PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cao Pi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven Drake has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Cao Pi's chin.

Pi
vs
Drake

185 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cao Pi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steven Drake!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Drake is fending him off so far but Pi persists. Nope, Drake circles away and we're back to standing.
Drake looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Pi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Drake's half guard.
Pi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Drake defending well though.
Drake keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Drake's head.
Pi trying to pass the guard but Drake defending well.
Pi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Drake defending well though.
Pi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Drake keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Pi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pi seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Pi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Drake on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Pi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Drake's head.
Pi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Pi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pi throwing strikes from guard but Drake blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drake works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drake works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pi is looking to work some ground and pound but Drake has wrist control.
Pi tries to free his leg and advance position but Drake is retaining full guard.
Pi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Drake avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pi is looking to work some ground and pound but Drake has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Drake stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Drake wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cao Pi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Drake avoids it really well and circles away.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Drake - that will leave a mark!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pi in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Pi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Drake some visible discomfort.
Drake takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Pi scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Drake to see if he's OK.
Drake avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Pi.
Pi working the head with strikes.
An elbow from Pi crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Pi are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sloppy strikes there by Pi.
Pi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Pi throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Drake is not content to let Pi control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pi misses with a takedown attempt - Drake sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pi shoots for a double leg takedown but Drake sprawls well. He's pushed Pi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Drake's waist but Drake gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pi off to one side.

Pi closes the distance and pushes Drake back into the cage.
A short body shot lands from Pi as the two fighters clinch.
Nice body punch from Pi - that landed with a thud.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Pi presses Drake against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pi rushes Drake and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pi lands a right hand.
A short uppercut from Pi.
Drake stops a takedown attempt from Pi.

Pi has hold of one of Drake's legs. Drake is fighting the takedown attempt but Pi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pi throws a big right hand that misses.
Pi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pi postures up in Drake's guard and throws a big left but Drake blocks it.
Pi chips away with some ground and pound.
Drake is breathing heavily.
Drake wants to stand and escape but Pi is having none of it.
Pi throws a big right hand that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Pi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Drake was covering up waiting for the punch and Pi finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pi stands up over Drake, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pi throwing strikes but missing.
Pi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pi wants to control from the top but Drake keeps moving.
Pi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drake can't keep his opponent in guard - Pi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Drake has hold of Pi's hands but Pi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pi working Drake over with strikes.
Pi is nestled in close to Drake, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Drake blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pi.
Drake is trying to get back to full guard.
Pi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pi throwing shots but Drake is blocking nicely.
Pi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Drake is not content to let Pi control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Drake throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Pi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Drake did well to prevent Pi getting side control.
Pi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pi thows a huge punch but Drake dodges it nicely.
Pi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cao Pi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Drake blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pi.
Pi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pi throwing shots but Drake is blocking nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Pi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Drake did well to prevent Pi getting side control.
Pi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Pi throwing shots but Drake is blocking nicely.
Pi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pi thows a huge punch but Drake dodges it nicely.
Drake keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pi working the head and body with strikes.
Pi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cao Pi dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Pi fails with a takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Horrible takedown by Pi or perhaps it was just good defense by Drake which made him look bad.
Pi dives in and grabs Drake's left leg, looking for a takedown. Drake pushes down on Pi's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cao Pi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drake slaps away a takedown attempt from Pi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Drake pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Drake tries to land a front kick but Pi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Steven Drake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pi shoots in for a double leg but Drake sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Pi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Drake regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drake trying to control the position.
Pi is looking to work some ground and pound but Drake has wrist control.
Drake working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pi.
Pi trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.
Pi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Drake's waist but Drake gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pi off to one side.
Pi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Drake defends it nicely.
Drake throws the kick towards the body but Pi avoids it.

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.
Drake leaves Pi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Drake defends it nicely.
Pi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Drake avoids it really well and circles away.
Drake stuffs the takedown.
Steven Drake is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pi blocks a head kick by Drake.
Drake leaves Pi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Drake tries a head kick but it misses.
Pi shoots in for a takedown but Drake shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Drake defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pi.
Drake lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Drake throws a head kick that misses.
Pi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Drake circles away.
Drake stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake tries a head kick but it misses.
Pi shoots in but Drake avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pi blocks the body kick.
Drake keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Pi gets a clinch.
Drake blocks an elbow strike from Pi.
Drake looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pi throws an elbow that misses.
Pi lands a body punch.
Pi keeps control of Drake as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Pi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pi lands with a right to the head.

Pi has picked Drake up - he's going for a ride! Pi dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Pi lands a nice short elbow.
Pi looks to land a strike but Drake avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Steven Drake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pi postures up in Drake's guard and throws a big left but Drake blocks it.
Pi throwing strikes but missing.
Pi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Pi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Pi postures up and lands a big shot to Drake's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cao Pi.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cao Pi!