PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Valen Dreth (ranked 249 p4p, 439 weight class) and Jacob Handler (ranked 29 p4p, 50 weight class). Handler has chosen KEEPINITBEEFY as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Dreth
vs
Handler

175 cm
40
165
39 - 23 - 1

172 cm
28
165
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

NARCOS
FF Gear

Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 39 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Valen Dreth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jacob Handler!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Handler fails with the takedown.
Handler moves away from the strike by Dreth.
Dreth throws a hook to the side of Handler's head but Handler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dreth bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Dreth misses with a wild body shot.
Handler doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Handler moves into the clinch successfully.
We've been hearing reports that Dreth has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Dreth tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dreth has had enough of the clinch but Handler keeps him there for the moment.

Dreth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Handler crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Dreth - the referee stops the clock and Handler gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Dreth. Handler manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Handler closes the distance and pushes Dreth back into the cage.

Handler is fighting off a takedown attempt but Dreth is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Handler to the mat. Handler regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Dreth preventing the sweep.
Handler is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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!
Handler is thwarting Dreth's attempts to control the position.
Dreth blocking the ground and pound attempt from Handler.
Dreth tries to get to full guard but Handler has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Handler winds up and cracks Dreth with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Dreth is looking to improve his position.

Dreth actively working from the bottom here.
Handler has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dreth tries to get to full guard but Handler has control of the leg.
Handler is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Dreth lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dreth preventing the sweep.
Dreth trying to control the position from guard on top but Handler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Handler trying to keep a closed guard but Dreth is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dreth throws a big right hand that misses.
Dreth stopping the sweep attempt from Handler.
Dreth working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Handler's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dreth trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dreth's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Handler looking to control.
Dreth is working Handler over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Dreth distracts Handler with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Handler looking for a sweep. Not yet Handler, not yet.
Handler trying to control the position.
Handler looking for a sweep. Not yet Handler, not yet.
Dreth lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dreth scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dreth stopping the sweep attempt from Handler.
Handler is trying to keep Dreth in close.
Dreth wants to pass the guard but Handler is keeping the position.
Handler lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dreth had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Handler defends it easily.
Handler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dreth's head.
Handler trying to control the position from guard on top but Dreth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Handler lying in Dreth's guard like a wet fish here, stalling away. Dreth decides he's had enough of all that nonsense - he escapes his hips and locks up an armbar! Wow, that was slick! Handler taps! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Valen Dreth!
Our winner, Valen Dreth, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.