PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marlon Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dwight Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marlon Drake has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Drake
vs
Jones

225 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

193 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marlon Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dwight Jones!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones misses with a takedown attempt - Drake sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Drake in a clinch.

Drake jumps into guard, dragging Jones to the mat.
Drake wants to sweep here but Jones controlling him for the moment.
Drake really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Jones takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but Drake is retaining full guard.
Jones pushes down on Drake's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Drake throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones trying to pass the guard but Drake defending well.

Jones escapes and gets back to his feet.

Jones moves into range and clinches up with Drake.
Drake tries to work over Jones's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Drake gets underhooks to prevent Jones's takedown attempt.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jones - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Drake jumps guard.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drake looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.
Drake will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jones content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drake working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jones doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jones manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jones content to stall in guard here.
Jones trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake wants to stand and escape but Jones is having none of it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jones throws a strike but Drake rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Jones controls Drake momentarily but Drake frees himself.

Jones pushes Drake off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Jones tries for a takedown but Drake circles away easily
and Drake counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Marlon Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dwight Jones.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Drake as he avoids it easily.
Drake throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drake feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Drake stands up over Jones, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jones utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Drake stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jones with a poor takedown
and Jones takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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!
Drake rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jones moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Jones clinches with his opponent.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jones obliges.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Jones drags the fight down to the ground.
Drake with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Drake drops back, looking for a kneebar! Jones looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Jones looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Jones!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dwight Jones will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jones is trying hard to land a takedown here. Drake sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Drake tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jones throws a counter combo.
Jones throws a right hand that Drake ducks under and follows up with a left that Drake also avoids with ease.
As Jones tries to get set, Drake tries to push him back and clinch up but Jones manages to avoid the attempt.
Dwight Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drake connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Marlon Drake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drake lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Jones looks for a takedown but Drake sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Drake. No joy for Jones on that attempt.
Marlon Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dwight Jones.
Drake dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drake throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Jones tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Drake is in Jones's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Jones manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Jones tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Drake smiles and moves away.
Jones is breathing heavily.

Drake closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Jones kicks Drake off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Jones gets the takedown into side control.

Drake throws Jones to one side and escapes!

Jones closes the distance and pushes Drake back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drake pulls guard effortlessly.

Jones decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Drake is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Jones has managed to clinch.
Jones stalling in the clinch but Drake improves position.
Jones drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Drake jumps into guard, dragging Jones to the mat.
Jones looking to pass the guard.
Jones pushing down on Drake's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones controlling the action here.
Drake connecting with a few gentle strikes.

Jones seems to be looking for submissions.
Drake misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Jones is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Jones is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Drake looking for submissions off his back.

Jones seems to be working for a kimura but Drake defends the submission attempt.
Jones prevents Drake from improving his position.
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 Marlon Drake will probably get the nod.
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. And we move into the final round!

Jones shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Drake defends it nicely.
Drake drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jones sprawls and moves away.
Jones fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jones tries for a takedown but Drake sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Marlon Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dwight Jones.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake throws a right hand that Jones ducks under and follows up with a left that Jones also avoids with ease.
Jones dives in for a single leg takedown but Drake sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Drake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake lands with a kick to the temple. Jones shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Drake throws a body punch but Jones moves out of range.
Drake tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Drake throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Jones tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Drake is in Jones's guard.

Jones manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Jones avoiding damage.
Jones has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Drake after a bit of a struggle.

Drake jumps into guard, dragging Jones to the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Drake is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jones sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Drake's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake wants to get back to full guard.
Drake flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Jones wants to free his trapped foot but Drake is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Drake throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Jones is looking to take a break and control but Drake is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Drake tries to kick Jones off but Jones keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jones is trying hard to land a takedown here. Drake sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jones tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Drake defends well and Jones ends up having to push Drake into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jones walks into a straight right hand from Drake.
Drake throws a head kick that misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jones.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake scores with a crisp jab that stopped Jones in his tracks.
Jones will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Drake shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Drake showed some decent athleticism there.
Jones wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drake thows a huge punch but Jones dodges it nicely.

Drake is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Jones sees it coming and defends easily.
Jones is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marlon 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Marlon Drake!