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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Clark Zapata (ranked 25065 p4p, 3882 weight class) and Tom Drechsler (ranked 0 p4p, 297 weight class). Zapata comes to the cage accompanied by Alab ng Puso. Drechsler has chosen Back in Black as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 173 cm
19
145
1 - 5 - 0 |
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185 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined |
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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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Clark Zapata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Drechsler!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Zapata or perhaps it was just good defense by Drechsler, which made it look bad.
Zapata tries to score a power double leg takedown but Drechsler sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zapata somewhat.
Zapata wants to clinch up but Drechsler keeps it at a distance.
Drechsler dodges the punch combination from Zapata.
Drechsler is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Drechsler closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Zapata quickly recovers to half guard.
Drechsler content to control rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drechsler stands up out of the half guard.
Drechsler fails to land with a series of punches.
Zapata misses with an uppercut
and Drechsler holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Drechsler lands a body punch in the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Drechsler has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zapata is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Zapata is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Drechsler wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zapata has him pressed against the cage.
Zapata escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zapata misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Drechsler gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Zapata counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Drechsler swats away the attempt to clinch by Zapata.
Drechsler closes the distance and clinches.
Drechsler manages to pull guard.
Zapata knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drechsler on the ground.
Drechsler pulls Zapata in to control the position.
Drechsler uses the cage to get back to his feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drechsler shoots in and drives through. Zapata sprawls well.
An attempted straight right counter from Zapata misses the target.
Clark Zapata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drechsler is looking to land body kicks.
Zapata throws a hook to the side of Drechsler's head but Drechsler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zapata tries to close the distance and clinch but Drechsler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Drechsler misses with a wild combination.
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!
Drechsler clinches with his opponent.
Drechsler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zapata gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Clark Zapata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Drechsler.
Zapata fails to pull guard.
Zapata working hard to break the clinch.
Drechsler has Zapata pressed against the cage, preventing Zapata from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zapata tries to close the distance and clinch up but Drechsler swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Drechsler only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Drechsler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zapata defends it nicely.
Zapata pushes Drechsler up against the cage in a clinch.
Drechsler breaks from the clinch.
Zapata tries to clinch up but Drechsler circles away and keeps his distance.
Drechsler pushes Zapata up against the cage in a clinch.
Zapata tries to throw a body punch but Drechsler avoids it by throwing Zapata back against the cage.
Drechsler wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zapata tries to break the clinch but Drechsler is controlling the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zapata tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Drechsler smiles and moves away.
Drechsler will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zapata fails with an attempt to clinch.
Drechsler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zapata.
Drechsler clinches up with Zapata and pushes him back against the cage.
Drechsler prevents Zapata from breaking the clinch.
Drechsler has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zapata avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zapata wants a takedown.
Zapata working hard to break the clinch.
Zapata has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zapata is trying to force a seperation but Drechsler has the dominant position.
Zapata working hard to break the clinch.
Zapata is trying to break the clinch but Drechsler has him pressed against the cage.
Zapata tries a body shot but Drechsler blocks it.
Drechsler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Tom Drechsler dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
A combination from Zapata does no damage.
Zapata throws a right and a left that Drechsler avoids nicely.
Clark Zapata is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A left and a right from Zapata both land. Nice combination.
It looks like Tom Drechsler has been cut.
Zapata tries for a takedown but Drechsler circles away easily
and Drechsler moves into the clinch.
Zapata wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zapata wants to get back to striking at distance but Drechsler won't allow it.
Drechsler blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Drechsler jumps guard.
Drechsler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zapata defends it easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Drechsler bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zapata's guard.
Drechsler postures up in Zapata's guard and throws a big left but Zapata blocks it.
Drechsler prevents Zapata from getting back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Drechsler's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Drechsler stands up from Zapata's guard - Drechsler perhaps looking for a knockout.
Zapata moves in looking to clinch but Drechsler pushes him off.
Drechsler connects with a looping right hand.
Drechsler closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Zapata tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Drechsler manages to move to mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zapata looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Drechsler keeps control of the position easily here as Zapata tries to buck him off.
Zapata is trying to stand back up.
Drechsler is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapata is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Drechsler trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Zapata doesn't escape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Drechsler misses with an elbow to the head.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Drechsler patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drechsler is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Zapata defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Drechsler just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Drechsler is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Zapata knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Zapata for a finish.
Tom Drechsler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Drechsler has good solid back control here.
Even with his hooks in, Drechsler manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Drechsler looking for the RNC.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Drechsler controlling from the back.
Drechsler is continuing to stall.
Zapata is trying to shake Drechsler off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Drechsler won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Zapata tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Drechsler checks a low kick from Zapata.
Zapata pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zapata tries to keep at a distance but Drechsler has taken the fight into the clinch.
Drechsler pulls guard successfully.
Drechsler has his hands on Zapata's head, controlling the position.
Let's hope that Drechsler has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Tom Drechsler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tom Drechsler'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. This is the final round!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Drechsler.
Zapata plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Clark Zapata is winning the standup battle so far.
Zapata tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Drechsler swivels and escapes.
Zapata sets himself, and Drechsler steps forward looking for the clinch! Zapata avoids it this time.
Drechsler gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Drechsler tries to score a body lock takedown but Zapata shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Drechsler wants to take the fight to the mat but Zapata manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Clark Zapata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Drechsler.
Zapata wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knees to the body from Zapata.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drechsler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zapata breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Some bone on bone action there as Drechsler checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Zapata tries to clinch but Drechsler is having none of it.
A punch combination from Zapata misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Drechsler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zapata defends it nicely.
Zapata tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Drechsler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zapata tries to clinch but Drechsler moves out of range.
Zapata throws a nice looking combination but Drechsler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zapata gets caught napping as Drechsler dives in and scores a takedown. Zapata manages to retain guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drechsler controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Drechsler won't allow Zapata to get back to his feet.
Drechsler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zapata wants to stand but Drechsler is controlling the position.
Drechsler throws a big elbow that misses.
Drechsler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drechsler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zapata's head.
Drechsler sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zapata's guard.
Drechsler content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Drechsler is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Drechsler sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Zapata throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Drechsler takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Drechsler is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Drechsler looking for the choke but no joy.
Drechsler looking for the choke but no joy.
Zapata trying to get back to his feet but Drechsler is in full control for now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drechsler has good solid back control here.
Zapata trying to get back to his feet but Drechsler is in full control for now.
Drechsler patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Zapata is trying to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Drechsler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Drechsler winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Drechsler!
After winning the bout, Tom Drechsler thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Clark Zapata was interviewed post fight and said 'I will learn from this.'.
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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
38% |
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