PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Al Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James McGuiness (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Drake
vs
McGuiness

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
181 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

Ace of Spades Clothing

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Al Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James McGuiness!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Drake shoots in and bounces McGuiness off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Drake 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 drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Drake jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Drake is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
McGuiness 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.
McGuiness looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Al Drake wasn't doing enough on the ground.
McGuiness throws a right hand that Drake ducks under and follows up with a left that Drake also avoids with ease.
Drake takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nice jab there from McGuiness.
McGuiness fails to land with a series of punches.
McGuiness tries to bum rush Drake with a series of wild strikes but Drake uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Drake darts in looking for a takedown but McGuiness gets double underhooks and turns Drake into the cage.

Drake pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Drake gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Drake connects with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuiness pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McGuiness with a nice cross.
McGuiness has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGuiness misses with a straight right.
Drake takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Drake shoots in looking for a takedown but McGuiness manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Drake's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Drake moves out of range as McGuiness strikes.
Drake fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Al Drake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drake defending well as McGuiness loads up on a big left hand.
McGuiness lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McGuiness fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Drake looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McGuiness is fending him off so far but Drake persists. Nope, McGuiness circles away and we're back to standing.
Drake thows a body shot but no joy.
McGuiness keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
James McGuiness is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuiness misses with a wild combination.
Jab by McGuiness.
Drake ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McGuiness displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Drake.
McGuiness throws a hook to the side of Drake's head but Drake sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McGuiness listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McGuiness with a body punch. A glancing blow.
McGuiness misses with a hook. Drake ducked under it nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Drake. McGuiness does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fighters circling - McGuiness throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Drake misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Drake shoots in for a takedown but McGuiness shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by McGuiness.
Drake tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McGuiness defends well and Drake ends up having to push McGuiness into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McGuiness working some nice short punches in the clinch.
McGuiness is looking to control Drake's arms but Drake gets an underhook and turns him. Now McGuiness has his back to the cage.
McGuiness stops a takedown attempt from Drake.
Drake jumps guard but McGuiness turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Drake is trying to pull guard but McGuiness has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McGuiness gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Drake.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Drake as McGuiness tries to tie him up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James McGuiness dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Drake shoots in for a double leg but McGuiness sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McGuiness swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Drake.
Drake slips a jab from McGuiness.

Drake shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McGuiness is trying to defend but Drake finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Drake not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McGuiness taking some punishment here, with Drake in his half guard.
Drake trying to control the pace.
Drake is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drake is working for a guillotine from mount but McGuiness frees his head quite easily.
Drake controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Drake controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuiness keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Drake sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
McGuiness is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A nice elbow there by Drake.
Drake looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drake lands a big shot there that rocks McGuiness but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Drake dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

A big left from McGuiness misses.
James McGuiness seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Drake gets cracked there but stands up to it.
McGuiness fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Drake looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Drake is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in McGuiness's half guard.
Drake keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
McGuiness on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Drake works his foot free and advances to mount.
Drake tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake thowing shots but they're missing.
Drake controlling the position easily from mount.
Al Drake overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Drake lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuiness is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Drake jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but McGuiness manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Drake tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Drake has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
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.
Drake working the ground and pound from side control.
Drake happy to just control the position for now.
Drake landing a few strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Al Drake showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Drake has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Al Drake!
After winning the bout, Al Drake thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.