PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Axl Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Drake
vs
Ray

223 cm
24
162 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

178 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stephen Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Axl Ray!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ray is looking to clinch but Drake is avoiding it.
Ray misses with a series of wild punches.
Ray misses with a takedown attempt - Drake sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
It looked like Drake was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Ray shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Drake as he jumps to the side.
Ray fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stephen Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Axl Ray.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ray misses with a head kick.
Drake is looking to counter the offense by Ray and move into the clinch.
Ray tries to land a body kick
and Drake counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ray's knee momentarily.
Drake keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Drake changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray is looking to land body kicks.
Ray shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Drake counters with a three punch combo that has Ray backing up. Ray nods at Drake to acknowledge the strikes.
Ray fails with the takedown

and Drake counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ray looks winded!

Drake manages to pull guard.
Drake is pulling down on Ray's head to control his posture.
Drake continues to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray throws a strike but Drake rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Drake missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ray throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Drake lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Drake's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Drake controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Drake postures up and lands a big shot to Ray's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ray looking for a guillotine here but Drake defends easily.
Drake postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Drake is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ray looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Drake chips away with some ground and pound.
Drake scoring with punches to the head and body.
Drake postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Drake connects with a couple of short punches.
Drake really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Drake connects with a couple of short punches.
Drake lands a couple of digs.

Drake gets to his feet - Ray follows without any prompting.
Drake scoring well with a low kick there.
Drake shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Drake gets a takedown into half guard.
Drake lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Drake dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Drake.
Ray shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Drake counters with a series of strikes. Ray will be more careful next time no doubt.
Axl Ray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ray gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Drake counters with a thumping low kick.
Ray shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Drake as he avoids it easily.
Stephen Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Axl Ray.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Drake attempts a counter takedown but Ray avoids it well and moves away.
Ray is breathing heavily.

Drake clinches up with Ray and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drake successfully pulls guard.

Drake pushes Ray off and gets back to his feet.
Drake shoots in for a takedown but Ray shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Drake manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ray on his heels. He'll look to pass Ray's guard now, I'm sure.
Drake lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Drake controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Drake works over Ray with some ground and pound from guard.
Drake with a nice head shot there.
Drake with a nice head shot there.
Drake lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Drake is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ray can do to turn this around?
Drake is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Drake controlling from the top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Drake keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ray's head.
Drake lands a couple of digs.
Drake stands up over Ray, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Ray is looking for a triangle but Drake pushes his legs off easily.

Drake 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.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake shoots for a double leg takedown but Ray sprawls well. He's pushed Drake's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Drake shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ray but Ray pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Drake darts in looking for a takedown but Ray gets double underhooks and turns Drake into the cage.
Stephen Drake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drake closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Drake fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ray with a lazy takedown attempt
and Drake counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ray gets caught napping as Drake dives in and scores a takedown. Ray manages to retain guard.
Drake slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Drake postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Drake stops Ray from standing up.
Drake controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Drake keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ray's head.
Drake makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Drake dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Drake throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ray's waist but Ray gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Drake off to one side.
Ray gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Drake counters with a left and a right that stings Ray.
Drake is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ray sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ray closes the distance but Drake moves to the side
and Drake counters with a left and a right that stings Ray.
Ray tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ray shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Drake as he jumps to the side.
Ray tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Drake makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray shoots in looking for a takedown but Drake manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ray's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Stephen Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Axl Ray.

Ray drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Drake is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ray presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Drake keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ray's efforts to push away.

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

Drake is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ray presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Drake manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ray trying to control the position from guard on top but Drake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ray won't allow Drake to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake is adopting a defensive guard.
Stephen Drake overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Drake lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Drake works over Ray with some ground and pound from guard.
Drake showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Ray had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Drake defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake distracts Ray with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Drake scoring with punches to the head and body.

Drake stands up from Ray's guard - Drake perhaps looking for a knockout.
Drake misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Drake shoots for a double leg takedown but Ray sprawls well. He's pushed Drake's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Drake goes for a double leg but Ray avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ray continues to drive forward.
Ray tries to counter by closing the distance.

Drake closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ray quickly recovers to half guard.
Ray tries to roll over but Drake keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake working the head and body with strikes.

Drake gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Stephen Drake is winning the standup battle so far.

Ray gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Drake to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ray wants to sweep but no luck.
Drake will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Drake with a nice head shot there.
Axl Ray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stephen Drake is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Drake scoring with punches to the head and body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

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