PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tony Rich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tony Rich has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rich
vs
Drake

185 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

StarDust.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tony Rich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nate Drake!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Drake fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rich sprawls well initially but Drake persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Drake tries to pass to full mount but Rich defends it.
Rich trying to hold on to Drake's head to control him but Drake postures up.
Drake is keen to just control but Rich is a slippery customer.
Rich moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Drake drops back looking for a leg! Rich is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rich manages to kick Drake off! Drake jumps back into Rich's guard.

Drake stands up from Rich's guard - Drake perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rich shoots in but Drake avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rich tries for a takedown but Drake circles away easily

and Drake counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rich has his foot on Drake's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Drake works his way back into a safe position though.
Drake slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rich tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Drake wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Drake decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rich to his feet.
Rich shoots for a takedown but Drake saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slow jab from Drake misses its intended target.
Drake takes a swing at Rich's ribcage but misses.
Rich tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Drake swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rich doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Drake counter with a right hand.
Rich wants to clinch but Drake slips to the side
and Drake connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Drake as he jumps to the side.
Drake throws a body punch but Rich moves out of range.
Rich misses with a takedown attempt
and Drake counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rich is breathing heavily.
Drake scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Drake is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rich rather than just go for the knockout.
Drake cracks Rich with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rich takes one to the side of the head.
Rich keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Drake misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Drake tests Rich's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Drake shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rich as he avoids it easily.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Rich. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Drake.
Rich shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Drake cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rich looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Drake!
Drake tries to hold on but Rich postures up.
Drake trying desperately to get to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Drake wants to control but Rich is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rich looking for a guillotine from mount but Drake is having none of it.
Drake is controlling an arm, preventing Rich from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Drake dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rich shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Drake pinned against the cage. Drake gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rich tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nate Drake seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rich on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Drake looks to land a left hand but Rich moved out of range nicely.
Drake throws a shot to the body.
Rich misses with a takedown
and Drake counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drake ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Drake as he connects with a hook.
Drake lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rich at a distance.
Rich keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Rich shoots in for a double leg but Drake sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Drake looks to land a combination but Rich avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake closes the distance and clinches up with Rich, looking for a takedown. Drake pushes Rich against the cage but Rich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Drake with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Drake misses with a takedown

and Rich counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rich.
Drake is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Rich drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Drake dives on top into guard.
Drake tries to stand but Rich is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rich is trying to keep Drake in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Drake controls the pace.

Drake gets to his feet. Rich looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rich misses with a takedown attempt
and Drake counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A jab from Drake misses.

Rich closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Rich tries for a kimura but Drake is defending well.
Nate Drake has got the better of the ground game so far.
Drake is not content to let Rich control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake can't do much from the bottom here.
Drake pushes Rich away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rich gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Rich wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Drake, who protects the arm well.

Rich looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Drake gets back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Drake looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rich uses his free foot to push down on Drake's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Drake.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Drake showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rich doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Drake counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Drake throws a series of punches but Rich moves out of range.
Drake lunges at Rich with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rich's hand.
Drake scores with a decent looking hook.
Drake swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rich counters with a nice double leg into side control. Drake won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rich is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Drake is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Drake is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rich is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Drake still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Drake has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Rich sneaks back into half guard.
Drake wants to control but Rich is keeping him busy.
Drake wants to stand up but Rich is controlling the position.
Drake wants to control but Rich is keeping him busy.
Drake wants to stand but Rich has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Rich works his way to full guard. Good work.

Rich working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Drake has passed into half guard!
Rich is not content to let Drake control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rich looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rich misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Drake is looking to take a break and control but Rich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rich wants to control but Drake is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rich is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Drake jumps into side control!
Drake is looking to take a break and control but Rich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rich shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Drake counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich tries for a takedown but Drake circles away easily
and Drake connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Drake looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rich keeping moving, preventing Drake from controlling successfully.
Drake passes Rich's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Rich looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rich trying to control but Drake postures up.
Tony Rich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rich blocking the ground and pound attempt from Drake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rich misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Drake controlling the action here.

Rich actively working from the bottom here.
Rich is looking to control Drake's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rich avoid being mounted?
Drake is keen to just control but Rich is a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Drake lands with an overhand left.
Rich doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Drake connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Drake comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Drake winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Drake!