PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jake Drake (ranked 1362 p4p, 1301 weight class) and Darken Rahl (ranked 167 p4p, 160 weight class). Drake comes to the cage accompanied by Lose Yourself. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Drake
vs
Rahl

175 cm
21
150
6 - 1 - 0

168 cm
28
150
9 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

EL ZOIDO FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR
HARDCORE

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jake Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darken Rahl!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Luis Engracia and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rahl shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Drake as he jumps to the side.

Drake scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Drake throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Rahl taking a bit of punishment here - Drake scoring with strikes.
Drake misses with the ground and pound.
Drake working the ground and pound but Rahl is defending the strikes.
Rahl managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Drake.
Drake throws a strike aimed at the side of Rahl's head but Rahl avoids it well.
Drake works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Drake is trying to get an arm triangle but Rahl is defending well.
Rahl is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
An elbow from Drake crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Drake misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Drake misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Drake working the strikes but Rahl uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Rahl tries to roll over but Drake keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rahl pushes Drake off looking to stand but Drake dives back in and keeps control.
Drake thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Drake thows a huge punch but Rahl dodges it nicely.
Drake not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Drake is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rahl doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Drake.
Rahl felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Drake thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rahl's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake misses with a head shot. Rahl uses the momentum to regain guard.
Drake missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Drake with a flurry of punches that miss.
Drake throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rahl works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rahl is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Drake won't allow Rahl to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rahl avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Drake throws an elbow that misses. Rahl uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Drake's guard. Nice move by Rahl!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Drake looking for a sweep. Not yet Drake, not yet.
Drake is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rahl makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rahl trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.
Drake lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Drake with a flurry of punches that miss.
Drake is looking to work some ground and pound but Rahl has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rahl preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rahl is looking to stand up but Drake isn't so interested in that idea.
Drake trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Drake tries to free his leg and advance position but Rahl is retaining full guard.
Drake throwing strikes from guard but Rahl blocks nicely.
Drake trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Drake looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drake trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Drake looking to pass the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Drake dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rahl slaps away a takedown attempt from Drake, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rahl shoots in for a takedown but Drake shows good takedown defense.
Rahl with a jab.
Drake seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Drake darts in looking for a takedown but Rahl gets double underhooks and turns Drake into the cage.
Rahl drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Drake drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Drake. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Drake has picked Rahl up - he's going for a ride! Drake dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Drake looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rahl keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jake Drake overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rahl wants to get back to his feet.
Drake is trying to control the action in half guard but Rahl is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl is trying to stand back up but Drake is controlling him
Rahl keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Drake wants to take a breather but Rahl is having none of it.
Rahl blocking the ground and pound attempt from Drake.
Drake throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rahl blocking the ground and pound attempt from Drake.
Drake stops Rahl from getting back to his feet.
Rahl keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Drake throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rahl wants to get back to his feet.
Drake passes to side control.
The strikes coming from Drake are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Drake is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rahl can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drake looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Drake throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rahl struggling a bit here.
Rahl wants to get back to his feet.
Drake connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rahl some visible discomfort.
Drake misses with the ground and pound.
Drake wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rahl keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drake swings around for an armbar but Rahl sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Drake's guard.
Drake wants to sweep but no luck.
Rahl stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drake swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rahl must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rahl accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rahl trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.
Rahl scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Drake manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rahl manages to get himself to full guard.

Drake trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Drake is pushing down on Rahl's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rahl is fighting to maintain full guard but Drake has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Drake throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Drake seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rahl keeping control of the position.
Rahl is trying to stand.
Drake missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Drake sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rahl defending well though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rahl tries to kick Drake off but Drake keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rahl is not content to let Drake control the position.
Rahl pushes Drake off looking to stand but Drake dives back in and keeps control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Drake dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rahl shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Drake moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Drake looking for a guillotine here but Rahl defends easily.
Drake is trying to control the position but Rahl postures up.
Drake looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rahl works over Drake with some ground and pound from guard.
Rahl is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
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.

Rahl avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Drake.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl is looking for a sweep. Drake is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Drake thows a huge punch but Rahl dodges it nicely.
Rahl is concentrating on defense, preventing Drake from advancing position.
Drake not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Drake is trying to control. Rahl wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rahl has hold of Drake's hands but Drake slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Drake is looking to take a break and control but Rahl is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Drake throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Drake thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rahl's head.
Rahl has hold of Drake's hands but Drake slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Darken Rahl has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahl avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Drake.
Rahl slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rahl is looking to stand up but Drake isn't so interested in that idea.
Drake slips nicely into half guard.
Drake not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rahl is not content to let Drake control the position.
Rahl is trying to stand up here but Drake is controlling him well.
Drake throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake with the ground and pound but Rahl uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Drake slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Drake connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rahl some visible discomfort.
Drake lands a decent elbow from side control.
Drake working the ground and pound but Rahl is defending the strikes.
Jake Drake is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Drake is staying tight to Rahl's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Rahl is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Drake asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Drake controlling from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake wants to control but Rahl is keeping him busy.
Drake is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Rahl's shoulder. That is not cool.
Drake seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rahl for as long as he can get away with.
Rahl sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Drake wants to pass to mount but Rahl is defending the position.
Rahl is refusing to be controlled, as Drake sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Drake showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Drake, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Drake!
An out of breath Jake Drake thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.