PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steven Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Drake
vs
Smith

185 cm
21
175 lbs
7 - 18 - 0

185 cm
26
183 lbs
9 - 5 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite 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 7 - 18 - 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 9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Smith!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drake throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Drake takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Donk. Smith catches Drake right on the button with a cross.
Smith avoids the head kick by Drake.
Smith throws a jab when Drake was well out of range.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Drake slips the punch.
Smith throws a low kick but Drake moves out of range easily.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Drake moves out of range of the strikes.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into Drake's guard.
Drake utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Drake is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Drake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drake keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith wants to control from the top but Drake keeps moving.
Drake wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.

That's two 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.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Drake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A punch lands to the side of Drake 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Marcus Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Drake walks into a jab.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Drake uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Smith avoids the head kick by Drake.
Nice uppercut there from Smith.
Smith lands a nice shot that snaps Drake's head back.
Smith throws a body punch but Drake moves out of range.
Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands with a right hand.
A jab from Smith misses.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Drake moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drake throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Drake steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.

Smith closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smith stops Drake from getting back to his feet.
Smith is keen to just control but Drake is a slippery customer.
Drake on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Drake tries to get out of the position.
Drake blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Drake is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Smith dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Drake tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Drake.
Drake throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Drake on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Drake throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drake takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drake is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Smith.
Drake tries a head kick but it misses.
Drake throws a head kick that misses.
Smith misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Drake sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Smith might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Smith throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drake looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Drake tries a head kick but it misses.
A jab from Smith misses.
Drake tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Drake throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drake ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Drake throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Drake slips under a jab.
Steven Drake is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Drake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Drake slips under a jab.
Smith lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Smith swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Smith scores with a jab. Drake acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Drake uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Drake throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith catches Drake with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Drake staying out of range there.
Smith scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Smith avoids the head kick by Drake.
Drake ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Drake was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with the combination.
Smith scores with a jab to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Smith. That snapped Drake's head back.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Drake circles away.
Drake goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Smith closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Drake quickly recovers to half guard.
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Drake is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Drake!
Drake avoids a series of strikes thrown by Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.

Smith wants to finish this one by submission but Drake is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Smith.

Smith working for a guillotine from mount but Drake is in no mood to give up.
Smith thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drake throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Smith's head.

It looks like Marcus Smith has been cut.
Drake takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Drake is just out of range.

Smith 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.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smith trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Drake keeps moving.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Drake is retaining full guard.
Drake keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Marcus Smith was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A big left from Smith misses.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith misses with a straight right.
Smith avoids the head kick by Drake.
Smith throws a body punch but Drake moves out of range.
Drake blocks a jab.
Drake tries a head kick but it misses.
Drake throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Drake quickly recovers to half guard.
Drake knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Drake is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Drake defending well though.
Smith works his way into full mount!

Smith with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Steven Drake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a head shot.
Smith sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Smith goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Drake is on top in guard.
Marcus Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Drake has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Smith!