PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mariusz Pudzianowski (ranked 23451 p4p, 2787 weight class) and JD Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 324 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Drake's choice of entrance music: Born in the USA by - Bruce Springstein. Mariusz Pudzianowski has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Pudzianowski
vs
Drake

200 cm
25
230
7 - 43 - 0

188 cm
29
270
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 43 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mariusz Pudzianowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, JD Drake!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pudzianowski shoots in looking for a takedown. Drake tries to sprawl out of it but Pudzianowski 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.
Pudzianowski keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Drake.
Pudzianowski needs to keep his hands up - Drake had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like Mariusz Pudzianowski has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Drake. Pudzianowski does a little dance to reset his feet.
An inside leg kick from Pudzianowski misses.
Drake throws a right and a left that Pudzianowski avoids nicely.
Pudzianowski moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
We've been hearing reports that Pudzianowski has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Pudzianowski misses with a low kick as Drake jumps back.
Drake misses with a wild combination.
Drake rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pudzianowski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A combination from Drake does no damage.
Pudzianowski takes one to the chin there.

Drake closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Drake blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Drake breaks the clinch.

Drake clinches up with Pudzianowski and pushes him back against the cage.
Pudzianowski tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Drake just stands there and leans against the cage.

Drake escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drake closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Drake breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Drake pushes Pudzianowski up against the cage in a clinch.
Pudzianowski tries to pull guard but Drake won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mariusz Pudzianowski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Drake's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
I'm just looking down at my notes here and I see that.... oh! Drake has cracked Pudzianowski with a big right, followed by a left! He's out on his feet! Drake lands another huge swinging hook and Pudzianowski tumbles to the canvas! The ref dives in to save Pudzianowski, before Drake can land any more shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). JD Drake!
After winning the bout, JD Drake thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.