PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jaakko Parantainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gavin Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Drake's choice of entrance music: Beamer, Benz, or Bentley by Lloyd Banks. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Parantainen
vs
Drake

180 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
170 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Australian Xtreme - Elite Supplements
Heavy Weight Nutrition (*Recovery 152 $50!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jaakko Parantainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gavin Drake!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Parantainen doesn't manage to clinch there - Drake circles away.
Drake blocks a head kick by Parantainen.
Drake shoots in looking for a takedown. Parantainen tries to sprawl out of it but Drake keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Parantainen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Drake fails with the takedown.
Parantainen tries to clinch up.
Good leg kick by Parantainen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Drake looks for a takedown but Parantainen sprawls well.
Jaakko Parantainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gavin Drake.

Drake gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Parantainen lands a knee to the body.

Parantainen pulls Drake into guard.
Drake prevents Parantainen from getting back to his feet.

Drake has gone for a leg lock! Parantainen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Drake's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parantainen looking to sit in guard and control but Drake gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Parantainen keeping full guard, as Drake tries to pass.
Drake looking to sit in guard and control but Parantainen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Parantainen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A head kick misses from Parantainen.
Gavin Drake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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.
Drake ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Drake's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Drake duly obliges.
Drake misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Parantainen.

Parantainen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Parantainen working a defensive guard here.
Parantainen is looking to stand up but Drake isn't so interested in that idea.
Drake passes Parantainen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Drake is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Parantainen defends it well.
Parantainen is refusing to be controlled, as Drake sits in half guard.
Drake looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drake is working for a submission of some sort.
Parantainen misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Drake is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Parantainen reverses the position - he's now on top in Drake's guard.

Drake looking for a guillotine here but Parantainen defends easily.

That's four 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.
Parantainen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drake works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Parantainen gets to his feet - Drake follows without any prompting.
Parantainen is looking to clinch.
Drake blocks a head kick by Parantainen.
Parantainen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Drake.
Parantainen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Drake shoots in but Parantainen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
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 Jaakko Parantainen will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Parantainen throws a head kick but Drake moves out of range.
Drake fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Drake displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Parantainen throws out the jab.
Parantainen closes the distance looking to clinch

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

Drake drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Parantainen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Drake has Parantainen in his guard.
Parantainen stopping the sweep attempt from Drake.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parantainen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Drake's guard.
Drake is breathing heavily.
Parantainen wants to stand and escape but instead Drake has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Parantainen wants to sweep here but Drake controlling him for the moment.
Parantainen wants to stand and escape but Drake is having none of it.
Drake pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Parantainen is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Drake with a flurry of punches that miss.
Parantainen wants to get back to his feet but Drake passes into half guard.

Drake is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Parantainen defends it well.
Parantainen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drake on the ground.
Drake is keen to just control but Parantainen is a slippery customer.
Drake with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Drake seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parantainen pushes Drake off looking to stand but Drake dives back in and keeps control.

Drake is looking for a kimura but Parantainen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Drake to get the leverage.
Drake prevents Parantainen from standing back up.

Parantainen kicks Drake off and gets back to his feet.
Parantainen throws a lazy head kick

so Drake counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Drake showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Drake drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Parantainen dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Parantainen is looking to stand up but Drake won't let him.
Parantainen looking to sit in guard and control but Drake gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Parantainen is trying to keep Drake in close.
Parantainen wants to stand and escape but Drake is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin Drake showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Parantainen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Drake thumps Parantainen with a low kick.
Parantainen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Drake shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Parantainen as he avoids it easily.
Drake throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Drake lands a front kick.
Drake fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Drake throws a head kick that misses
and Parantainen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Drake misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jaakko Parantainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gavin Drake.
Parantainen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Drake.
Parantainen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Parantainen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drake feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Parantainen wants to stand up but Drake is controlling him.
Drake postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drake is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Parantainen is aware though and is defending well.
Drake tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Drake throws his legs up looking for a submission but Parantainen uses it to pass to side control.
Drake tries to improve position but can't.
Parantainen lands an elbow.
Drake manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Drake trying to control but Parantainen postures up.
Gavin Drake has got the better of the ground game so far.

Drake is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Parantainen pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake is looking to control Parantainen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Drake avoid being mounted?
Drake is pressing down on Parantainen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Drake escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Parantainen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Parantainen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Parantainen tries to stand but Drake is controlling from the bottom.
Parantainen looking to sit in guard and control but Drake gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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 wants to control from the top but Parantainen keeps moving.
Parantainen wants to stand but Drake is controlling the position.
Drake lands a couple of elbows.
Parantainen wants to stand but Drake is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gavin Drake comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

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