PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kai Faletau (ranked 3966 p4p, 3980 weight class) and Zdravko Dren Jr (ranked 409 p4p, 410 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Faletau
vs
Dren Jr

192 cm
25
258
1 - 2 - 0

197 cm
25
255
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Primal

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kai Faletau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zdravko Dren Jr!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, David Hoff and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dren Jr throws a half hearted mid kick.
Faletau tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dren Jr swivels and escapes.
Faletau fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dren Jr digs a good body shot into Faletau's ribs.
Faletau definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Dren Jr is looking to land body kicks.
Dren Jr with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Faletau to score with a decent uppercut.
Dren Jr with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Faletau tries to close the distance and clinch but Dren Jr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Faletau lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Faletau.
Faletau tries to close the distance and clinch but Dren Jr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Faletau wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Faletau scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Faletau showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dren Jr.
Faletau could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faletau scores with a jab to the jaw.
Faletau throws a combination. Dren Jr tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Faletau wants to clinch up but Dren Jr keeps it at a distance.
Faletau throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dren Jr's waist but Dren Jr gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Faletau off to one side.
Faletau throws a series of strikes that have Dren Jr backpedaling.
Faletau tries to clinch up
and Dren Jr counters with a body kick that stops Faletau in his tracks momentarily.
Faletau shoots in but Dren Jr avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A little jabbing left from Dren Jr on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kai Faletau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faletau moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Zdravko Dren Jr has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dren Jr on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Dren Jr is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Faletau.
Faletau throws a right and a left that Dren Jr avoids nicely.
Dren Jr counters with a body kick.
Faletau lands with a good body shot.
Faletau uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dren Jr.
A quick step to the side and Faletau tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dren Jr misses the jab.
Faletau lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Faletau.
Dren Jr's corner calls for a 1-2. Dren Jr obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Faletau punishes Dren Jr's body with a nice straight punch.
Dren Jr throws a body shot but no joy.
A good leg kick by Dren Jr.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faletau changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dren Jr tries to avoid it but Faletau manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dren Jr to the ground. Dren Jr escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Faletau fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Dren Jr looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Dren Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Faletau moves away.
Dren Jr dodges the punch combination from Faletau.
Faletau wants to clinch.
Dren Jr connects with a body shot.
Dren Jr tries a head kick but it misses.
Kai Faletau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faletau doesn't manage to clinch there - Dren Jr circles away.
Dren Jr takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Faletau fails to land the takedown.
Faletau comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Dren Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Crunch! Dren Jr slams his shin into Faletau's torso.
Dren Jr tests Faletau's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dren Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Faletau.
Dren Jr connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Faletau dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zdravko Dren Jr's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Faletau paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Faletau moves out of range of the strikes.
Faletau went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Faletau is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dren Jr can do to turn this around?
Faletau lands a really nice looking cross but Dren Jr seems unphased.
The fight stays on the outside here - Faletau looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Faletau throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dren Jr's waist but Dren Jr gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Faletau off to one side.
Sloppy strikes from Faletau. Those never looked like landing.
Dren Jr looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Faletau connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Faletau works over Dren Jr's head and body with a nice combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faletau tries to clinch up.
Faletau fails with the takedown
enabling Dren Jr to counter with a crisp jab.
Dren Jr misses with a body punch
and Faletau counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faletau closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dren Jr circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kai Faletau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dren Jr swings for the body but Faletau moves out of range.
Dren Jr has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Dren Jr there as he acknowledges the shot.
A slapping body kick lands there for Dren Jr.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Faletau digs a good hook to Dren Jr's body.
Dren Jr keeps the fight on the outside.
Faletau ducks under a wild hook from Dren Jr.
Faletau is looking for a counter combo.
Dren Jr leaves Faletau with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Faletau throws a right and a left that Dren Jr avoids nicely.
Faletau is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dren Jr wants to counter with a clinch but Faletau pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faletau ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Faletau wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Faletau lands a jab.
A swing and a miss from Dren Jr.
Kai Faletau is winning the standup battle so far.
Dren Jr lands a head kick!

It looks like Kai Faletau has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Faletau doesn't manage to clinch there - Dren Jr circles away.
Dren Jr lands a leg kick that knocks Faletau off balance momentarily.
Zdravko Dren Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Faletau doesn't manage to clinch there - Dren Jr circles away.
Dren Jr raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Dren Jr misses with a head kick.
Faletau shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dren Jr defends it nicely.
Dren Jr thinks about the counter body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faletau scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Faletau fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Faletau tries to clinch but Dren Jr moves out of range.
Dren Jr is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Faletau.
Dren Jr waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Faletau.
Dren Jr misses with an uppercut. Faletau saw that one coming.
Dren Jr throws a leg kick but Faletau moved away.
Faletau feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Dren Jrs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Dren Jr on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faletau doesn't manage to clinch there - Dren Jr circles away.
Faletau throws a one two combo.
Faletau throws a series of strikes that have Dren Jr backpedaling.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Faletau tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Faletau is working the combinations to good effect here.
Dren Jr throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Dren Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Faletau.
Dren Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Faletau.
A nice side step and Dren Jr releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Dren Jr looks to throw the jab but Faletau is out of range.
It looked like Faletau was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Faletau cracks Dren Jr with a good jab.
Faletau walks into a straight right hand from Dren Jr.
Dren Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Faletau manages to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kai Faletau will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Faletau shoots in looking for a takedown. Dren Jr tries to sprawl out of it but Faletau keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dren Jr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Dren Jr lands a big head kick that sends Faletau tumbling to the mat! Dren Jr takes a step backwards and waves Faletau back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Faletau wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faletau looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fighters circling - Dren Jr throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Faletau shoots for a double leg takedown but Dren Jr sprawls well. He's pushed Faletau's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dren Jr throws a big counter head kick but Faletau avoids it with no problem.
Kai Faletau is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dren Jr bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dren Jr. Faletau does a little dance to reset his feet.

Dren Jr clinches with his opponent.
Dren Jr lands an elbow inside that Faletau shrugs off.
Dren Jr makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Faletau jumps guard but Dren Jr stands there with Faletau around his waist. Faletau gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kai Faletau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dren Jr lands a hook that snaps the head of Faletau backwards.
Faletau fails to pull guard.
Dren Jr scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Dren Jr has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Faletau letting Dren Jr take a breather here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Dren Jr.
Dren Jr lands an elbow inside that Faletau shrugs off.
Faletau is trying to force a seperation but Dren Jr has the dominant position.
Dren Jr throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Faletaus head.
Dren Jr comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dren Jr lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Faletau backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dren Jr lands an elbow that stopped Faletau in his tracks for a moment.
Dren Jr lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Dren Jr lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Dren Jr lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Dren Jr comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Kai Faletau's cut is getting worse.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Dren Jr takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dren Jr.
Dren Jr lands an elbow just above Faletau 's eye.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dren Jr.
Dren Jr lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Dren Jr drops Faletau onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Faletau is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!

Faletau is rocked!

Kai Faletau's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Faletau fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Oh Faletau is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Dren Jr lands a right hand that snaps the head of Faletau backwards.
Dren Jr lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Faletau backwards.
Dren Jr lands a nice elbow.
Dren Jr creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Faletau's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Faletau drops to his knees and Dren Jr pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zdravko Dren Jr!
Zdravko Dren Jr seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.