PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romeo Hernanes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hernanes is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Awolnation - Sail. Romeo Hernanes has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Frankie Drake's chin.

Drake
vs
Hernanes

166 cm
28
160 lbs
16 - 2 - 0

170 cm
36
168 lbs
24 - 13 - 2

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

MayheM sportswear
V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Mohito Fightwear

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 16 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frankie Drake!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Romeo Hernanes!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hernanes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drake throws a head kick that misses.
As Drake backs off Hernanes throws a huge counter combo but Drake manages to avoid it all.
Drake pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A slapping body kick lands there for Drake.
Drake shoots in looking for a takedown. Hernanes tries to sprawl out of it but Drake keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hernanes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hernanes's coach down at V Elite Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Hernanes's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Frankie Drake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Hernanes gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Drake to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Hernanes pushes Drake off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernanes tries to bum rush Drake with a series of wild strikes but Drake uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Drake looks for a takedown but Hernanes sprawls well.
Hernanes is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Hernanes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A big right from Drake misses.

Drake rushes Hernanes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Drake keeps control of Hernanes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Drake as Hernanes tries to tie him up.
Hernanes stops a takedown attempt from Drake.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frankie Drake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drake misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes misses with a knee to the head.
Hernanes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hernanes misses with a knee to the head.

Hernanes breaks the clinch.
Hernanes tries a head kick but it misses.
Drake is looking to land body kicks.
Hernanes lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Drake has been working on his balance at UHK, Inc., so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Hernanes.
Hernanes misses with a few strikes there.
Hernanes moves out of range of the body kick.

Drake has Hernanes up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hernanes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Drake lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Drake pulls guard effortlessly.
Drake trying to keep a closed guard but Hernanes is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes wanted to stand there but Drake had control of the position.

Hernanes gets to his feet - Drake follows without any prompting.
Drake throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hernanes works over Drake's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Frankie Drake has been cut.
Drake falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hernanes counters with a left and a right that hurts Drake! He wobbles and falls to the floor - he's in big trouble! Hernanes jumps into full mount!

Drake is rocked!

Hernanes stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Drake throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hernanes.
Drake misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hernanes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hernanes blocks a head kick by Drake.
Drake tries to clinch there but Hernanes circles away.
A head kick by Drake misses

and Hernanes counters with a right hand that sends Drake tumbling to the canvas! Can Hernanes finish him? He dives into Drake's guard looking to do just that!
Oh Drake is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hernanes controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hernanes wants to get up but he can't break Drake's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Drake seems to have got his legs back now.
Drake wants to sweep here but Hernanes controlling him for the moment.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Drake throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Drake misses with a wild body shot.
Drake blocks a head kick by Hernanes.
Hernanes lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Drake shoots in looking for a takedown but Hernanes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Drake's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Drake is looking to clinch but Hernanes is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A head kick lands from Hernanes that sends Drake to the canvas. Drake tries to scramble back to his feet but Hernanes brings him back down into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Drake is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hernanes decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Hernanes looks to land a combination but Drake avoids it well.
Hernanes swinging wildly here.
Drake throws a head kick that misses
and Hernanes counters with a two punch combo.
Hernanes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hernanes wants it to stay on the feet.
Hernanes throws a sloppy head kick and Drake moves out of range easily.
Hernanes swinging wildly here.
Romeo Hernanes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes falls off balance throwing a combination

and Drake decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hernanes's guard.
Drake wants to control from the top but Hernanes keeps moving.
Hernanes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Drake is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Drake landing some decent shots from guard.
Hernanes keeping full guard, as Drake tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes keeping moving, preventing Drake from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drake stops Hernanes from standing up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hernanes is trying to keep Drake in close.
Drake working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hernanes looking to control but Drake passes into half guard.
Hernanes is trying to stand back up but Drake is controlling him

Drake is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hernanes has managed to free his arm - good work.

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.
Hernanes is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drake prevents Hernanes from standing back up.
Hernanes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hernanes trying to control but Drake postures up.
Drake working over Hernanes with some ground and pound. Hernanes looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Drake controlling the action here.

Drake is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romeo Hernanes 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.
That's time! Drake's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Drake moves into the clinch.
Drake jumps guard but Hernanes turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Hernanes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Drake throws a jab but it's blocked by Hernanes.
Drake misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drake shoots in but Hernanes avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Hernanes. Those never looked like landing.
Hernanes scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Drake tries to clinch there but Hernanes circles away.
Hernanes is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Romeo Hernanes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hernanes feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Drakes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Drake throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hernanes.
Drake misses with a low kick as Hernanes jumps back.
Hernanes misses with a head kick.
It looked like Drake wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hernanes bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Drake rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hernanes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes lands with a right and another and another! Drake is in big trouble! Hernanes lands again and this time it's lights out for Drake! A quality knockout there for Hernanes.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:06 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Romeo Hernanes!
Romeo Hernanes is the new lightweight champion!
Romeo Hernanes seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Frankie Drake spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back with the next win you can count on that... this belt will be mine again'.