Swain tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Drake counters with a left and a right that stings Swain.
Swain blocks a head kick by Drake.
Swain will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Swain looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Swain tries to stand but Drake is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake looking to control.
Drake wants to stand and escape but Swain is having none of it.

Swain decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Drake, up you get!
Drake falls off balance throwing a combination

and Swain holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A hook to the body from Swain.
Drake is looking to break free of the clinch but Swain has double underhooks.
Drake tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Swain manages to break the clinch.
Drake throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Swain looks to throw the jab but Drake is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Swain counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Drake's guard now.

Swain decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Drake, up you get!
Drake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Swain slips a straight right by Drake.

Swain clinches.

Drake has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Swain uses from the top position.

Swain gets to his feet - Drake follows without any prompting.
Swain is looking to wear down Drake with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Swain avoids the head kick by Drake.
Drake tries to close the distance and clinch up but Swain swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swain tries to clinch up.
Drake shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Swain but Swain pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Swain throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Swain swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Drake shoots and misses

and Swain decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Drake's guard.
Louden Swain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico Drake.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Drake is looking to stand up but Swain isn't so interested in that idea.

Swain stands and steps away. Drake gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rico Drake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Swain looks for a takedown but Drake sprawls well.
Louden Swain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Swain looks to land a combination but Drake avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Louden Swain showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Swain has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 50:44
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 50:44
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 50:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Louden Swain!
Louden Swain is the new bantamweight champion!