PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dastan Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Epping (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
Epping

185 cm
23
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

186 cm
23
192 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dastan Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jake Epping!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jonathan Paton and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Epping looks to throw the jab but Drake is out of range.
Drake fails to land the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Drake.
Drake shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Epping pinned against the cage. Epping gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dastan Drake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drake dives in for a single leg takedown but Epping sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Epping lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Drake managing to block the knees to the body from Epping.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Epping manages to break the clinch.
Drake looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Epping throws a nice outside leg kick.
Epping misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Drake.
Drake uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Epping.
Drake fails with a takedown attempt.
Drake shoots in and drives through. Epping sprawls well.
Epping has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Drake shoots in looking for a takedown. Epping tries to sprawl out of it but Drake keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Epping manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epping ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Drake moves away.
Epping lands with a right hand.
A jab lands there for Epping.
Epping throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Drake looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Drake shoots in for a double leg but Epping sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Drake dives in for a single leg takedown but Epping sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Epping breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jake Epping is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake closes the distance and clinches up with Epping, looking for a takedown. Drake pushes Epping against the cage but Epping circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Drake with a poor takedown
and Epping counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice cross by Epping.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
A nice inside leg kick there by Epping. That's going to slow Drake down.
Epping misses the shot to the body.
Epping connects with a solid leg kick.
Drake has his takedown stuffed
and Epping counters with a stiff right hand.
Epping with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Drake shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Drake was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Drake goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Epping has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Drake but great work by Epping.
You can see the frustration on Drake's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Epping moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Drake manages to work his way to half guard, despite Epping's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Epping dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Epping lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Epping.
Epping keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A solid body kick from Epping.
A looping hook to the body misses from Epping. Drake does a little dance to reset his feet.
Epping leaves Drake with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Epping slaps away a takedown attempt from Drake, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dastan Drake. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epping scores with a punch to the head.
Drake avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Epping throws a looping overhand right but Drake ducks down to avoid it.
Epping with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Drake shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Epping but Epping pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Epping connects with a body shot.
Drake shoots in for a takedown but Epping shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epping lands with an uppercut that bounces Drake off the cage and back into range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Epping defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Drake.
Epping stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Epping wants it to stay on the feet.
Drake with a lazy takedown attempt
and Epping connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Epping lands with a nice body punch.

Epping feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Drake sprawling to the canvas! Drake rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Epping finish him?!

Drake is rocked!
Epping moves in close and cracks Drake with a massive right hand! Drake, frozen momentarily in time, tumbles to the canvas, already out cold! A brutal knockout by Epping!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jake Epping!
Jake Epping spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.