PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Radu Dracul (ranked 8 p4p, 85 weight class) and Oscar Gage (ranked 1 p4p, 12 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dracul
vs
Gage

190 cm
32
202
25 - 5 - 0

180 cm
29
206
20 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Radu Dracul!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Oscar Gage!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gage fails to land with a series of punches.
We've been hearing reports that Dracul has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A big left from Gage misses.
Dracul keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dracul drops down looking for a counter takedown but Gage sprawls and moves away.
Nice defenses there by Dracul.
Dracul feinted with a counter takedown.
Gage waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dracul.
Dracul feinted with a counter takedown.
Gage tries to bum rush Dracul with a series of wild strikes but Dracul uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dracul tries to counter with a takedown but Gage is quick to defend against it.
Gage scores with a crisp jab that stopped Dracul in his tracks.
Gage looks to land a combination but Dracul avoids it well.
Dracul drops down looking for a counter takedown but Gage sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gage will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gage looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Dracul uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gage.
Gage lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Gage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gage moves to clinch but Dracul breaks away

and Dracul counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gage tries to roll over but Dracul keeps him under control.
Gage is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dracul scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gage is not content to let Dracul control the position.
Gage is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dracul scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dracul throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gage is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gage slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dracul wants to pass the guard but Gage is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dracul postures up.
Dracul stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gage swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gage tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dracul wants to control from the top but Gage keeps moving.
Gage is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dracul stopping the sweep attempt from Gage.
Gage lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dracul looking for a sweep. Not yet Dracul, not yet.
Gage with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dracul looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dracul is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dracul had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gage defends it easily.
Gage stands and throws Dracul's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Dracul tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gage wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gage throws a strike aimed at the side of Dracul's head but Dracul avoids it well.

Gage is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dracul has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gage is looking to take a break and control but Dracul is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dracul tries to bench press Gage off him but Gage keeps the position.

Gage swings around for an armbar but Dracul sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gage's guard.
Gage being controlled here, momentarily.
Gage keeping moving, preventing Dracul from controlling successfully.
Dracul preventing the sweep.
Dracul trying to control but Gage is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gage looking for a sweep. Not yet Gage, not yet.
Gage is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Gage dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dracul slips under a jab.
Dracul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Dracul defending well as Gage loads up on a big left hand.
Dracul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gage swings for the body but Dracul moves out of range.
Dracul half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Oscar Gage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gage tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Dracul counters with a takedown into side control.
Gage tries to improve position but can't.
Gage is not content to let Dracul control the position.
Radu Dracul overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dracul creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gage prevents Dracul from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gage takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

It looks like Oscar Gage has been cut.
Dracul wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gage keeps working.
Dracul is chipping away with strikes.
Dracul trying to control the action but Gage is working from the bottom.
Dracul creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Gage sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Gage is trying to control Dracul's posture but Dracul avoids it.
Gage sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Gage is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dracul takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gage is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dracul's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dracul's back!

Gage working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Dracul just trying to survive but Gage is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Dracul can't escape the position.

Gage is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Gage is not going to allow Dracul to sit and survive in this position.
Dracul is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Gage looking for the choke from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dracul defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gage's arms.
A lull in the action here.
Dracul tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Gage lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Dracul regains half guard.
Dracul slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dracul wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Dracul controls Gage momentarily but Gage frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dracul keeping full guard, as Gage tries to pass.
Dracul is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Dracul is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gage is looking for a sweep. Dracul is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dracul is taking a breather. Gage 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.
Dracul is looking to advance position but Gage won't allow it.
Gage is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dracul's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dracul's back!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Radu Dracul will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Oscar Gage's cut.
That's time! Dracul's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dracul gets tackled into the cage by Gage. Gage maintains the clinch.
Dracul wants to break free but Gage has control.

Gage escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gage throws an overhand right that lands on Dracul's shoulder, as Dracul tries to avoid the shot.
Dracul tries to counter with a takedown but Gage is quick to defend against it.
No joy there for Gage, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dracul tries to counter with a takedown but Gage is quick to defend against it.
Gage misses with a wild combination.
Dracul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gage misses with a lunging right hand

and Dracul counters with a takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gage is looking for a sweep.
Dracul creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Dracul trying to control the position but Gage is working away.
Gage gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dracul is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gage doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dracul.
Dracul wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gage keeps working.

Dracul is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gage is just riding it out for now. Dracul eventually gives up the hold.
Dracul looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gage with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gage taking some punishment here, with Dracul in his half guard.
Dracul wants to take a breather but Gage is having none of it.
Dracul not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dracul prevents Gage from improving his position.
Dracul missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dracul scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gage gets back to full guard.
Gage controls Dracul momentarily but Dracul frees himself.
Dracul is working Gage over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Gage working for a triangle but Dracul defends it easily.
Dracul in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dracul has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dracul missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dracul missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dracul is one step ahead there.
Gage wants to hit a sweep here but Dracul passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gage there!
Gage tries to reverse the position but Dracul maintains control.
Gage gets back to half guard.
Gage won't allow Dracul to pass to mount.
Dracul is looking to take a break and control but Gage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gage wants to get back to full guard.

Gage is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Dracul has latched onto it... Big trouble! Dracul pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Gage is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Dracul!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Radu Dracul!
Radu Dracul retains his light heavyweight title!
Radu Dracul seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.