PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Temujin Atkiray (ranked 2944 p4p, 4225 weight class) and Van Driesen (ranked 165 p4p, 227 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Atkiray
vs
Driesen

168 cm
22
144
7 - 5 - 0

164 cm
23
141
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Temujin Atkiray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Van Driesen!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Dean Styles and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Driesen throws a low kick but Atkiray avoids it.
Driesen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Atkiray to counter with a crisp jab.
Atkiray throws a big shot that misses.
Driesen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Atkiray throws out the jab.
Driesen looks to land a right hand but Atkiray moved out of range.
Atkiray takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Atkiray looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Driesen works the jab nicely.
Atkiray showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Driesen.
It looked like Atkiray wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkiray lands a nice hook to Driesen's body. Driesen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Atkiray throws a jab but it's blocked by Driesen.
Driesen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Driesen misses with a body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Atkiray on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Atkiray looks to land a right hand but Driesen moved out of range.

Driesen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Atkiray manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Driesen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Driesen is looking to take a break and control but Atkiray is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkiray is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Driesen is looking to take a break and control but Atkiray is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Atkiray is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkiray sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Driesen is trying to control. Atkiray wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Driesen in particular looking to stall.
Driesen is looking to take a break and control but Atkiray is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Atkiray moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Atkiray lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Driesen is on top in guard.

Atkiray wants to sweep but no luck.
Driesen trying to control the position from guard on top but Atkiray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Atkiray looking to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Driesen postures up in Atkiray's guard and throws a big left but Atkiray blocks it.
Atkiray pulls Driesen in close to prevent any damage.
Driesen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Atkiray's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Van Driesen dominated that round.
That's time! Atkiray's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Driesen throws a body shot but no joy.
Atkiray checks a low kick from Driesen.
Atkiray scores with a jab to the head.
Van Driesen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Driesen forces Atkiray back against the cage and clinches.
Atkiray is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Driesen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Driesen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Atkiray prevents it.
Driesen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Driesen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Driesen lands a nice uppercut.
Atkiray swings wildly with an uppercut but Driesen uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Driesen.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Atkiray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Driesen tries for a takedown but Atkiray sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Atkiray misses with an uppercut
and Driesen counters with a nice uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Driesen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Driesen avoids the body shot from Atkiray.
Driesen throws a hook but Atkiray blocks it.
Atkiray uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Driesen.
Driesen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Atkiray tries to counter with a takedown but Driesen is quick to defend against it.
Temujin Atkiray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Van Driesen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Driesen throws a big shot that misses.
Driesen tries to clinch but Atkiray is having none of it.
Driesen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Atkiray stuffs the takedown.
Atkiray changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A swing and a miss from Atkiray.
Atkiray scores with a jab.
Atkiray scores with a nice head shot.
Atkiray blocks a jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Atkiray misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Driesen. Atkiray does a little dance to reset his feet.
Driesen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Atkiray looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Driesen moves into the clinch.
Atkiray stalling in the clinch but Driesen improves position.

Driesen breaks from the clinch.
Driesen doesn't manage to clinch there - Atkiray circles away.
Atkiray swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Driesen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Atkiray.
The crowd cheers as Driesen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Atkiray doesn't seem phased though.
Atkiray misses with a straight left.
Driesen works the jab nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Driesen catches Atkiray with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Driesen staying out of range there.
Atkiray works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Driesen moves in looking to clinch but Atkiray pushes him off.

Driesen clinches up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Driesen swings wildly with an uppercut but Atkiray uses good head movement to avoid it.
Atkiray has Driesen pressed against the cage.
Atkiray stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Van Driesen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Atkiray's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Driesen misses with a hook
and Atkiray cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Temujin Atkiray is winning the standup battle so far.
Atkiray punishes Driesen's body with a nice straight punch.
Driesen misses with a body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Atkiray misses the target.
Driesen ducks under a wild hook from Atkiray.
A big left from Atkiray misses.
Atkiray fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Driesen wants to counter with a clinch but Atkiray pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Driesen misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Atkiray misses the target.
Atkiray stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Driesen clinches.
Driesen blocking some punches.
Atkiray misses with a short punch on the inside.
Driesen stalling against the cage.
Atkiray tries to score a body lock takedown but Driesen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Atkiray has Driesen pushed against the cage.
Atkiray fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The referee calls for Driesen to work.
Driesen stalling the fight.
Atkiray is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Temujin Atkiray. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkiray misses with a hook from the clinch.
Driesen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Atkiray doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Driesen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Atkiray - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Atkiray swings wildly with an uppercut but Driesen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Atkiray holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Atkiray scores with a shoulder strike.
Driesen blocks an uppercut.
Atkiray is struggling to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Driesen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Driesen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Atkiray paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Temujin Atkiray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Driesen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Driesen misses with a hook to the body

and Atkiray counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Atkiray throwing strikes but missing.
Atkiray looking to sit in guard and control but Driesen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Driesen stopping the sweep attempt from Atkiray.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Driesen advances to half guard.
Driesen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Driesen is keen to just control but Atkiray is a slippery customer.
Driesen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Atkiray is in all sorts of trouble here.
Van Driesen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Atkiray swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Temujin Atkiray.
I think Driesen 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Van Driesen!
A relieved looking Van Driesen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.