PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Walden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Walden
vs
Drake

184 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jacob Walden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Drake!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Drake.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Drake decides to stand back up.

Walden decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Drake moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walden won't allow Drake to sweep him here.

Walden got a little sloppy there for a moment and Drake has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Walden has managed to get both his arms back between Drake's legs - danger averted.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Drake is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Walden trying to control the position from guard on top but Drake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Walden won't allow Drake to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake wants to stand up but Walden is controlling him.
Walden trying to control the position from guard on top but Drake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jacob Walden just wasn't active enough.
Walden closes this distance looking for a takedown but Drake circles away.
Drake attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Walden avoids a punch combination nicely.
Drake avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Drake throws a sloppy head kick

and Walden counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Walden trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.
Walden has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Drake uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Walden misses with a head kick.
Walden keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Drake shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Walden counters with a nice double leg into side control. Drake won't be happy with that.
Drake looks winded!
Drake manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Drake working over Walden with some ground and pound. Walden looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake not doing much here.
Drake trying to pass the guard but Walden defending well.
Drake wants to take a breather but Walden is having none of it.
Drake content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Walden wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Drake controlling the action here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. John Drake hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Walden moves into range and connects with a jab.
Drake throws a head kick that misses
and Walden counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Walden misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Walden is looking to clinch but Drake is avoiding it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Walden tries to keep at a distance but Drake has taken the fight into the clinch.

Walden has Drake pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Walden pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Drake tumbling to the mat - Walden dives into Drake's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Drake will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Walden closes the distance and clinches up with Drake, looking for a takedown. Walden pushes Drake against the cage but Drake circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Walden shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Walden showed some decent athleticism there.
Drake lands with a few short shots to the body.
Walden is trying to control. Drake wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Drake moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Walden working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drake uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Walden fails in his attempt to clinch.

Drake clinches with his opponent.
Walden can't break the clinch.

Drake has Walden pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Drake pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Walden tumbling to the mat - Drake dives into Walden's guard.
Drake controls from within his opponent's guard.
Walden is looking to stand up but Drake isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drake stands and steps away. Walden gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Drake moves into the clinch.
Drake is defending well against a takedown attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Drake breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Walden shoots for a double leg takedown but Drake sprawls well. He's pushed Walden's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacob Walden. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drake shoots in but no luck this time.
Drake darts in trying to clinch
and Walden counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Drake closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Walden quickly recovers to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Drake in particular looking to stall.
Drake looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Walden with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Drake decides to stand and escape the position.

Drake closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Walden's guard.

Drake decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Walden, up you get!
Walden tries to clinch up.
Walden tries for a takedown but Drake circles away easily

and Drake decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Walden's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Drake sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake scoring with some ground and pound.

Drake stands up from Walden's guard - Drake perhaps looking for a knockout.

Drake closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Walden to the mat! Walden manages to get full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Drake postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Drake 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! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Drake closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Drake lands in his opponent's guard.
Drake trying to control but Walden is working from the bottom.
Drake passes Walden's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Drake is taking a breather. Walden says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Drake lands strikes from half guard.
Drake perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake is trying to control. Walden wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Walden won't allow Drake to pass to mount.
Drake controlling the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Drake wasn't active enough on the ground.
Drake walks into a stiff left hand from Walden.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Drake.
Drake swats away the attempt to clinch by Walden.

Drake drives through with a takedown into guard.
Drake takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Walden is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Walden looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Walden is working an open guard so Drake takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Jacob Walden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Drake closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Drake has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Drake takes the fight into the clinch.

Drake jumps guard and drags Walden to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake keeping moving, preventing Walden from controlling successfully.

Drake is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Walden frees his head nicely. Oh but Drake has switched to an armbar! Walden is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). John Drake!