PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jomlong Kiapoity (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neil Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Kiapoity
vs
Drake

160 cm
28
135 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

165 cm
28
145 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition
Arcticus University: London

Mohito Fightwear
Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Jomlong Kiapoity!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Neil Drake!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Daniel Bishop and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drake will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Drake lands a really nice looking cross but Kiapoity seems unphased.
Drake darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
We've been hearing reports that Kiapoity has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Kiapoity misses the jab.
Drake feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kiapoitys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kiapoity fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Kiapoity closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Drake makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Drake.

Drake looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Drake working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kiapoity doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kiapoity manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kiapoity tries to free his leg and advance position but Drake is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Drake has his foot on Kiapoity's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kiapoity works his way back into a safe position though.

Drake throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kiapoity stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drake swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kiapoity postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kiapoity distracts Drake with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kiapoity stands and throws Drake's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Drake is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kiapoity is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Drake has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drake tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kiapoity tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Drake is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kiapoity tries for a kimura but Drake is defending well.
Drake is trying to improve his position.

Kiapoity tries for a kimura but Drake is defending well.
Drake is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiapoity trying to control the action but Drake is working from the bottom.

Kiapoity goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Drake rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kiapoity's guard! Nice work there by Drake!

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

Kiapoity is looking for a triangle but Drake pushes his legs off easily.
Drake passes into half guard.

Kiapoity looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Kiapoity looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kiapoity is refusing to be controlled, as Drake sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kiapoity actively working from the bottom here.

Drake is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kiapoity has managed to free his arm - good work.
Drake is trying to control the action in half guard but Kiapoity is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Kiapoity looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kiapoity looking for submissions off his back.

Drake wants to work for an arm triangle but Kiapoity is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Neil Drake will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Drake tests Kiapoity's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Drake lands a lovely overhand right.
Kiapoity looks for a takedown but Drake sprawls well.
Drake has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kiapoity shoots in looking for a takedown. Drake tries to sprawl out of it but Kiapoity keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Drake manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kiapoity takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kiapoity lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Drake circles away quickly and effectively.
Kiapoity throws a looping overhand right but Drake ducks down to avoid it.
Kiapoity takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A jab lands there for Drake.
Kiapoity throws an off balance right hand
and Drake counters with a left to the body.
Drake jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiapoity takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kiapoity throws a jab when Drake was well out of range.
Drake looks like he wants to counter punch here.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Drake.
Neil Drake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drake fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kiapoity is out of range.
Drake lands with a shot to the body.
Kiapoity takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Neil Drake is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Drake lands a glancing blow to the side of Kiapoity's head.
Kiapoity takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kiapoity is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kiapoity throws a lazy right hand but Drake sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kiapoity misses with a hook
and Drake counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A decent looking cross lands there for Drake.
Drake bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Drake connects with a right hand. Kiapoity shakes it off.
Kiapoity connects with a crisp jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Drake.
Drake scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiapoity takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Kiapoity is rocked!
Kiapoity misses with a hook.
Oh Kiapoity is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Drake works the jab nicely.
Drake slips a straight right by Kiapoity.
Kiapoity seems to have got his legs back now.
A jab from Kiapoity misses.
Drake looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Drake digs a good body shot into Kiapoity's ribs.
Drake lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Drake cracks Kiapoity with a good jab.
Kiapoity misses with a left hand
and Drake counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Drake punishes Kiapoity's body with a nice straight punch.
Drake lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kiapoity shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Good exchange - Drake coming out on top.
Drake throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kiapoity on the side of the head.
Drake keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kiapoity.
Kiapoity throws out a loose jab but Drake uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake tests Kiapoity's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kiapoity throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Drake sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kiapoity looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Drake dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kiapoity shoots in for a double leg but Drake sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jomlong Kiapoity. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No joy there for Kiapoity, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
It seemed like Drake was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Drake scores with a jab. Kiapoity acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Drake jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Drake, as that shot connected.
Kiapoity rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Drake counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kiapoity takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Drake lands a nice shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Drake scores with a body shot.
Drake's corner calls for a 1-2. Drake obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kiapoity misses with a lunging right hand

and Drake counters with a crisp one two that drops Kiapoity! Drake thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Kiapoity to his feet! Kiapoity is in big trouble!
Drake scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kiapoity misses with a combination
and Drake connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kiapoity on the side of the head.
Drake connects with a jab.
Kiapoity cracks Drake with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kiapoity shoots and misses
and Drake cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Drake scores with a decent looking hook.
Kiapoity tries to move into range but Drake moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kiapoity shoots and misses
and Drake connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Drake attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Drake moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Drake drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Kiapoity right on the button. Kiapoity goes down! Drake follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Drake gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Neil Drake!