PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nicky Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshida Yamaru (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
Yamaru

170 cm
18
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Prefers standup

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nicky Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshida Yamaru!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yamaru closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Drake did well to prevent Yamaru getting side control.
Yamaru throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yamaru lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Yamaru seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Yamaru is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Drake trying to control from the bottom.
Yamaru throwing shots but Drake is blocking nicely.
Drake is looking for a sweep. Yamaru is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Yamaru throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nice strikes from Yamaru there.

Yamaru is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Drake doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Yamaru.
Yamaru trying to pass the guard but Drake defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake is looking for a sweep. Yamaru is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Yamaru seems to be looking for submissions.
Yamaru not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yamaru moves into full mount! Drake won't be happy about that!
Drake tries to lock up and control but Yamaru gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Yamaru landing strikes from the mount and Drake is in trouble!
Drake is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Drake is looking to improve his position but Yamaru isn't that keen on the idea.

Yamaru goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Drake is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yamaru is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Drake has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Yamaru 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.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yamaru not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yamaru throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Yamaru tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Drake is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drake throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake won't allow Yamaru to sweep him here.

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

Drake avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Yamaru wants to hit a switch here but Drake passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Yamaru there!
Drake prevents Yamaru from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaru is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Drake looking to finish with strikes here!
Yamaru is looking to get to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamaru regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshida Yamaru dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Drake loads up on a big right hand but Yamaru slips the punch.
Yamaru gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Drake counters by moving into the clinch.
Drake stalling in the clinch.
Yamaru tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Drake smiles and moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Drake misses the target.
Yamaru misses with a takedown attempt

and Drake counters by clinching up.
Nicky Drake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshida Yamaru.
Yamaru drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Drake gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Yamaru jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Drake walks away with a smile on his face. Yamaru gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A slow jab from Drake misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drake darts in and clinches Yamaru up against the cage.
Yamaru fails to pull guard.
Yamaru tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yamaru prevents a body shot from Drake.
Drake swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Drake tries a body shot but Yamaru blocks it.
Yamaru drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Drake gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Drake tries to work over Yamaru's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Yamaru drops down looking for an ankle pick but Drake pulls his leg out and moves away.
Drake tries to land a leg kick but Yamaru saw it coming and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drake gets a clinch.
Drake stops a takedown attempt from Yamaru.
Yamaru jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Drake walks away with a smile on his face. Yamaru gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Yamaru doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Drake counters by clinching up.
Yamaru is breathing heavily.
Yamaru prevents a body shot from Drake.
Yamaru blocks a body shot from Drake.
Drake holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Drake stops a takedown attempt from Yamaru.
Yamaru tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Drake just stands there and leans against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamaru can't get the takedown.
Drake manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake has a couple of punches blocked by Yamaru.
Drake stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Drake throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamaru.
Drake tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Drake has Yamaru pressed against the cage.
Drake gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Nicky Drake.
Drake throws out a leg kick but Yamaru moves out of range and Drake only half commits.
An inside leg kick from Drake misses.
Yamaru gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Drake counters with a nice uppercut.
Yamaru shoots and misses

and Drake holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Drake taking a breather.
Drake misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yamaru.
Yamaru prevents a body shot from Drake.
Yamaru has Drake pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Drake manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Drake dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Yamaru is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Drake's half guard.
Drake is looking for a sweep. Yamaru is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Drake is pressing down on Yamaru's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Yamaru postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Drake is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Yamaru, into his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yamaru is on top in guard.
Drake wants to sweep here but Yamaru controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Drake is on top in guard.

Yamaru is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Drake trying to control but Yamaru is working from the bottom.

Yamaru is looking for a triangle but Drake pushes his legs off easily.
Yamaru wants to sweep but no luck.

Yamaru has his foot on Drake's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Drake works his way back into a safe position though.
Drake sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Yamaru's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaru gets full guard.
Drake might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Yamaru takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Yamaru 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.
Yamaru lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Drake!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice elbow there by Yamaru.
Yamaru has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Drake wants to hold on but Yamaru pushes him away.
Drake keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Drake wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Yamaru.
Yamaru trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaru landing strikes from the mount and Drake is in trouble!
Yamaru lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Drake gets back to half guard.
Drake wants to control but Yamaru is keeping busy.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Yamaru connects with a nice short shot to Drake's temple.
Yamaru missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Yamaru is trying to control the action in half guard but Drake is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Yamaru throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Yamaru is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Drake has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaru looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Yamaru is working for a submission of some sort.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Yamaru seems to be looking for submissions.
Drake trying to control here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Yamaru in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Drake tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Yamaru!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Yoshida Yamaru!