PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Len Drew (ranked 1993 p4p, 3637 weight class) and Arthur Pugsley (ranked 214 p4p, 341 weight class). Arthur Pugsley has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Drew
vs
Pugsley

179 cm
23
148
4 - 0 - 0

150 cm
19
145
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Len Drew!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arthur Pugsley!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paul Aken and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pugsley misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Drew has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Pugsley fails with the takedown.
Drew tries to counter with a takedown but Pugsley is quick to defend against it.
Pugsley fails to land the takedown.
Drew tries to counter with a takedown but Pugsley is quick to defend against it.
Len Drew has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Pugsley.
Drew dives in and grabs Pugsley's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pugsley pushes down on Drew's head and hops out.

Pugsley moves into the clinch successfully.
Drew blocks an uppercut.

Pugsley is fighting off a takedown attempt but Drew is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Pugsley to the mat. Pugsley regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drew throws a big elbow that misses.
Drew trying to control the position from guard on top but Pugsley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drew wants to pass the guard but Pugsley is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pugsley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Drew is one step ahead there.
Drew trying to control the position from guard on top but Pugsley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Pugsley throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A big left from Pugsley misses.
Pugsley fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Pugsley shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pugsley looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Drew looking for a sweep. Not yet Drew, not yet.
Pugsley content to stall in guard here.
Pugsley wants to pass the guard but Drew is keeping the position.
Pugsley trying to control the position from guard on top but Drew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Drew looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pugsley slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pugsley stopping the sweep attempt from Drew.

Drew looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Drew wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pugsley sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Drew's guard.
Drew moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Drew bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pugsley's guard.

Pugsley utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Drew pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pugsley is keeping the position for now.
Drew loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pugsley really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Drew. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pugsley avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Drew trying to control but Pugsley is working from the bottom.
Drew sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pugsley's guard.
Drew tries to pass to full mount but Pugsley defends it.
Drew seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pugsley keeping hold of Drew's head, controlling as best he can.
Drew sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pugsley defending well though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Len Drew dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pugsley gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pugsley swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Come on Pugsley - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Pugsley wants to take the fight to the mat but Drew manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Pugsley pressing his opponent against the cage.

Drew successfully pulls guard.
Drew will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pugsley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pugsley won't allow Drew to sweep him here.
Drew is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pugsley looking to sit in guard and control but Drew gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pugsley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Drew.
Drew trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drew controls from within his opponent's guard.
Drew pushing down on Pugsley's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Drew has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Drew is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Drew throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drew unloading with bombs!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drew punching from mount but Pugsley doing a good job of avoiding damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pugsley can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pugsley is trying to escape the mount.
Drew landing strikes from the mount and Pugsley is in trouble!
Drew misses with a head shot.
Drew throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Drew trying to control but Pugsley is having none of it.
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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pugsley blocking the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pugsley holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Drew tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Drew thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Drew lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Poor strikes thrown by Drew there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Drew lands a couple of good shots and Pugsley has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Drew trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Drew misses with an elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drew throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Pugsley manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Pugsley.
Drew throws a big right hand that misses.
Pugsley utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Drew looking to pass the guard.
Drew is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pugsley can do to turn this around?
Drew trying to control the position from guard on top but Pugsley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Drew accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Drew chips away with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pugsley keeping full guard, as Drew tries to pass.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Len Drew dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pugsley misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pugsley gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Drew.
Drew lands a head shot.

It looks like Arthur Pugsley has been cut.
Drew thuds a left hand into Pugsley's body.

Pugsley closes the distance and pushes Drew back into the cage.
Drew has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pugsley avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pugsley effectively controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Drew successfully pulls guard.
Drew bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pugsley's guard.

Drew trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pugsley avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drew stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pugsley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Drew wants to control from the top but Pugsley keeps moving.
Drew passes Pugsley's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Drew is looking to take a break and control but Pugsley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Drew misses with a head shot. Pugsley uses the momentum to regain guard.
Drew tries to free his leg and advance position but Pugsley is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Drew trying to control the position from guard on top but Pugsley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drew trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Pugsley manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Pugsley is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Drew has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Drew is on top in guard.

Drew trying to control the position from guard on top but Pugsley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drew content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Drew passes Pugsley's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Drew trying to pass the guard but Pugsley defending well.
Pugsley avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Drew.
Pugsley keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Drew works his way into full mount!
Drew working Pugsley over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drew throwing strikes here but Pugsley is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Drew is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Drew looking to control but Pugsley is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Poor strikes thrown by Drew there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Drew avoids the attempt from Pugsley to control.
Drew looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drew sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Len Drew clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Arthur Pugsley's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pugsley wants to clinch.
Drew drops down looking for a counter takedown but Pugsley sprawls and moves away.
Pugsley tries to close the distance and clinch but Drew swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Drew appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nice uppercut lands for Drew. That snapped Pugsley's head back.

Pugsley moves into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Pugsley.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Drew ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Drew no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drew trying to keep a closed guard but Pugsley is proving a slippery customer.

Drew has his foot on Pugsley's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pugsley works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pugsley looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Pugsley's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Drew keeping full guard, as Pugsley tries to pass.
Pugsley trying to control the position from guard on top but Drew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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.
Pugsley looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pugsley closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Pugsley looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Drew makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Drew.
Drew is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pugsley's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drew looking for a guillotine here but Pugsley defends easily.
Pugsley is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Drew looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Drew lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

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.
Drew is pushing down on Pugsley's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pugsley is fighting to maintain full guard but Drew has managed to sneak the leg through.
Drew throwing shots but Pugsley is blocking nicely.
Pugsley is concentrating on defense, preventing Drew from advancing position.
Drew is looking to pass Pugsley's guard but actually Pugsley recovers to full guard.
Pugsley can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Drew controls the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pugsley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Drew is one step ahead there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Len Drew will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Arthur Pugsley's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Pugsley tries to clinch there but Drew circles away.

Pugsley gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pugsley takes an elbow to the forehead.

Drew successfully pulls guard.
Pugsley is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Drew is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pugsley postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pugsley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Drew working for submissions but it's allowed Pugsley to get to half guard.
Pugsley looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drew is defending against the submission attempts here by Pugsley.
Pugsley is trying to control the action in half guard but Drew is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Drew actively working from the bottom here.
Pugsley prevents Drew from improving his position.

That's two 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.
Pugsley wants to control but Drew is keeping him busy.
Pugsley is taking a breather. Drew says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pugsley gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Drew counters with a shoot takedown. Pugsley fights it but they end up in guard.
Drew lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Drew missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pugsley being controlled here, momentarily.
Drew postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drew loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Drew pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pugsley is keeping the position for now.
Len Drew overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Len Drew is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Drew looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Drew looking to sit in guard and control but Pugsley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pugsley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drew is keeping the position for now.
Pugsley wants to control from the top but Drew keeps moving.
Pugsley stopping the sweep attempt from Drew.
Pugsley postures up.
Drew is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Still in half guard, Drew seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Len Drew showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Drew, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 50:45
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 50:45
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Len Drew!
Len Drew is the new featherweight champion!
Len Drew seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.