PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Holden Gracie (ranked 1996 p4p, 2123 weight class) and Damian Drake (ranked 273 p4p, 288 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Drake

190 cm
30
196
7 - 4 - 0

183 cm
33
202
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Holden Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damian Drake!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Eliza Hachem and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a hook but Drake avoids it easily.
Drake throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Some wild striking there from Gracie.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracie waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Drake.
Drake blocks a head kick by Gracie.
Gracie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And Drake tries to counter it with a takedown but Gracie pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
A shot to the body from Gracie misses
and Drake counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie throws a quick counter head kick but Drake was just out of range.
Gracie scores with a jab to the jaw.
Gracie works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Drake circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gracie closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie manages to break the clinch.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Drake has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Gracie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Drake struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
Gracie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Drake manages to break the clinch.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drake has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gracie finds it's way round the side to connect with Drake's head.
Drake 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.
Gracie scores with a body shot.
Jab, jab by Gracie - just one landing.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Drake lands with a good body shot.
Jab, jab by Drake - just one landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Drake tries to keep at a distance but Gracie has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Drake is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Drake tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Gracie can't break the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gracie creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Drake tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gracie is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Drake misses with the head strike.
A body shot lands from Gracie.

Drake's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Drake moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Drake is rocked!
Holden Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drake dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Drake throws a counter combo.
Gracie cracks Drake with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Drake is still on wobbly legs! Can Gracie finish him?
Gracie goes for a small jab and connects. Now Gracie goes in closer pressing the issue. Left hook, right straight! Drake stumbles back but Gracie runs in with a huge uppercut knocking Drake to the ground! What a finish! You have to wonder if Drake will ever be the same after a knockout like that.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Holden Gracie!