PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Drake (ranked 5856 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Raktor (ranked 4827 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir Raktor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Drake
vs
Raktor

158 cm
26
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

192 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jon Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vladimir Raktor!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Donatello Bradman and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raktor shoots in for a takedown but Drake shows good takedown defense.
Drake lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Raktor clinches.

Raktor manages to pull guard.
Raktor pulls Drake in to control the position.
Raktor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Raktor is looking for a triangle here but Drake uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Raktor is trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Check out the look on Drake's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Raktor is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Drake wants to stand but Raktor has his arm trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake throws an elbow but Raktor slips to the side and avoids it well.
Raktor struggling a bit here.
Raktor manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Raktor wants to get back to full guard.
Drake seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Raktor moves into full guard.
Drake with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Raktor is on top in guard.

Raktor working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Drake manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Raktor manages to get himself to full guard.

Drake throws a big right hand that misses.
Drake missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Raktor lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Drake preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Raktor trying to control the position from guard on top but Drake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drake looking for a sweep. Not yet Drake, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake has his hands on Raktor's head, controlling the position.
Raktor stopping the sweep attempt from Drake.
Drake is working hard here to advance position.
Raktor is pushing down on Drake's leg trying to pass to half guard. Drake is fighting to maintain full guard but Raktor has managed to sneak the leg through.
Drake is looking to control Raktor's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Drake avoid being mounted?
Drake is looking to improve his position.
Raktor is thwarting Drake's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Raktor seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Drake is refusing to be controlled, as Raktor sits in half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Raktor lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Raktor throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Raktor is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Drake could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Raktor throws a right and a left that Drake avoids nicely.

Raktor changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Drake looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Raktor dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Raktor shoots and misses
and Raktor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Raktor instigates a clinch.
Raktor effectively controlling the action here.
Drake is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Raktor to keep the fight standing.
Drake with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Drake just leaning against Raktor, taking a breather.
Drake throws a head punch that misses.

Raktor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick by Raktor misses
and Drake counters with a head kick.

Raktor shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Drake is trying to defend but Raktor finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Raktor in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake won't allow Raktor to pass to mount.
Raktor is looking to take a break and control but Drake is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vladimir Raktor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Drake is looking to improve his position.
Raktor is looking to take a break and control but Drake is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Drake wants to control but Raktor is keeping busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Raktor has taken the fight to the clinch.

Drake manages to pull guard.
Raktor sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Drake's guard.
Raktor has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Raktor controlling from mount.
Drake is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raktor lands with some strikes.
Drake is working to get back to half guard.
Drake tries to hold on but Raktor pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drake is working to get back to half guard.
Drake regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raktor wants to control but Drake is keeping him busy.
Drake is looking to improve his position.
Raktor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Drake keeps working.
Raktor seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Raktor is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Drake has managed to free his arm - good work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raktor trying to control from half guard but Drake is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Raktor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Raktor darts in trying to clinch
and Drake counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Drake gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Raktor is looking to stand up but Drake won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake trying to control the position.
Drake utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake is trying to control the position but Raktor postures up.
Raktor throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drake works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Drake tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Drake looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Raktor tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Drake counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raktor tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Drake has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raktor with a poor takedown
and Drake cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Raktor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Drake stuffs the takedown.

Raktor drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Drake trying to keep a closed guard but Raktor is proving a slippery customer.
Drake wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Drake trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake pulls Raktor in close to his closed guard and prevents Raktor from doing any damage or advancing position.
Drake is trying to control the position but Raktor postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Drake is on top in guard.

Raktor controlling the position.

Drake gets to his feet - Raktor follows without any prompting.
Raktor shoots in and drives through. Drake sprawls well.
Drake feinted with a counter takedown.
Jon Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Raktor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake stuffs the takedown attempt from Raktor. Raktor gets slowly back to his feet.
Raktor slaps away a takedown attempt from Drake, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Drake.
Raktor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Drake paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raktor wants to clinch but Drake slips to the side
and Drake connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jon Drake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vladimir Raktor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Raktor misses with a takedown
and Drake counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Drake showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Raktor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Raktor!