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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dezmond Drake (ranked 231 p4p, 982 weight class) and Okon Igwe (ranked 26 p4p, 96 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!
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| 176 cm
35
160
24 - 15 - 0 |
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170 cm
27
145
6 - 0 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dezmond Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Okon Igwe!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drake throws a hook to the side of Igwe's head but Igwe sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Drake circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd cheers as Igwe lands an impressive looking overhand right. Drake doesn't seem phased though.
A jab lands there for Igwe.
Igwe fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Drake, pushing him back against the cage.
Drake misses with the head strike.
Igwe tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Drake just stands there and leans against the cage.
Drake throws a head punch that misses.
Drake misses with a short punch on the inside.
Igwe tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Igwe is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Drake to keep the fight standing.
Dezmond Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Okon Igwe.
Drake misses with a punch to the body.
Igwe jumps guard.
Drake avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Igwe looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Drake has picked Igwe up and slammed him! Igwe can't keep hold of the triangle and Drake manages to pass to side control!
Igwe is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Igwe is trying to control Drake's posture but Drake avoids it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Igwe is trying to work for a sweep but Drake has mounted him!
Igwe keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Igwe is still trying to improve position.
Igwe is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Drake avoids the attempt from Igwe to control.
Igwe sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Igwe keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Igwe has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Drake is thwarting Igwe's attempts to control the position.
Igwe tries to roll over but Drake keeps him under control.
Drake is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Igwe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Igwe looking for submissions off his back.
Igwe tries to get to full guard but Drake has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drake content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Igwe makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Igwe.
Igwe has an active guard here but Drake has managed to pass into half guard.
That's four 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.
Igwe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Igwe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Drake prevents Igwe from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Drake stalling.
Igwe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Dezmond Drake will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Igwe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Drake.
Drake throws a shot from downtown. Igwe moves away and avoids it.
Igwe takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Igwe tries to clinch
and Drake counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Drake throws out a loose jab but Igwe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Igwe ducks under a wild hook from Drake.
Drake throws a shot from downtown. Igwe moves away and avoids it.
Drake throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Drake throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Igwe is looking to clinch.
Igwe fails in his attempt to clinch.
It looked like Drake wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Igwe sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Drake shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Igwe eats them both and turns towards Drake to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
It looks like Okon Igwe has been cut.
Igwe slips under a jab.
Igwe rushes Drake and presses him up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Igwe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Igwe successfully pulls guard.
Igwe working a defensive guard but Drake passes into half guard.
Igwe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Igwe wants to sweep but Drake has passed to side control!
Igwe is trying to get back to half guard.
Igwe sneaks back into half guard.
Igwe wants to improve his position but Drake is controlling well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Igwe is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Drake's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Drake's back!
Drake breaks Igwe's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Drake got a little sloppy there for a moment and Igwe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Drake has managed to get both his arms back between Igwe's legs - danger averted.
Igwe looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Drake passes into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Igwe tries to get to full guard but Drake has control of the leg.
Drake content to control rather than advance.
Igwe wants to control but Drake is keeping busy.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Igwe moves into full guard.
Igwe working for a triangle but Drake defends it easily.
Igwe working a defensive guard here.
Drake avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Igwe is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Drake is aware though and is defending well.
Drake stays in close to Igwe's body and controls the position.
Drake got a little sloppy there for a moment and Igwe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Drake has managed to get both his arms back between Igwe's legs - danger averted.
Igwe is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Drake is aware though and is defending well.
Drake sitting in guard here, content to control.
Igwe looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Drake passes into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Igwe 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Dezmond Drake dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Okon Igwe's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Drake throws a jab but it's blocked by Igwe.
Drake misses with a looping left.
Igwe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Drake.
Drake keeps the fight on the outside.
Drake swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Igwe fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Drake presses Igwe against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Drake fails to land.
Igwe jumps guard but Drake stands there with Igwe around his waist. Igwe gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Drake misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Igwe tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Drake just stands there and leans against the cage.
Igwe is trying to pull guard but Drake has him pressed against the cage.
Dezmond Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Okon Igwe.
Igwe is trying to pull guard but Drake has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Drake fails to land.
Igwe fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Igwe jumps guard but Drake stands there with Igwe around his waist. Igwe gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Igwe prevents a body shot from Drake.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Igwe tries to pull guard but Drake forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Drake swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Igwe tries to pull guard but Drake won't allow it.
Igwe fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Igwe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Drake lands a body punch in the clinch.
Drake digs a right hand underneath Igwe's ribcage. Igwe let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short left from Drake.
Drake lands a left hand.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Drake.
Drake lands a right hand that snaps the head of Igwe backwards.
Drake lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Drake has a couple of punches blocked by Igwe.
Drake working aggressively here.
Igwe tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Drake smiles and moves away.
Drake throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Igwe sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Igwe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Drake swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Igwe gets in close and instigates a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Igwe is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Drake to keep the fight standing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Igwe.
Igwe tries to clinch but Drake moves away
and Drake counters with a nice uppercut.
Igwe looks to land a right hand but Drake moved out of range.
Igwe thuds his right hand into Drake's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Igwe moves in looking to clinch but Drake pushes him off.
Igwe staying out of range there.
Drake throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Drake darts in and clinches Igwe up against the cage.
Drake lands with a short shot to the head.
Drake fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
I was talking to Drake's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A nice left hand lands by Drake.
Drake misses with a body punch.
Dezmond Drake has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Drake softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Igwe.
Igwe tries to pull guard but Drake won't allow it.
Drake can't find room to land a body shot as Igwe controls the action.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Igwe tries to pull guard but Drake forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Igwe tries to pull guard but Drake holds him up against the cage and eventually Igwe drops back down to his feet.
A body shot lands from Drake.
Drake lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Still in the clinch, Drake scores with a nice short uppercut.
Drake lands a left hand.
A body shot lands from Drake.
Drake lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short right from Drake on the inside.
Drake misses with a hook from the clinch.
Igwe tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Drake just stands there and leans against the cage.
Drake working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Drake working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Drake misses with a body punch.
Igwe fails to pull guard.
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!
Drake presses Igwe against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Igwe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Drake lands with a right to the head.
Igwe blocks a punch to the side of the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake struggles to land a body shot inside as Igwe controls his hands.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Drake.
Drake throws a head punch that misses.
A body shot lands from Drake.
Igwe jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Drake walks away with a smile on his face. Igwe gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Igwe is looking to clinch but Drake is avoiding it.
Drake with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Drake throws a body punch but Igwe moves out of range.
Drake fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Igwe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Igwe tries to clinch but Drake is having none of it.
Drake lands with a right hand.
Igwe on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Dezmond Drake is winning the standup battle so far.
Drake tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Igwe was well out of range. Poor timing from Drake.
Igwe throws a hook but Drake blocks it.
Okon Igwe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Drake connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Igwe's hands.
And that's the end of the fight!
Dezmond Drake showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Drake has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:26
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dezmond Drake!
Dezmond Drake decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
45% |
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