PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Romeo Hernanes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hernanes kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Awolnation - Sail. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hernanes
vs
Drake

170 cm
35
168 lbs
20 - 10 - 2

166 cm
26
160 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

V-Mask Clothing (10%)
Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Romeo Hernanes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frankie Drake!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hernanes blocks a head kick by Drake.
Drake shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
It looked like Hernanes was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Drake misses with a looping left.
Drake is looking to clinch.
Drake looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
It looked like Hernanes was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Drake throws a sloppy body shot
and Hernanes counters with a three punch combo that has Drake backing up. Drake nods at Hernanes to acknowledge the strikes.
Drake scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hernanes doesn't seem bothered though.
Frankie Drake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drake misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hernanes.
Hernanes is looking for a counter combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake misses with a head kick.
Hernanes stuffs the takedown attempt from Drake. Drake gets slowly back to his feet.
Drake looks to score with a jab to the body but Hernanes is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Hernanes blocks the leg kick.
Hernanes is looking for a counter combo.
Hernanes dodges the punch combination from Drake.
Drake throws a series of punches but Hernanes avoids them all with ease.
Hernanes on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Drake tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Drake throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Drake fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hernanes is looking to counter punch.
Romeo Hernanes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Drake.
A shot to the body from Drake misses
enabling Hernanes to counter with a crisp jab.
Drake shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hernanes counters with a series of strikes. Drake will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As Drake looks to move away, Hernanes throws a big counter combo bu Drake just gets out of the way.
Hernanes takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Drake misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hernanes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Drake manages to circle out of the way.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hernanes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hernanes tries to counter by clinching up but Drake breaks away and moves out of range.
Drake misses the shot to the body.
Hernanes throws a series of punches but Drake moves out of range.
Drake swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hernanes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Drake throws out the jab.
Drake is looking to clinch.
Drake with a poor takedown
and Hernanes counters with a series of strikes. Drake will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hernanes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Drake throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Hernanes counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hernanes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Drake pushes Hernanes up against the cage in a clinch.
Drake tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hernanes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hernanes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Drake.
Hernanes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Drake has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hernanes looking to throw knees to the head but Drake is blocking nicely.
Hernanes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Drake has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hernanes stops a takedown attempt from Drake.
Hernanes with a knee to the head.

It looks like Frankie Drake has been cut.
Hernanes tries to land knees in the clinch but Drake avoids the damage to the body.
Hernanes lands a knee to the body.
Hernanes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hernanes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Drake has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes misses with a knee to the head.
Hernanes working Drake over with knees to the body.
Hernanes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hernanes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Drake has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hernanes prevents the takedown attempt.
Hernanes connects with a nasty looking knee right to Drake's face.
Hernanes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hernanes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Drake has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hernanes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hernanes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hernanes is breathing heavily.
Drake is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hernanes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hernanes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hernanes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Drake is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hernanes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hernanes with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romeo Hernanes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frankie Drake's cut.
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 moves into the clinch successfully.
Hernanes misses with a knee strike.

Drake has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hernanes clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Drake.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Will Drake go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernanes is trying to stand back up.
Hernanes is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at V Elite Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Drake lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake not allowing Hernanes to control his hands.
You can see the frustration on Hernanes's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hernanes just trying to survive but Drake is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Hernanes is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Drake has the hooks in. Hernanes is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Hernanes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Drake can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Even with his hooks in, Drake manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Hernanes is taking damage to the body and head.
Drake controlling well, preventing Hernanes from escaping the position.
Hernanes is working hard here to advance position.
Hernanes is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Drake struggling to keep hold of the position.

Hernanes is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Drake gets his way!
Drake throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes trying to control the hands but Drake breaks the grip.
Hernanes manages to reverse the position and now he's in Drake's guard. Nice work there by Hernanes.
Drake is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hernanes wants to stand but Drake is controlling his posture from full guard.
Drake controls Hernanes momentarily but Hernanes frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake looking for a sweep. Not yet Drake, not yet.

Drake escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hernanes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Drake is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Drake is striking off his back. Hernanes thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drake tries to get to full guard but Hernanes has control of the leg.

Hernanes stands up out of the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Drake showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Frankie Drake's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hernanes keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Drake tries a head kick but it misses.
Hernanes lands a glancing blow to the side of Drake's head.
Drake fails to land the takedown.
Drake misses with a double jab
and Hernanes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake throws a head kick but Hernanes moves out of range.
Romeo Hernanes is winning the standup battle so far.
Drake changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hernanes tries to avoid it but Drake manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hernanes to the ground. Hernanes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Drake throws out a leg kick but Hernanes moves out of range and Drake only half commits.
Hernanes is looking for a counter combo.
Romeo Hernanes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drake throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hernanes.
Drake takes one on the button.
Drake looks for the body kick but Hernanes saw that one coming.
Hernanes is looking for a counter combo.
Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drake misses with a head kick.
Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hernanes is looking for a counter combo.
A head kick by Hernanes misses

so Drake counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hernanes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hernanes is looking for a triangle but Drake pushes his legs off easily.
Drake postures up and lands a big shot to Hernanes's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake stands and throws Hernanes's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Drake landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Hernanes tries to bench press Drake off him but Drake keeps the position.

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!
Hernanes wants to control but Drake postures up.
Hernanes is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes parries the strikes from Drake easily there. Drake is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Hernanes to escape.
The strikes coming from Drake are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Drake lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hernanes down.
Hernanes wants to control but Drake postures up.
Drake is chipping away with strikes.
Hernanes can't do much from the bottom here.
Hernanes is trying to work for a sweep but Drake has mounted him!
Hernanes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake landing shots from mount.
Drake has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Drake quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Drake but it's paid off an Hernanes is forced to tap! Nice work by Drake.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Frankie Drake!
Frankie Drake is the new lightweight champion!
Frankie Drake tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.