PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steven Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Branden Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven Drake has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Drake
vs
Jones

185 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
21
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steven Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Branden Jones!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Drake throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Drake misses with a head kick.
Drake looks for the body kick but Jones saw that one coming.
Drake is looking to clinch but Jones is avoiding it.
Drake throws a push kick but Jones slaps the foot to one side.

Jones looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jones in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones trying to pass the guard but Drake defending well.
Jones sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Drake won't allow Jones to pass to mount.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Drake keeps working.
Jones with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jones thows a huge punch but Drake dodges it nicely.
Jones wants to take a breather but Drake is having none of it.
Drake keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Jones closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Drake did well to prevent Jones getting side control.
Still in half guard, Jones seems content to control.
Jones scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Drake won't allow Jones to pass to mount.
Drake is refusing to be controlled, as Jones sits in half guard.

Jones decides to stand up.
Jones wants to slow Drake down by chopping away at his legs.
Jones throws a sloppy head kick
and Drake counters with a good, hard body kick but Jones shrugs it off.
Jones looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake lands with a nice body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Drake lands a big head kick that sends Jones tumbling to the mat! Drake takes a step backwards and waves Jones back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Branden Jones has been cut.
Both fighters circling a little - Drake finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Steven Drake is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Drake goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Drake tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jones throws a front kick aimed at Drake's knee but Drake avoids it well.

Jones shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Drake's guard.
Jones sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Drake's guard.
Jones is trying to control the action in half guard but Drake is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Drake trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Drake dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Branden Jones's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jones drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Drake wants to control but Jones postures up.
Jones content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Jones working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Drake is trying to get back to half guard.

Jones has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Steven Drake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drake fails in his attempt to clinch.
Drake takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Jones shoots in but Drake avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Drake fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake is looking to land body kicks.

Jones drives through and clinches with Drake against the cage.

Jones has clasped his hands together around Drake's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Jones controls the position.
Jones tries to advance to mount but Drake denies him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Drake keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drake keeping his opponent close.

Jones stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Drake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Jones darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Drake is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jones working Drake over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branden Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Branden Jones's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Jones.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Drake.
Drake throws a lazy head kick

and Jones counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Drake's guard now.
Jones controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.
Jones's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jones throws a big right hand that misses.

Jones stands and steps away. Drake gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Drake looking to land some kicks to the body here.
No luck for Jones with that takedown attempt.
Drake misses with a head kick.

Jones forces Drake back against the cage and clinches.
Jones keeps control of Drake as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Jones throws a knee to the head but misses.
Drake tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jones avoids it.

Jones successfully pulls guard.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones pulls Drake in close to his closed guard and prevents Drake from doing any damage or advancing position.

Jones looking for a guillotine here but Drake defends easily.
Jones controlling the position.
Jones manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Drake manages to get himself to full guard.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Drake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Branden Jones just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Drake throws a front kick that sends Jones stumbling back into the cage.
Drake connects with a high kick.
Jones moves out of range of the body kick from Drake.

Jones clinches.
Jones goes for a takedown in the clinch but Drake prevents it.
Steven Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Branden Jones.
Jones wants a takedown but no success here.
Jones has Drake pressed against the cage, preventing Drake from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Branden Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jones has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Branden Jones!