PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Boris Borzov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Borzov comes to the cage accompanied by Smoke Drank. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Borzov
vs
Drake

185 cm
20
184 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

182 cm
24
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Boris Borzov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Drake!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Borzov does no damage.
Borzov shoots in looking for a takedown but Drake manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Borzov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Drake will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Drake looks to throw the jab but Borzov is out of range.
Borzov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Borzov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Drake misses with a takedown attempt - Borzov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Borzov misses with a takedown attempt

and Drake counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Drake is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Drake manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Borzov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Borzov wants to stand but Drake has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Borzov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake wants to stand up but Borzov is controlling him.
Borzov throwing strikes from guard but Drake blocks nicely.
Drake pulls Borzov in close to prevent any damage.
Borzov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drake swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Drake pulls Borzov in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Drake swats away the attempt to clinch by Borzov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drake drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Borzov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drake on the ground.
Drake is stalling in the full guard.
Drake looking to pass the guard.

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.

Borzov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Drake managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borzov is working Drake over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Drake keeping full guard, as Borzov tries to pass.
Borzov trying to move into half guard but instead Drake has managed to sweep!
Drake makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Drake is looking to stand up but Borzov won't let him.
Drake works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Borzov won't allow Drake to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borzov keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Drake seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Borzov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Drake.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Borzov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Drake lands with a kick to the ribs.
Borzov tries to close the distance and clinch but Drake swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Borzov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Drake tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Borzov swivels and escapes.
Borzov with a hook.

Drake forces Borzov back against the cage and clinches.
Borzov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Drake prevents it.

Drake pulls guard.
Borzov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
John Drake has got the better of the ground game so far.
Borzov stopping the sweep attempt from Drake.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Borzov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Drake is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Borzov has gone for a leg lock! Drake slips out almost immediately though and dives into Borzov's guard.

Drake thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Drake wants to pass the guard but Borzov is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake sitting in guard, not really doing much.

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.

Borzov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Drake cracks Borzov with a big right hand but Borzov just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
You can see the frustration on Borzov's face as Drake controls the position.
Drake is looking to take a break and control but Borzov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Borzov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

John Drake has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Borzov tries to clinch up but Drake circles away and keeps his distance.
Borzov misses with a few strikes there.
Borzov shoots in and drives through. Drake sprawls well.
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.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Borzov.
Drake changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Borzov throws a series of punches but Drake moves out of range.
Drake doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Drake closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Drake seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Borzov won't allow Drake to pass to mount.
Drake performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

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.
Borzov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borzov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Drake sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Borzov somewhat.
Nice shot by Borzov.
Borzov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Drake shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Borzov as he avoids it easily.
Borzov avoids the head kick by Drake.
Borzov fails to land with a series of punches.
Borzov is looking to clinch.

Drake rushes Borzov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Drake keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Borzov's efforts to push away.
Drake has Borzov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Borzov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Borzov successfully pulls guard.
Drake not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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.
Drake fails with a takedown attempt.
Boris Borzov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Drake.
Borzov scores with a three punch combo!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Drake has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Drake takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Borzov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Drake.
Drake avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borzov tries to bum rush Drake with a series of wild strikes but Drake uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Borzov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

Borzov swings around for an armbar but Drake sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Borzov's guard.
Boris Borzov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Drake is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Drake wasn't active enough on the ground.

Drake looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Borzov!
Drake controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Drake has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Borzov slaps away a takedown attempt from Drake, before circling back to the center of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Drake.
I've got Drake winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Drake!
John Drake bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.