PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gavin Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elvis Poluga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drake's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Beamer, Benz, or Bentley by Lloyd Banks. Poluga comes into a darkened arena with his song building. My Time Is Now kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Elvis Poluga told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Drake
vs
Poluga

180 cm
21
170 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

170 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Heavy Weight Nutrition (*Recovery 152 $25!)

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gavin Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elvis Poluga!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Drake shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Poluga napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Drake tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Poluga is trying to improve his position.

Drake tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Poluga is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Poluga is looking to control Drake's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Poluga avoid being mounted?

Drake is working for a submission of some sort.
Poluga keeping hold of Drake's head, controlling as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poluga is looking to improve his position.
Poluga trying to control from the bottom.
Poluga won't allow Drake to pass to mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Drake scores with a takedown into Poluga's guard.
Drake passes Poluga's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Poluga tries to get to full guard but Drake has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Poluga manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poluga swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Poluga trying to control the position here.
Drake won't allow Poluga to sweep him here.
Drake trying to control the position from guard on top but Poluga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Poluga looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Drake looking to pass the guard.
Poluga is adopting a defensive guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Drake dives in and grabs Poluga's left leg, looking for a takedown. Poluga pushes down on Drake's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Poluga stuffs the takedown attempt from Drake. Drake gets slowly back to his feet.
Drake moves out of range as Poluga throws a body kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Drake is defended easily by Poluga.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Drake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drake keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Poluga tries to close the distance and clinch but Drake swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Drake avoids the head kick by Poluga.
Drake shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Poluga as he avoids it easily.
Drake shoots in for a double leg but Poluga sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Drake is breathing heavily.
Drake lands with a kick to the temple. Poluga shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Drake gets caught flat footed, as Poluga shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Poluga slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Poluga postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Drake escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Poluga gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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 Gavin Drake will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Poluga ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Drake moves away.
Drake misses with a takedown attempt

and Poluga counters with a single leg into guard. Drake didn't expect that.
Poluga slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Drake is trying to control the position but Poluga postures up.
Poluga sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Drake's guard.
Nice strikes from Poluga there.
Poluga keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Poluga wants to free his trapped foot but Drake is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Poluga controlling the action here.
Drake has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Poluga is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Poluga's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Poluga's back!
Drake doesn't have the hooks in and Poluga manages to turn into his guard.
Poluga throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Poluga's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Poluga tries to free his leg and advance position but Drake is retaining full guard.
Poluga trying to control the position from guard on top but Drake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drake being controlled here, momentarily.
Drake working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Poluga is in close to Drake's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Poluga content to stall in guard here.
Poluga looking to pass the guard.
Drake can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Poluga controls the pace.
Drake looking for a sweep. Not yet Drake, not yet.
Drake is working hard here to advance position.
Poluga tries to free his leg and advance position but Drake is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poluga stopping the sweep attempt from Drake.
Poluga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Drake takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Poluga shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Poluga is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Poluga missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poluga controlling the action here.
Drake has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Poluga is working away from the top position though.
Poluga is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Drake taking shots to the head.
Elvis Poluga has got the better of the ground game so far.
Poluga prevents Drake from getting the reversal.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Poluga cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elvis Poluga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Drake with a poor takedown

and Poluga counters with a nice double leg into side control. Drake won't be happy with that.
Poluga is chipping away with strikes.
Drake struggling a bit here.
Poluga controlling from side mount.
Poluga wants to control but Drake is keeping him busy.
Poluga controls the position from side control.
Poluga scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poluga scores with a couple of short elbows.
Drake wants to control but Poluga postures up.
Poluga slows the pace down.
Poluga trying to control the action but Drake is working from the bottom.
Poluga working the ground and pound.
Poluga has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Poluga throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Poluga takes a little break here. Drake wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two 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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Elvis Poluga just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Drake shoots and misses

and Poluga counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Drake's guard now.
Poluga lands a couple of digs.
Drake controlling Poluga's posture.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drake is trying to control the position but Poluga postures up.
Poluga is stalling in the full guard.
Poluga trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.
Poluga slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Poluga controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poluga lands an elbow.
Poluga slows the pace down.
Poluga is looking to take a break and control but Drake is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Poluga lands an elbow.
Poluga controls the position.
Poluga wants to take a breather but Drake manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Poluga.

Despite being in the dominant position, Elvis Poluga just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Drake has his takedown stuffed

and Poluga counters with a nice double leg into side control. Drake won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Drake. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake trying to remain calm as Poluga controls from the top position.

Poluga has hold of Drake's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Drake seems comfortable defending it but Poluga has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Drake is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Drake is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Poluga couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Elvis Poluga!