PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Francis Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mats Fotoberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Drake
vs
Fotoberg

180 cm
20
176 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
180 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Francis Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mats Fotoberg!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fotoberg takes a swing at Drake's ribcage but misses.
Fotoberg with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Drake takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Fotoberg fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Drake manages to avoid it.
Fotoberg looks to land a right hand but Drake moved out of range.
Fotoberg changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A big right from Drake misses.

Fotoberg gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Drake pushing down on Fotoberg's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Drake trying to control the pace.
Fotoberg really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Drake. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fotoberg is doing well to control the position and prevent Drake from advancing to side control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fotoberg manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Drake wants to pass the guard but Fotoberg is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drake preventing the sweep.
Fotoberg keeping full guard, as Drake tries to pass.
Drake stops Fotoberg from standing up.
Drake wants to get up but he can't break Fotoberg's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Drake won't allow Fotoberg to get back to his feet.
Drake sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fotoberg scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fotoberg.
Mats Fotoberg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice cross by Fotoberg.
A jab from Fotoberg misses.
Fotoberg tried to score with a low kick but Drake checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Fotoberg.
Fotoberg throws a series of punches but Drake moves out of range.
Mats Fotoberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fotoberg slaps away a takedown attempt from Drake, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fotoberg looks to throw the jab but Drake is out of range.
Fotoberg misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Drake.
Fotoberg wants to land a leg kick but Drake is out of range.
Fotoberg takes a swing at Drake's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Drake keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fotoberg misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fotoberg pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Drake back to the cage. Fotoberg follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Fotoberg is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Drake rather than just go for the knockout.
Fotoberg is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Drake.
Fotoberg connects with a nice looking jab.
Fotoberg tries to clinch up but Drake circles away and keeps his distance.
Fotoberg thows a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Fotoberg dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice defenses there by Drake.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fotoberg. Drake does a little dance to reset his feet.
Drake shoots in but no luck this time.
Fotoberg swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Fotoberg cracks Drake with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Fotoberg misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fotoberg throws the left hand but Drake avoids the punch easily.
Drake with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Fotoberg to score with a decent uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fotoberg throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fotoberg looks to land a left hand but Drake moved out of range nicely.
Fotoberg looks to score with a jab to the body but Drake is just out of range.
Fotoberg throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Drake drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Fotoberg keeping moving, preventing Drake from controlling successfully.
Fotoberg is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Drake tries to free his leg and advance position but Fotoberg is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fotoberg looking to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Fotoberg has a closed guard, preventing Drake from standing up.

Mats Fotoberg has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Fotoberg connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Drake shoots in looking for a takedown. Fotoberg tries to sprawl out of it but Drake keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fotoberg manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fotoberg moves in looking to clinch but Drake pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fotoberg lands a jab to Drake's midsection.
Drake fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fotoberg catches Drake with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Fotoberg misses the shot to the body.
Drake on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Drake is defended easily by Fotoberg.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis Drake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fotoberg throws a low kick but it's checked well by Drake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Drake misses the shot to the body.
Fotoberg throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Drake shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fotoberg pinned against the cage. Fotoberg gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drake slips a straight right by Fotoberg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Fotoberg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Drake shoots in for a double leg but Fotoberg sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fotoberg throws a hook to the side of Drake's head but Drake sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fotoberg throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Horrible takedown by Drake or perhaps it was just good defense by Fotoberg which made him look bad.
Fotoberg throws a right hand that Drake ducks under and follows up with a left that Drake also avoids with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fotoberg sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis Drake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fotoberg lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fotoberg stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fotoberg wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fotoberg punishes Drake's body with a nice straight punch.
Fotoberg fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Fotoberg ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Fotoberg lands a glancing blow to the side of Drake's head.
Fotoberg misses with a body shot
and Drake counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Drake on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Fotoberg misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fotoberg moves out of range of the strikes.
Fotoberg scores with a jab.
Drake showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fotoberg.
Fotoberg throws a looping overhand right but Drake ducks down to avoid it.
Jab from Fotoberg.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Drake steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fotoberg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fotoberg misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Drake.
Fotoberg scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Fotoberg connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Drake momentarily.
Drake steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fotoberg.
Drake slips a jab and a cross from Fotoberg.
Drake takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fotoberg scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fotoberg fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Drake looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Fotoberg fails to land with a series of punches.
Drake takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mats Fotoberg is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fotoberg throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Fotoberg has closed the distance and engaged Drake in a clinch.
Fotoberg leaning his opponent against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fotoberg scores with a shoulder strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mats Fotoberg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Fotoberg winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 26:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mats Fotoberg!