PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jay Shumaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Draak Drakovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Shumaker
vs
Drakovic

159 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jay Shumaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Draak Drakovic!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drakovic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shumaker tries to avoid it but Drakovic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shumaker to the ground. Shumaker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shumaker shoots in but no luck this time.
Drakovic tries a head kick but it misses.

Shumaker looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Shumaker engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Drakovic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shumaker is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Drakovic keeping moving, preventing Shumaker from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jay Shumaker.

Shumaker forces Drakovic back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drakovic prevents a body shot from Shumaker.

Shumaker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shumaker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Drakovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Drakovic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shumaker could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Shumaker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Drakovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shumaker paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Drakovic misses with the combination.
Drakovic doesn't manage to clinch there - Shumaker circles away.
Shumaker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Drakovic avoids it really well and circles away.

Shumaker gets caught napping as Drakovic dives in and scores a takedown. Shumaker manages to retain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drakovic is stalling in the full guard.
Shumaker wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shumaker 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.
Shumaker working a defensive guard here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Drakovic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shumaker is keeping the position for now.
Shumaker on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shumaker tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shumaker shoots in for a takedown but Drakovic shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Shumaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shumaker misses with a takedown attempt - Drakovic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shumaker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shumaker is breathing heavily.
Drakovic wants to clinch up but Shumaker keeps it at a distance.
Drakovic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shumaker sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Drakovic somewhat.
Drakovic fails in his attempt to clinch.

Drakovic closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Shumaker did well to prevent Drakovic getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drakovic is pressing down on Shumaker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Shumaker is holding on for now.
Drakovic passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Shumaker!
Drakovic lands a nice shot to the head.
Shumaker is in all sorts of trouble here.
Shumaker wants to control but Drakovic is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shumaker keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shumaker trying desperately to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Draak Drakovic will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shumaker shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Drakovic counter with a right hand.
Shumaker tries to clinch there but Drakovic circles away.
Shumaker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No joy there for Drakovic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Drakovic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shumaker avoids it really well and circles away.
Drakovic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shumaker was well out of range. Poor timing from Drakovic.
Shumaker tries to clinch up but Drakovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Shumaker avoids the body shot from Drakovic.
Drakovic with a lazy takedown attempt

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shumaker tries a knee to the head but Drakovic blocks it.
Drakovic blocks an elbow strike from Shumaker.
Drakovic tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shumaker just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jay Shumaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Draak Drakovic.
Drakovic is trying to drag Shumaker to the mat but Shumaker just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Shumaker has hold of one of Drakovic's legs. Drakovic is fighting the takedown attempt but Shumaker gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Drakovic has a closed guard, preventing Shumaker from standing up.
Drakovic wants to stand but Shumaker is controlling the position.
Drakovic is breathing heavily.
Shumaker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shumaker might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drakovic has an active guard here but Shumaker has managed to pass into half guard.
Drakovic wants to get back to his feet.
Shumaker moves nicely into side control.
The referee asks Shumaker politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Shumaker prefers to stall for the moment though.
Shumaker working away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shumaker wants to stand but Drakovic is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shumaker thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Drakovic tries to buck Shumaker off but Shumaker is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Drakovic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shumaker trying to control the action but Drakovic is working from the bottom.
Jay Shumaker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shumaker tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drakovic is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Drakovic being controlled for a moment.

Shumaker is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Drakovic knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shumaker tries to stand but Drakovic is controlling his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Shumaker dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Drakovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Shumaker sprawls well. He's pushed Drakovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shumaker fails with a takedown attempt.

Shumaker closes the distance and clinches.
Drakovic is trying to pull guard but Shumaker has him pressed against the cage.
Shumaker has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Drakovic after a bit of a struggle.
Shumaker has Drakovic pressed against the cage, preventing Drakovic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Shumaker has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Drakovic uses from the top position.
Drakovic wants to get up but he can't break Shumaker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Shumaker looking for a guillotine here but Drakovic defends easily.
Shumaker 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shumaker is trying to control the position but Drakovic postures up.
Drakovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Shumaker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drakovic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shumaker is trying to control the position but Drakovic postures up.
Shumaker keeping moving, preventing Drakovic from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jay Shumaker just wasn't active enough.
Drakovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jay Shumaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Draak Drakovic.
Shumaker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shumaker tries to clinch up.
Shumaker shoots for a double leg takedown but Drakovic sprawls well. He's pushed Shumaker's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Some wild striking there from Drakovic.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Drakovic.
Shumaker is trying to control Drakovic's posture but Drakovic avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drakovic controls the position from side control.
Shumaker is looking for a sweep.

Drakovic looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Drakovic is looking to take a break and control but Shumaker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drakovic is staying tight to Shumaker's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Drakovic trying to control the position but Shumaker is working away.
Drakovic tries to stand but Shumaker is controlling his head.
Drakovic wants to take a breather but Shumaker manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Drakovic.

And that's the end of the fight!
Draak Drakovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Drakovic 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for Jay Shumaker!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Jay Shumaker!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Jay Shumaker!

Jay Shumaker wins by unanimous decision!