EFC Movin Up PBP Commentary

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gary Drudge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Salek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Drudge
vs
Salek

160 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

160 cm
19
137 lbs
3 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Gary Drudge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Salek!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drudge fails in his attempt to clinch.
Drudge tries to clinch but Salek moves out of range.
Drudge throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Salek.
Drudge is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Drudge drives through and clinches with Salek against the cage.
Salek connects with a nasty looking knee right to Drudge's face.

It looks like Gary Drudge has been cut.
Salek has Drudge pressed against the cage.
Drudge is trying to break the clinch but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
Drudge working aggressively here.
Drudge tries a body shot but Salek blocks it.

Salek breaks the clinch.
Salek misses with a few strikes there.
Drudge is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Drudge moves into range and clinches up with Salek.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Salek.
Salek connects with a nasty looking knee right to Drudge's face.
Salek lands a nice shot to the body.
Drudge misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drudge lands a right hand.
Salek blocks a body shot from Drudge.
Salek connects with a nasty looking knee right to Drudge's face.

Salek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Drudge fails with an attempt to clinch.
Drudge is looking to clinch.
Drudge doesn't manage to clinch there - Salek circles away.
Salek misses with a low kick.
Drudge doesn't manage to clinch there - Salek circles away.
Drudge tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Salek paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Salek tries a head kick but it misses.
Drudge is looking to clinch but Salek is avoiding it.
Drudge tries to clinch up but Salek circles away and keeps his distance.
Salek keeps the fight on the outside.
Salek wants to clinch.
Drudge closes the distance but Salek moves to the side
and Salek counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Drudge is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Salek.
Drudge clinches but Salek breaks the clinch
and Salek counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salek closes the distance and clinches.
Drudge lands an uppercut.
Drudge misses with a short punch on the inside.

Drudge's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Drudge closes the distance but Salek moves to the side

and Salek holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Drudge tries to throw a body punch but Salek avoids it by throwing Drudge back against the cage.
Salek tries a knee to the head but Drudge blocks it.
Drudge has a couple of punches blocked by Salek.
Drudge misses with a short punch on the inside.

Salek has Drudge pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Salek pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Drudge tumbling to the mat - Salek dives into Drudge's guard.

Salek gets to his feet. Drudge looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Drudge wants to clinch
and Salek counters with a three punch combo that has Drudge backing up. Drudge nods at Salek to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salek has closed the distance and engaged Drudge in a clinch.
Drudge throws a punch but it's blocked by Salek.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Drudge wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Salek keeps control of Drudge as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Salek looking to throw knees to the head but Drudge is blocking nicely.
Drudge has a couple of punches blocked by Salek.
Drudge misses with a short punch on the inside.
Drudge tries a body shot but Salek blocks it.
Drudge misses with the head strike.
Salek blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Drudge tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Drudge lands a left hand.
Salek with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Drudge is trying to break the clinch but Salek is controlling him.
Drudge wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Drudge is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Drudge is trying to break the clinch but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
Drudge misses with a knee strike.
Drudge throws a head punch that misses.
Drudge misses with some punches.
Drudge is trying to force a seperation but Salek has the dominant position.
Salek manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Salek breaks the clinch.
Drudge gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Drudge tries to keep at a distance but Salek has taken the fight into the clinch.
Salek lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Drudge misses with some punches.
Drudge wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Drudge has a couple of punches blocked by Salek.
Salek blocking some punches.
Salek looking to throw knees to the head but Drudge is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Salek dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gary Drudge's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Salek. Drudge shrugs it off though.
Salek throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Salek slips a straight right by Drudge.
Salek moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A head kick misses from Salek.
Drudge closes the distance looking to clinch
and Salek connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Drudge has closed the distance and engaged Salek in a clinch.
Drudge wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
Drudge struggles to land a body shot inside as Salek controls his hands.
Salek taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Drudge digs a right hand underneath Salek's ribcage. Salek let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Drudge lands a knee to the body.
Drudge wants to get back to striking at distance but Salek won't allow it.
Drudge lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Salek backwards.
Drudge looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drudge lands a nice elbow.
Drudge working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Salek looking to throw knees to the head but Drudge is blocking nicely.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Drudge.
Drudge misses with a short punch on the inside.
Drudge throws a head punch that misses.
Salek lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Salek trying to land knees to the body.
Drudge is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Drudge breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Drudge wants to clinch
and Salek counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Drudge tries to clinch

and Salek counters by moving into the clinch.
Drudge misses with a punch to the body.
Salek connects with a knee to the head.

Salek breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Salek, right into the meat.

Salek gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drudge misses with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Salek.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Drudge.

Salek manages to break the clinch.
Salek jabs Drudge right on the nose. Drudge blinks but takes it well.

Salek drives through with a takedown into guard.
Drudge is looking to stand back up but Salek counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Drudge.
Salek wants to stand up but Drudge is controlling the position.

Salek stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Drudge to get to his feet.

Salek moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salek can't get the takedown.
Drudge blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short right from Drudge on the inside.
Drudge has had enough of the clinch but Salek keeps him there for the moment.
Drudge misses with a hook from the clinch.
Drudge misses with some punches.
Salek dodges an elbow strike from Drudge.

Salek's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Drudge closes the distance but Salek moves to the side
and Salek counters with a body kick.
Salek looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Drudge looks to clinch

and Salek moves into the clinch.
Drudge being controlled against the cage.
Salek misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Drudge blocks an elbow strike from Salek.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Drudge misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Drudge.
A head punch on the inside from Drudge fails to land.
Drudge trying to land knees to the body.
Salek throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Salek digs a right hand into Drudge's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Drudge's gas tank.
The is referee keeping an eye on Salek - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Drudge manages to break the clinch.
Drudge tries to clinch
and Salek counters with a series of strikes. Drudge will be more careful next time no doubt.
Drudge wants to clinch but Salek slips to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Drudge ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Drudge is looking to clinch but Salek is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Salek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gary Drudge's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Drudge has taken the fight to the clinch.
Drudge lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Salek backwards.
Drudge has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Drudge is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Salek has Drudge pressed against the cage, preventing Drudge from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Drudge tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Salek's elbow.
Salek wants a takedown.
Drudge lands with a right to the head.
Drudge throws a knee to the head but misses.
Salek keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Drudge's efforts to push away.
Drudge throws a punch but it's blocked by Salek.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salek with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Salek wants a takedown but no success here.
Drudge wants to break the clinch but can't.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Drudge.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drudge working aggressively here.
Drudge misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salek misses with a knee strike.
Drudge is looking to break free of the clinch but Salek has double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Drudge's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Salek blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Drudge wants to break the clinch but can't.
Drudge has had enough of the clinch but Salek keeps him there for the moment.
Drudge misses with the head strike.
Drudge swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Drudge has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Drudge has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Salek landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Salek scores a nice knee to the body.

Salek manages to break the clinch.
Gary Drudge is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Salek.

Salek has Drudge up against the cage in a clinch.
Drudge fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Salek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Salek rushes Drudge and presses him up against the cage.
Salek lands a knee to the head.
Salek lands an elbow inside that Drudge shrugs off.

Salek breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salek lands with a thumping leg kick.

Salek closes the distance and clinches.
Salek taking a breather.
Salek tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Salek scores with a knee to the head.
Drudge lands a body shot.
Drudge wants to break the clinch but can't.
Drudge tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Drudge tries to break the clinch but Salek is controlling the position.
Drudge misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Salek.
Drudge is looking to break free of the clinch but Salek has double underhooks.
Salek keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Drudge's efforts to push away.
Salek lands a shoulder strike.
Drudge tries a body shot but Salek blocks it.
Good body shot from Salek.
Salek taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Drudge working hard to break the clinch.
Drudge misses with a hook to the ribs.

Salek turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drudge wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Salek stands up and beckons Drudge to his feet.
Drudge tries to clinch
and Salek counters with a good low kick that Drudge was not able to check.
Gary Drudge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drudge tries to keep at a distance but Salek has taken the fight into the clinch.
Drudge using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Salek has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Drudge misses with a knee strike.
Salek unloads a knee to the mid-section. Drudge lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Drudge misses with a punch on the inside.

Salek breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Salek tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Drudge paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Salek has taken the fight to the clinch.
Drudge tries to throw a body punch but Salek avoids it by throwing Drudge back against the cage.
Drudge misses with a knee strike.
Drudge tries to break free but Salek pushes him back against the cage.

Salek jumps guard.
Drudge wants to get up but he can't break Salek's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gary Drudge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rob Salek is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Drudge gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Salek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Salek has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Salek!