PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Giorgio Lombardi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Lombardi
vs
Drake

172 cm
25
158 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
159 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Giorgio Lombardi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Erik Drake!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drake throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lombardi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Drake.
Drake lands a jab-cross combination.
Drake stuns Lombardi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Lombardi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Lombardi shoots in and gets a takedown into Drake's guard.
Drake controls Lombardi momentarily but Lombardi frees himself.

Drake is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lombardi defends well.
Lombardi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Drake is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Lombardi wants to get back to full guard.
Lombardi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake trying to control but Lombardi is working from the bottom.
Lombardi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lombardi is looking to stand back up but Drake counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Lombardi.
Drake is pressing down on Lombardi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lombardi is holding on for now.
Lombardi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drake on the ground.
Lombardi is looking to control Drake's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lombardi avoid being mounted?

Drake is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lombardi is looking for a sweep. Drake is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lombardi preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Lombardi is pressing down on Drake's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Drake passes Lombardi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Lombardi wants to control but Drake is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Drake trying to control the action but Lombardi is working from the bottom.
Drake tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lombardi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lombardi pushes Drake off looking to stand but Drake dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Erik Drake wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lombardi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A right-left combo lands from Drake.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lombardi.
Lombardi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Drake tries to bum rush Lombardi with a series of wild strikes but Lombardi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Drake misses with a wild combination.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lombardi.
Erik Drake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lombardi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Drake.
Lombardi throws the left hand but Drake avoids the punch easily.
The crowd cheers as Drake lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lombardi doesn't seem phased though.
Drake fails to land with a series of punches.
Drake moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lombardi dodges the punch combination from Drake.
Lombardi dodges the punch combination from Drake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lombardi shoots in looking for a takedown. Drake tries to sprawl out of it but Lombardi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Drake manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giorgio Lombardi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lombardi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Lombardi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Drake.
Drake misses with a double jab.
Drake throws a series of punches but Lombardi moves out of range.
Lombardi scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Erik Drake has been cut.
Lombardi fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Drake misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Drake dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Erik Drake's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Drake misses with a double jab
and Lombardi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Drake loads up on a big right hand but Lombardi slips the punch.
Drake misses with a double jab.
Drake tries to bum rush Lombardi with a series of wild strikes but Lombardi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Drake lands with a hook. Lombardi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Lombardi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Drake to the mat! Drake manages to get full guard.
Drake avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lombardi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lombardi wants to control from the top but Drake keeps moving.
Lombardi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drake is keeping the position for now.
Lombardi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Lombardi trying to control the position from guard on top but Drake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lombardi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombardi wants to control from the top but Drake keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Drake bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lombardi's guard.
Drake slips nicely into half guard.
Drake trying to pass the guard but Lombardi defending well.

Drake is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lombardi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Drake.

Drake looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drake is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lombardi has managed to free his arm - good work.

Lombardi is defending against the submission attempts here by Drake.
Lombardi wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drake seems to be looking for submissions.
Lombardi trying to control here.
Drake wants to control but Lombardi is keeping him busy.
Lombardi is looking for a sweep. Drake is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lombardi is trying to maintain the position but Drake is very close to passing his half guard.

Drake seems to be working for a kimura but Lombardi defends the submission attempt.

Drake is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lombardi is looking for a sweep. Drake is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Drake is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lombardi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Lombardi controlling the position for now.
Drake wants to pass the guard but Lombardi is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lombardi tries to roll over but Drake keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Erik Drake will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Erik Drake's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lombardi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Drake throws a series of punches but Lombardi avoids them all with ease.
Drake swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lombardi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Drake moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lombardi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Drake.
Lombardi lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Lombardi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Drake avoids it really well and circles away.
Drake misses with a combination

and Lombardi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Drake wants to get back to his feet.
Drake moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Lombardi trying to control the position from guard on top but Drake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drake utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drake looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Drake is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lombardi trying to control the position from guard on top but Drake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drake trying to keep a closed guard but Lombardi is proving a slippery customer.
Drake wants to sweep here but Lombardi controlling him for the moment.

Drake had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lombardi defends it easily.
Lombardi postures up in Drake's guard and throws a big left but Drake blocks it.
Lombardi wants to control from the top but Drake keeps moving.
Lombardi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Drake looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lombardi trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lombardi lands a couple of elbows.
Lombardi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lombardi scoring with some ground and pound.

Drake is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Drake is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lombardi trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.
Lombardi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lombardi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lombardi throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake keeping moving, preventing Lombardi from controlling successfully.
Giorgio Lombardi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lombardi content to stall in guard here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Drake keeping moving, preventing Lombardi from controlling successfully.

Giorgio Lombardi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Drake swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Lombardi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Drake's guard.

Drake escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lombardi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Drake looking for a guillotine here but Lombardi defends easily.
Drake takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lombardi throwing strikes from guard but Drake blocks nicely.
Giorgio Lombardi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lombardi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lombardi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lombardi is looking to work some ground and pound but Drake has wrist control.
Drake looking for a sweep. Not yet Drake, not yet.
Lombardi landing some decent shots from guard.
Lombardi thows a big elbow that misses.
Drake looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lombardi is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lombardi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lombardi throws a strike but Drake rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lombardi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Drake is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giorgio Lombardi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Drake has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Erik Drake!