PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Smesman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jimmy Smesman has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Smesman
vs
Drake

190 cm
20
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

186 cm
21
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

MMA Hype Apparel
Voodoo Nutrition

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jimmy Smesman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Drake!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Drake moves into range and clinches up with Smesman.
Smesman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Smesman blocks an uppercut.
Smesman looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Smesman working aggressively here.
Smesman leaning against his opponent.
Smesman lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Vladimir Drake has been cut.
Smesman managing to block the knees to the body from Drake.
Drake lands a body shot in the clinch.
Drake blocks an elbow strike.
Smesman lands an elbow just above Drake 's eye.
Drake stalling against the cage.
Smesman is trying to break the clinch but Drake has him pressed against the cage.
Smesman looks to throw an elbow but misses.
I was talking to Smesman's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Smesman tries to throw a body punch but Drake avoids it by throwing Smesman back against the cage.
Smesman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Drake tries to work over Smesman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smesman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Drake has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Smesman seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Drake can turn it around.
Drake misses with an elbow strike.
Drake dodges an elbow strike from Smesman.
Drake blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smesman has a couple of punches blocked by Drake.
Smesman is working Drake over against the cage.
Drake dodges an elbow strike from Smesman.
Come on Drake - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Drake avoids the elbow strike from Smesman, against the cage.
Drake blocks a body shot from Smesman.
Drake swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smesman effectively controlling the action here.
Smesman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Smesman throws an elbow but misses.
Drake slowing the pace effectively.
Drake lands an uppercut.
Smesman throws an elbow but it misses.
Smesman taking a breather.
Drake just leaning against Smesman, taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smesman throws an elbow but it misses.
Drake blocks an elbow strike from Smesman.
Smesman effectively controlling the action here.
Drake tries a knee to the head but Smesman blocks it.
Smesman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Drake's defenses.
Drake blocks the elbow strike.
Smesman stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Drake has a couple of punches blocked by Smesman.
Smesman swings wildly with an uppercut but Drake uses good head movement to avoid it.
Drake with an attempt at a knee that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smesman lands an elbow that stopped Drake in his tracks for a moment.
Smesman misses with a body punch.
Smesman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Drake's elbow.
Smesman tries a body shot but Drake blocks it.

Smesman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smesman has closed the distance and engaged Drake in a clinch.
Drake fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smesman working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Smesman struggles to land a body shot inside as Drake controls his hands.
Drake is struggling to control the position.
Smesman throws an elbow that misses.
Smesman working aggressively here.
Smesman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Drake scores with a nice hook to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Drake.
Drake misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smesman dodges an elbow strike from Drake.
Smesman lands an elbow that stopped Drake in his tracks for a moment.
Drake misses with a punch to the body.
Drake controlling the action here for a moment.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Drake blocks an elbow strike.
Drake prevents a body shot from Smesman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smesman pushes off an throws an elbow but Drake leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Drake blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smesman throws an elbow that misses.
Drake missing with knees to the body.
Drake tries to stall but Smesman uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Smesman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Drake dodges an elbow strike from Smesman.
Smesman throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smesman just misses with a elbow thrown towards Drake's brow.
Drake avoids the elbow strike from Smesman, against the cage.
Drake is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Smesman letting Drake take a breather here.
Smesman struggles to land a body shot inside as Drake controls his hands.
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!
Smesman taking a breather.
Smesman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Drake using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smesman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Drake is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smesman is defending well for now.
Drake lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Smesman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Drake's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smesman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Drake moves away.
Drake looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Smesman throws a lazy head kick
and Smesman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smesman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Drake flicks out a counter leg kick but Smesman steps away.
A big right from Smesman misses.

Drake clinches with his opponent.
Smesman throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Drake misses with a body punch.
Drake lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smesman backwards.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Smesman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Drake misses with a body punch.
Smesman is looking to control Drake's arms but Drake gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smesman has his back to the cage.
The referee calls for Smesman to work.
Drake avoids the elbow strike from Smesman, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smesman struggles to land a body shot inside as Drake controls his hands.
Smesman pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Drake trying to control the position but instead, Smesman has worked for underhooks and has pushed Drake into the cage.

Smesman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smesman throws a poor cross that misses
and Drake counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Drake lunges at Smesman with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Smesman's hand.

Drake gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Smesman throws an elbow but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Drake misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smesman.
Stalling in the clinch from Smesman.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smesman.
Smesman misses with an elbow over the top.
Smesman misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Drake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake throws an elbow but it misses.
Smesman lands an elbow inside.
Smesman tries to work over Drake's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smesman scores with a hook to the body.
Smesman is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Smesman being controlled against the cage.
Drake continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smesman throws an elbow that misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Smesman lands an elbow that stopped Drake in his tracks for a moment.
Drake working aggressively here.
Drake tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smesman avoids it.
Drake is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smesman digs a right hand into Drake's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Drake's gas tank.
Smesman taking a breather.
A head punch on the inside from Drake fails to land.
Smesman pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Drake scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Smesman can't find room to land a body shot as Drake controls the action.
Drake takes an elbow to the forehead.

Smesman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smesman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A nice side step and Drake releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Drake swats away the attempt to clinch by Smesman.

Drake tries to keep at a distance but Smesman has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake has a couple of punches blocked by Smesman.
Drake avoiding damage as Smesman throws knees to the body.
Smesman trying to land knees to the body.
Smesman displaying some good clinch control by pressing Drake up against the cage.
Drake blocking some punches.
A shot in the inside from Smesman.
Jimmy Smesman has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Smesman avoiding damage as Drake throws knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smesman just misses with a elbow thrown towards Drake's brow.
Still in the clinch, Drake scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Drake fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Drake avoids a wild elbow strike from Smesman.
Drake stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Smesman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Drake scores with a shoulder strike.
Smesman is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Drake misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jimmy Smesman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Drake's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Drake has managed to clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Drake just misses with a elbow thrown towards Smesman's brow.
Drake lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Smesman.
Smesman throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Drake pushes Smesman back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Drake lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Smesman throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Drake slows down the pace here.
Smesman throws an elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake avoids the elbow strike from Smesman, against the cage.
Smesman tries to throw a body punch but Drake avoids it by throwing Smesman back against the cage.
Smesman pushes off an throws an elbow but Drake leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Smesman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Smesman looking to stall.
Smesman throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smesman misses with an elbow over the top.
Drake lands with a left to the head.
Smesman throws an elbow but it misses.
Smesman misses with some punches.
Smesman can't find room to land a body shot as Drake controls the action.
Drake using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smesman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smesman can't find room to land a body shot as Drake controls the action.
Smesman lands a body shot in the clinch.
Drake looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Drake prevents a body shot from Smesman.
Smesman misses with a body punch.
Smesman blocking some punches.
Drake is trying to stall.
Drake throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A right hand to the body from Drake.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drake leaning his opponent against the cage.
Drake fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short body shot lands from Smesman as the two fighters clinch.
Smesman swings wildly with an uppercut but Drake uses good head movement to avoid it.
Drake doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smesman lands an elbow inside.
Drake blocks an elbow strike.
Smesman blocks an uppercut.
Smesman is trying to break the clinch but Drake is controlling him.
Drake working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Smesman pushes off an throws an elbow but Drake leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Smesman throws an elbow but it misses.
Smesman lands a damaging elbow.
Drake blocks a body shot from Smesman.
Drake misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smesman.
Drake avoids a wild elbow strike from Smesman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smesman misses with an elbow strike.
Drake tries a body shot but Smesman blocks it.
Drake blocks an elbow strike from Smesman.
Smesman creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Smesman stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Smesman lands an elbow that stopped Drake in his tracks for a moment.
Drake lands a body punch in the clinch.
Smesman misses with an elbow strike.
Drake with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Drake lands a nice shot to the body.
Jimmy Smesman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smesman blocking some punches.
Drake is pushing Smesman up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Drake tries to land a knee to the head but Smesman blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Drake.
Drake looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Drake tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Drake tries to land knees in the clinch but Smesman avoids the damage to the body.
Drake dodges an elbow strike from Smesman.
Drake effectively controlling the action here.
A short right from Drake on the inside.
Vladimir Drake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Drake tries to work over Smesman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Drake comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smesman 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jimmy Smesman!