PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dustin Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dustin Drake has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Drake
vs
Howard

176 cm
18
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dustin Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Phil Howard!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard moves out of range of the strikes.
Drake is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Howard.
Howard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Howard 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.
Drake preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Howard is looking to work some ground and pound but Drake has wrist control.
Howard wants to control from the top but Drake keeps moving.
Howard lands a couple of digs.
Howard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard throws a strike but Drake rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Drake thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake wants to pass the guard but Howard is keeping the position.
Howard wants to stand up but Drake is controlling him.
Drake looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Drake wants to control from the top but Howard keeps moving.
Drake throwing strikes from guard but Howard blocks nicely.
Drake tries to free his leg and advance position but Howard is retaining full 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Howard swats away the attempt to clinch by Drake.
Howard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Drake tries to avoid it but Howard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Drake to the ground. Drake escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Howard has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Drake finds it's way round the side to connect with Howard's head.
Drake takes one on the button.
Phil Howard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howard throws a right hand that Drake ducks under and follows up with a left that Drake also avoids with ease.
Howard doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Howard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Howard looks gassed!
Howard fails with a takedown attempt.
Drake is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Drake defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Howard.
Dustin Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Howard.

Drake gets a clinch.
Drake lands a right hand that snaps the head of Howard backwards.
Howard is trying to force a seperation but Drake has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Drake effectively controlling the action here.
Howard drops down looking for an ankle pick but Drake pulls his leg out and moves away.
Howard takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Drake lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Howard checks a leg kick.
Dustin Drake is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab lands there for Drake.

Drake fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Howard, pushing him back against the cage.
Drake throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Howards head.
Drake displaying some good clinch control by pressing Howard up against the cage.
Drake can't break the clinch.
Drake lands with a light punch inside.
Howard drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Drake gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Drake scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake lands a right hand.
Drake lands a hook that snaps the head of Howard backwards.
Drake lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Drake escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Drake misses with an attempted mid kick.

Drake rushes Howard and presses him up against the cage.
Drake lands a nice uppercut.
Drake scores with a shot to the side of Howard's head.

Howard is rocked!
Drake lands a left hand that snaps the head of Howard backwards.
Howard is still on wobbly legs! Can Drake finish him?
Drake lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Howard seems to have recovered his senses.
Still in the clinch, Drake scores with a nice short uppercut.
Drake scores with a shoulder strike.
Drake lands a hook that snaps the head of Howard backwards.

Drake's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Drake has taken the fight to the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good body shot from Drake.
Drake stalling in the clinch.
Drake makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Drake works on Howard's body with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dustin Drake dominated that round.
That's time! Drake's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Drake drives through and clinches with Howard against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Drake scores with a nice short uppercut.
Drake lands with a left to the head.
Drake lands a body punch in the clinch.
Howard wants a takedown but no success here.
Drake tries to circle away but Howard has him pinned against the cage.
Howard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Drake avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Drake dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Drake throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Howard is working for takedown but Drake is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dustin Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Howard.
Drake drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Drake is trying to drag Howard to the mat but Howard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Drake is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Howard has Drake pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Drake manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Drake's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Howard is breathing heavily.
Drake working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drake breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Howard gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Drake scores with a hook to the body. Howard takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Drake clinches up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Drake.
A short right from Drake on the inside.
Howard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Drake's efforts to push away.
Drake wants a takedown.
Drake lands a right hand.
Howard goes for a takedown attempt but Drake pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Drake tries to clinch but Howard is having none of it.
Drake tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Howard is able to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A lazy left from Drake finds it's target.
Drake throws a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Drake throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Howard.
Howard misses with a double jab

and Drake counters by moving into the clinch.
Drake working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Drake working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Drake scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Drake is stalling here.
A right handed body shot lands from Drake.

Drake has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Howard is trying to keep an underhook but Drake manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Drake is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Drake trying to mount his opponent but Howard defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard is looking to get back to full guard here but Drake has managed to pass to side control instead.
Howard wants to control but Drake is having none of it.
Drake scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Howard?
Howard is trying desperately to improve position.
Howard wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Drake.
Drake 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Drake thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Drake working for a submission but Howard is keeping him at bay.

Drake working for a submission but Howard is keeping him at bay.
Drake tries to control but Howard wriggling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drake looking to finish with strikes here!
Drake sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dustin Drake dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Drake cracks Howard with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Howard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Drake counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice cross by Drake.
Howard throws a left and a right that both miss
and Drake counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Howard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Drake counter with a right hand.

Drake clinches.
Howard has Drake pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Drake manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A shot in the inside from Drake.
A nice right hand lands inside from Drake.
Howard is trying to drag Drake to the mat but Drake just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Drake lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Drake lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Howard backwards.
Howard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howard stops a takedown attempt from Drake.
Howard has Drake pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Drake manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dustin Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Howard.
Drake lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Drake.
Drake lands a right hand.
Drake working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Drake has Howard pressed against the cage.
Drake pushes Howard back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Drake lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Howard being controlled against the cage.
Drake stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Drake is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Howard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A nice left hand lands by Drake.
Howard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Drake wants a takedown.
Drake can't break the clinch.
Drake lands a left hand that snaps the head of Howard backwards.
Howard takes a shot to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Drake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake lands a shoulder strike.
Drake leaning his opponent against the cage.
Howard is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Drake pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Drake lands a left hand.
Howard tries to circle away but Drake has him pinned against the cage.
Drake has Howard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Howard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A short right from Drake on the inside.
Drake leaning against his opponent.
Howard wants to break free but Drake has control.
Drake makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A short uppercut from Drake.
Drake scores with a hook to the body.

Drake manages to break the clinch.
Howard is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drake clinches.
Drake is leaning against Howard and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A hook to the body from Drake.
Howard has Drake pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Drake manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A short uppercut from Drake.
Howard letting Drake take a breather here.

Drake breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Phil Howard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Drake has closed the distance and engaged Howard in a clinch.
Phil Howard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dustin Drake has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short right from Drake on the inside.
Drake is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howard can do to turn this around?
Drake changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Howard fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Drake scores with a sloppy right hand. Howard should have avoided that one.
Howard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Drake moves into the clinch.
Drake lands a shoulder strike.
Howard prevents Drake from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake lands a shoulder strike.
Drake lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Howard backwards.
Drake working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Stalling in the clinch from Drake.
Howard drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Drake gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Drake lands with a light punch inside.
Drake lands an uppercut.
Drake is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Howard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Drake is looking to break free of the clinch but Howard has double underhooks.
A short left from Drake.
Drake makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Dustin Drake is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Drake working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drake has Howard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Howard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Howard tries to break the clinch but Drake is controlling the position.
Drake has Howard pressed against the cage, preventing Howard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dustin 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dustin Drake!