PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rostam Borodakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Al Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Drake has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Borodakov
vs
Drake

183 cm
25
193 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rostam Borodakov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Al Drake!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Borodakov rushes Drake and presses him up against the cage.

Borodakov breaks from the clinch.
Borodakov slaps away a takedown attempt from Drake, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Drake shoots for a takedown but Borodakov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice shot by Borodakov.

It looks like Al Drake has been cut.

Borodakov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Drake is trying to improve his position.
Borodakov wants to control but Drake is keeping him busy.

Borodakov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Drake has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Borodakov trying to control the action but Drake is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borodakov landing strikes.
Drake on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Drake can't do much from the bottom here.
Borodakov 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 really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Borodakov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Drake defending against the ground and pound.
Drake tries to improve position but can't.
Drake managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Borodakov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borodakov throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Drake wants to control but Borodakov postures up.
Drake is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Drake's face as Borodakov controls the position.
Drake is looking to regain half guard here but Borodakov keeps moving and retains side control.

Borodakov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Drake rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Borodakov's guard! Nice work there by Drake!
Borodakov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Drake wants to pass the guard but Borodakov is keeping the position.
Drake trying to control the position from guard on top but Borodakov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake tries to free his leg and advance position but Borodakov is retaining full guard.
Drake wants to control from the top but Borodakov keeps moving.
Drake working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Drake must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Borodakov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Drake looking to sit in guard and control but Borodakov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Borodakov has gone for a leg lock! Drake slips out almost immediately though and dives into Borodakov's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Borodakov manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake wants a takedown but no success here.
Rostam Borodakov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Al Drake.
Drake looking for a takedown.
Borodakov lands a right hand.
Drake has had enough of the clinch but Borodakov keeps him there for the moment.
Drake tries for a takedown but Borodakov manages to get underhooks.
Drake gets underhooks to prevent Borodakov's takedown attempt.
Drake letting Borodakov take a breather here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Drake is looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rostam Borodakov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Al Drake's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Drake throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Borodakov's waist but Borodakov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Drake off to one side.

Borodakov has closed the distance and engaged Drake in a clinch.
Drake has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Borodakov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Drakes head.

Borodakov has Drake pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Borodakov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Drake tumbling to the mat - Borodakov dives into Drake's guard.
Drake is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Drake might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Borodakov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borodakov passes Drake's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Borodakov 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.
Borodakov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Borodakov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Drake's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Borodakov lands a nice short elbow.
Drake blocking the ground and pound attempt from Borodakov.
Borodakov lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borodakov stalling.
Drake trying to hold on to Borodakov's head to control him but Borodakov postures up.

Borodakov 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 Borodakov.
Borodakov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Drake does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borodakov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Drake keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Borodakov is pressing down on Drake's thigh, looking to free his foot. Drake is holding on for now.
Borodakov content to control rather than advance.
Drake has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Borodakov is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borodakov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Drake tries to lock up and control but Borodakov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Drake is trying to stand up.
Borodakov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Drake is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drake wants to hold on but Borodakov pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rostam Borodakov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Al Drake's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Drake doesn't manage to clinch there - Borodakov circles away.
Rostam Borodakov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Drake closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Borodakov quickly recovers to half guard.

Borodakov has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Drake is on him like a limpet, forcing Borodakov back against the cage.

Drake drags the fight down to the ground.
Borodakov trying to control the position from guard on top but Drake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rostam Borodakov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Borodakov stopping the sweep attempt from Drake.
Borodakov scoring with punches to the head and body.

Borodakov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Borodakov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borodakov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Drake controls Borodakov momentarily but Borodakov frees himself.
Borodakov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Borodakov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Drake is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Drake has escaped and now he's on top!
Borodakov has momentary wrist control but Drake slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Borodakov working for a triangle but Drake defends it easily.
Drake won't allow Borodakov to sweep him here.
Drake throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Borodakov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Drake throwing strikes but missing.
Borodakov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Drake looking to sit in guard and control but Borodakov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Drake is trying to keep Borodakov in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borodakov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drake works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Borodakov advances to half guard.
Borodakov prevents Drake from improving his position.
Borodakov passes into side control, despite Drake's attempt to control the position.
Borodakov working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake tries to buck Borodakov off but Borodakov is having none of it.
Drake looking for a sweep but Borodakov has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Borodakov breaks from Drake's wrist control and lands an elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Borodakov prevents Drake from getting the reversal.
Borodakov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Drake is looking to escape.
Drake takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rostam Borodakov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Borodakov controlling the pace for now.
Al Drake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Borodakov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rostam Borodakov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Borodakov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rostam Borodakov!