PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Radu Dracul (ranked 29 p4p, 390 weight class) and Juju Baraka (ranked 6 p4p, 59 weight class). Baraka has chosen Burning Spear as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Dracul
vs
Baraka

190 cm
30
202
17 - 4 - 0

203 cm
33
206
20 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Fast

HELLBENT
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Radu Dracul!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Juju Baraka!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baraka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Baraka with a jab.
Baraka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dracul attempts a counter takedown but Baraka avoids it well and moves away.
Dracul uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Baraka.
Dracul half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Dracul has been working on his balance at ZuccoTraining Ground, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Baraka.
Baraka lands a nice leg kick that just misses Dracul's sensitive parts.
Baraka throws a jab but it's blocked by Dracul.
Dracul keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Baraka misses with an uppercut. Dracul saw that one coming.
A nice leg kick lands there from Baraka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baraka sizes up Dracul with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Baraka thuds his shin into the meat of Dracul's side.
Baraka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dracul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dracul avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dracul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Baraka closes the distance and clinches.
Baraka lands with a short shot to the head.

Dracul breaks from the clinch.
Baraka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Dracul attempts a counter takedown but Baraka avoids it well and moves away.
Juju Baraka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice uppercut there from Baraka.
Baraka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dracul.
Dracul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Juju Baraka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab lands there for Baraka.
Dracul has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Dracul there as he acknowledges the shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Baraka.
Baraka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dracul.
Dracul changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Baraka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baraka swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dracul counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dracul.
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!
Dracul is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Dracul working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Baraka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dracul. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dracul pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baraka is keeping the position for now.
Dracul might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Dracul is working Baraka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Baraka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Baraka wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Baraka is looking to stand up but Dracul isn't so interested in that idea.
Dracul passes Baraka's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Dracul is nestled in close to Baraka, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

It looks like Juju Baraka has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dracul not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dracul not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dracul winds up and cracks Baraka with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dracul connects with a nice short shot to Baraka's temple.
Dracul thows a huge punch but Baraka dodges it nicely.
Baraka trying to control from the bottom.
Baraka slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dracul with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Baraka keeping moving, preventing Dracul from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dracul's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dracul in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dracul throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Baraka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dracul 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dracul is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dracul throws a big elbow that misses.
Dracul lands a couple of digs.
Baraka is looking to stand up but Dracul isn't so interested in that idea.
Dracul working some strikes from top position.
Dracul advances position into side control!

Dracul thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sloppy strikes there by Dracul.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Juju Baraka will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Juju Baraka's cut.
That's time! Dracul's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dracul moves away from the strike by Baraka.
Dracul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Dracul uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Baraka.
Dracul stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Baraka.
Baraka throws a jab but it's blocked by Dracul.
Dracul feinted with a counter takedown.
Baraka throws a jab but it's blocked by Dracul.
Baraka misses with a lunging right hand

and Dracul counters with a single leg into guard. Baraka didn't expect that.
Baraka 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.
Dracul won't allow Baraka to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dracul landing with the ground and pound.
Dracul lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dracul trying to control but Baraka is working from the bottom.
Dracul throws a big elbow that misses.
Dracul makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That has opened up Juju Baraka's cut even more.
Dracul cracks Baraka with a solid left hand.
Dracul scoring with some ground and pound.

The cut above Juju Baraka's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Juju Baraka's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Radu Dracul!
Radu Dracul retains his light heavyweight title!
A victorious Radu Dracul thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.