PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Piak Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oda Musashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Drake
vs
Musashi

175 cm
23
165 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

170 cm
29
145 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Brawler
Knockout power

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 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Piak Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Oda Musashi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Drake gets a clinch.
Drake landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Musashi looks gassed!
Musashi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Drake just stands there and leans against the cage.
Drake with a knee to the head.
Musashi takes a knee to the side of the body.
Drake throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Musashi blocks it with crossed arms.
Drake lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Oda Musashi has been cut.
Drake with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Drake landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Drake.
Musashi takes an elbow to the temple.
Drake working Musashi over with knees to the body.
Drake misses with a knee strike.
Drake tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Drake tries a knee to the head but Musashi blocks it.
Drake lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Drake lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Drake creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Musashi's defenses.
Drake putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Musashi in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Drake using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Musashi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Drake misses with a knee strike.
Drake tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Drake lands a knee to the head.
Drake tries a knee to the head but Musashi blocks it.
A knee to the head by Drake.

Musashi gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Drake regains guard.
Musashi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Musashi looking to pass the guard.
Drake wants to stand and escape but Musashi is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Musashi looking to pass the guard.
Drake trying to keep a closed guard but Musashi is proving a slippery customer.
Musashi wants to pass the guard but Drake is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Drake is on top in guard.
Musashi looking to control.
Drake knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Musashi on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake wants to control from the top but Musashi keeps moving.

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

Musashi 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.
Drake wants to control from the top but Musashi keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Drake wanted to stand there but Musashi had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Musashi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Drake is aware though and is defending well.
Drake trying to control but Musashi is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drake would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Piak Drake just wasn't active enough.
Drake tries to close the distance and clinch up but Musashi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piak Drake dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Oda Musashi's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Drake drives through and clinches with Musashi against the cage.
Musashi takes an elbow to the temple.
Drake throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Musashi blocks it with crossed arms.
Drake with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Drake misses with a knee to the head.
Musashi takes a knee right on the jaw!
Drake lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Drake lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Drake lands a nice knee to the body.
Drake throws a knee to the head but misses.
Drake with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Drake connects with a knee to the head.
Drake crunches a lovely knee into Musashi's ribcage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Drake.
Drake connects with a nasty looking knee right to Musashi's face.
Drake landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Musashi takes a knee right on the jaw!

Musashi has clasped his hands together around Drake's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Musashi advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake is controlling an arm, preventing Musashi from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Drake can't escape the position.

Musashi working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Musashi has control of Drake's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Drake regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Drake really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Musashi thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Musashi sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake can't escape the position.
Drake tries to hold on but Musashi postures up.
Drake is wriggling around trying to escape.
Musashi seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Drake is holding on tight.
Drake is working to get back to half guard.
Drake is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Drake tries to hold on but Musashi postures up.

Musashi goes for an armbar but Drake turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Drake.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Drake stays in close to Musashi's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Piak Drake.
Drake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Piak Drake will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Oda Musashi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Drake throws a head kick that Musashi semi-blocks.

Drake moves into the clinch.
Drake with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Drake with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Drake.
Drake with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Drake landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Drake looking to throw knees to the head but Musashi is blocking nicely.
Drake landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Drake connects with a knee to the head.
Piak Drake has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nice elbow from Drake.
Drake lands a knee to the head.
Drake connects with a nasty looking knee right to Musashi's face.
Drake throws a knee to the head but misses.
Drake creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Musashi's defenses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drake with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Drake with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Musashi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Musashi takes a knee right on the jaw!

Drake is fighting off a takedown attempt but Musashi is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Drake to the mat. Drake regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Musashi wants to pass the guard but Drake is keeping the position.
Musashi pushes down on Drake's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Musashi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Drake knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Musashi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Musashi wants to work for an arm triangle but Drake is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Drake is defending against the submission attempts here by Musashi.
Drake trying to hold on to Musashi's head to control him but Musashi postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Musashi prevents Drake from improving his position.
Drake trying to get back to full guard but Musashi takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Drake is desperately trying to improve his position but Musashi has a good base and remains in mount.
Drake tries to lock up and control but Musashi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Drake is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Musashi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Drake tries to reverse the position but Musashi maintains control.
Drake wants to control but Musashi is having none of it.
Piak Drake is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Musashi has control of Drake's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Drake regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Drake tries to hold on but Musashi postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Piak 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Piak Drake!