PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robbie Shakespeare (ranked 2153 p4p, 2216 weight class) and Zdravko Dren Jr (ranked 252 p4p, 261 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Shakespeare
vs
Dren Jr

194 cm
19
272
5 - 1 - 0

197 cm
26
255
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Robbie Shakespeare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zdravko Dren Jr!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shakespeare moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

It looks like Robbie Shakespeare has been cut.
Shakespeare definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Dren Jr slips under a jab from Shakespeare.
Shakespeare lands a body shot.
Zdravko Dren Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left and a right from Dren Jr both land. Nice combination.
Shakespeare lands with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Dren Jr throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dren Jr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Shakespeare.
Dren Jr throws a big counter head kick but Shakespeare avoids it with no problem.
Dren Jr connects with a looping right hand.
Shakespeare sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dren Jr pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shakespeare is looking to counter punch.
Dren Jr misses with a series of wild punches.
Dren Jr connects with a good right hand that stumbles Shakespeare. Shakespeare circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakespeare dodges the punch combination from Dren Jr.
Shakespeare swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Dren Jr lands a really nice looking cross but Shakespeare seems unphased.
A slapping body kick lands there for Dren Jr.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Dren Jr. Shakespeare shrugs it off though.
Dren Jr scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Shakespeare connects with the punch.
Shakespeare fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Dren Jr looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Dren Jr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shakespeare appears to be looking for a big counter.
Dren Jr misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Shakespeare counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dren Jr fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Shakespeare has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Dren Jr tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shakespeare manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dren Jr keeps Shakespeare at a distance using the push kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shakespeare with a nice cross.
Nice shot lands for Shakespeare.
Shakespeare misses with a looping left.
Dren Jr connects with a body shot.
Dren Jr misses with a looping left.
Shakespeare lands with an uppercut that bounces Dren Jr off the cage and back into range.

It looks like Zdravko Dren Jr has been cut.
Shakespeare connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Dren Jr lands a leg kick that knocks Shakespeare off balance momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shakespeare manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Dren Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Shakespeare uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dren Jr lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Dren Jr lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shakespeare gets through Dren Jr's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Shakespeare scores with a nice short uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Dren Jr.
Shakespeare avoiding damage.
Shakespeare tries to break free but Dren Jr pushes him back against the cage.
Dren Jr looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Dren Jr misses with some punches.
Nice body punch from Shakespeare - that landed with a thud.
Shakespeare lands a nice uppercut.
The referee calls for Shakespeare to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shakespeare cracks Dren Jr with a nice body shot.
Dren Jr looks winded!
Shakespeare scores with a shoulder strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dren Jr lands a nice elbow.
Dren Jr lands a shot to the body.
Shakespeare tries to break free but Dren Jr pushes him back against the cage.
Dren Jr struggles to land a body shot inside as Shakespeare controls his hands.
Dren Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dren Jr scores with a shot to the side of Shakespeare's head.
Dren Jr lands with a left to the head.
Dren Jr lands an elbow that stopped Shakespeare in his tracks for a moment.
Shakespeare lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dren Jr backwards.
Dren Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Shakespeare controls the action.
Dren Jr misses with the head strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Shakespeare is leaning against Dren Jr and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Shakespeare tries to work over Dren Jr's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shakespeare scores with a shoulder strike.
Dren Jr lands a nice elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zdravko Dren Jr dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dren Jr connects with a looping right hand.
Dren Jr throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dren Jr moves out of range of the strikes.
Shakespeare blocks a head kick by Dren Jr.
Dren Jr throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Shakespeare's head.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Dren Jr. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Dren Jr works the jab nicely.

Robbie Shakespeare's cut is getting worse.
Dren Jr throws a series of punches but Shakespeare avoids them all with ease.
Dren Jr cracks Shakespeare with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Zdravko Dren Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dren Jr misses with a lunging right hand
and Shakespeare counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A telegraphed right hand from Shakespeare misses the target.
Shakespeare on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Dren Jr. Dren Jr obviously looking to wear him down.
Shakespeare misses with a straight right.
Dren Jr swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakespeare misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dren Jr.
Shakespeare throws a hook to the side of Dren Jr's head but Dren Jr sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A slow jab from Dren Jr misses its intended target.
Dren Jr keeps Shakespeare at a distance using the push kick.
Shakespeare punishes Dren Jr's body with a nice straight punch.
Dren Jr thows a leg kick but Shakespeare checks it
and Shakespeare counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dren Jr is breathing heavily.
Dren Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shakespeare scores with a decent looking hook.
Dren Jr throws a combination that misses
and Shakespeare counters with a powerful cross that connects right on the chin and the lights go out! A massive one punch knock out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Robbie Shakespeare!
Robbie Shakespeare thanked the fans post fight for their support.