PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Spishak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniels Drinkis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spishak's entrance music is Sleeping with Sirens. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Spishak
vs
Drinkis

185 cm
27
216 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

178 cm
26
220 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

The Adrenaline Matrix

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 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sammy Spishak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniels Drinkis!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drinkis lands with an uppercut that bounces Spishak off the cage and back into range.
Spishak misses with a double jab.
Drinkis lands a body shot.
Drinkis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Drinkis scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Drinkis fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Spishak checks it well.
Drinkis wants to clinch.
Drinkis throws a low kick but it's checked well by Spishak.
Drinkis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Spishak.
Spishak swings for the body but Drinkis moves out of range.
Drinkis tries to work over Spishak's front leg with a kick but Spishak checks it.
Daniels Drinkis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drinkis turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Drinkis - just one landing.

Spishak 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.
Spishak trying to control the position from guard on top but Drinkis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drinkis has his hands on Spishak's head, controlling the position.

Drinkis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Spishak defends it easily.
Drinkis managing to control the position.
Drinkis keeping moving, preventing Spishak from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sammy Spishak wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Drinkis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Drinkis dives in and grabs Spishak's left leg, looking for a takedown. Spishak pushes down on Drinkis's head and hops out.
Spishak throws a hook but Drinkis avoids it easily.
Spishak lands a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Drinkis shoots in for a double leg but Spishak sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Drinkis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Spishak's waist but Spishak gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Drinkis off to one side.
Sammy Spishak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniels Drinkis.
Spishak uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Drinkis.
Drinkis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Spishak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Drinkis looks to score with a jab to the body but Spishak is just out of range.
Spishak looks to land a combination but Drinkis avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spishak looks to land a left hand but Drinkis moved out of range nicely.
A jab from Spishak finds it's way through Drinkis's defenses.
A big left from Drinkis misses.
Drinkis takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Drinkis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Spishak sprawls well. Spishak wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Drinkis gets slowly back to his feet.
Drinkis misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Spishak counters with a two punch combo.
Spishak misses with a two punch combination.
A head kick misses from Drinkis.
Drinkis misses with a hook. Spishak ducked under it nicely.
Spishak keeps the fight on the outside.
Donk. Drinkis catches Spishak right on the button with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drinkis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Spishak takes a swing at Drinkis's ribcage but misses.
Spishak takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Drinkis has a takedown stuffed.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spishak walks into a left hand.

Spishak closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Drinkis quickly recovers to half guard.
Drinkis is trying to get back to full guard.
Drinkis trying to control here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Spishak is looking for a kimura but Drinkis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Spishak to get the leverage.

Spishak is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
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 Sammy Spishak will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Drinkis lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Spishak changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Drinkis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Spishak controlling the position from side mount.
Drinkis tries to improve position but can't.

Spishak working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Spishak is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Drinkis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spishak stands up.
Spishak looks to land a right hand but Drinkis moved out of range.
Drinkis tries to clinch up.
Drinkis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Spishak.
Drinkis shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Drinkis moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Drinkis.
Spishak slips a jab from Drinkis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drinkis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Spishak as he avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Drinkis.
Spishak lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Drinkis circles away quickly and effectively.
Drinkis avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Drinkis blocks a jab.
Sammy Spishak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drinkis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Spishak sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Drinkis somewhat.
Sammy Spishak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniels Drinkis.
The fight stays on the outside here - Drinkis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Drinkis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spishak is trying to maintain the position but Drinkis is very close to passing his half guard.
Drinkis wants to pass the guard but Spishak is defending well.
Spishak tries to get to full guard but Drinkis has control of the leg.
Spishak is refusing to be controlled, as Drinkis sits in half guard.
Spishak wants to improve his position but Drinkis is controlling well.

Spishak looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Spishak tries to get to full guard but Drinkis has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drinkis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Spishak is looking to control Drinkis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Spishak avoid being mounted?
Drinkis wants to free his trapped foot but Spishak is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Spishak tries to get to full guard but Drinkis has control of the leg.
Drinkis is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Spishak!
Drinkis lands a big elbow.
Drinkis raining down shots from the mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Drinkis fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spishak keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Drinkis wants to control the pace but Spishak is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniels Drinkis 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! And we move into the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Spishak. No joy for Drinkis on that attempt.
Spishak jabs Drinkis to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Drinkis throws out a powerful jab.
Spishak throws a hook to the side of Drinkis's head but Drinkis sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Spishak misses the shot to the body.
Spishak steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Drinkis. That one must have hurt.
Spishak misses with a straight left.
Drinkis throws a jab when Spishak was well out of range.
Drinkis tries to clinch up.

Drinkis clinches up with Spishak and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spishak is trying to break free.
Drinkis dodges an elbow strike from Spishak.

Spishak turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Spishak tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Spishak has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Spishak looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Drinkis gets back to half guard.
Drinkis is refusing to be controlled, as Spishak sits in half guard.
Drinkis won't allow Spishak to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Spishak is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Drinkis sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drinkis is concentrating on defense, preventing Spishak from advancing position.

Spishak is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Drinkis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Spishak.
Drinkis keeping control of the position.
Spishak wants to pass to mount but Drinkis is defending the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spishak seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Drinkis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sammy Spishak overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Spishak wants to pass the guard but Drinkis is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drinkis is pressing down on Spishak's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Drinkis is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Drinkis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Drinkis trying to control the position here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Drinkis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Spishak circles away quickly and effectively.
Drinkis slips a straight right by Spishak.
Drinkis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Drinkis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Spishak avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drinkis feints and as Spishak raises his hands in defense, Drinkis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Spishak not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Spishak working a defensive guard but Drinkis manages to pass into side control anyway.
Drinkis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Spishak keeps working.
Drinkis lands an elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spishak is looking to reverse the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Drinkis scores with a couple of short elbows.
Drinkis tries to move to mount but Spishak blocks the move with his legs.
Spishak struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Daniels Drinkis.
I think Drinkis 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Daniels Drinkis!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Daniels Drinkis!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Daniels Drinkis!

Daniels Drinkis wins by unanimous decision!
Our winner, Daniels Drinkis, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.