PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Clarke (ranked 2125 p4p, 3167 weight class) and Scott Thompson (ranked 258 p4p, 373 weight class). Clarke's entrance music is One Cent, Five Cent, Ten Cent, Dollar - Soca Boys. A fine choice. Thompson has chosen Redneck Summer - Ben Hudson as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Clarke
vs
Thompson

185 cm
32
275
12 - 9 - 0

195 cm
26
275
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Clarke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Scott Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Thompson does it's job there.
Mark Clarke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson lands the left hand.
Clarke uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thompson.

Thompson looking to score a takedown here. Clarke is defending well but Thompson drives through and ends up in Clarke's guard.
Thompson won't allow Clarke to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thompson is trying to control. Clarke wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thompson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thompson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thompson lands with a punch from half guard.
Thompson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Clarke is trying to get back to full guard.
Thompson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
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.
Thompson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Clarke is looking to improve his position.
Thompson trying to pass the guard but Clarke defending well.
Clarke controlling the position well.
Clarke is refusing to be controlled, as Thompson sits in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Clarke tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Thompson defends well and Clarke ends up having to push Thompson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Thompson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's two 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.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Clarke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've been informed that Thompson has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Thompson cracks Clarke with a good jab.
Thompson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
We've been hearing reports that Clarke has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Clarke tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thompson swivels and escapes.

Thompson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Clarke tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Thompson is in Clarke's guard.
Thompson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Clarke wants to improve his position but instead Thompson has moved into half guard.
Thompson wants to free his trapped foot but Clarke is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Clarke is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Thompson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Thompson prevents Clarke from improving his position.
Thompson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Thompson is looking to stall here but Clarke recovers full guard.
Thompson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Clarke wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Clarke can't keep his opponent in guard - Thompson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Thompson is just content to waste time from the top position. Clarke takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Clarke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clarke manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thompson manages to get himself to full guard.

Thompson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clarke throwing strikes but missing.
Clarke stopping the sweep attempt from Thompson.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Thompson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thompson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Clarke moves away.
Some bone on bone action there as Clarke checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Clarke looks to land a body kick but Thompson moved away.
Thompson throws a hook to the side of Clarke's head but Clarke sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Clarke misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thompson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Clarke has time to react.
Clarke misses with a few strikes there.
Clarke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thompson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Clarke on the side of the head.
Clarke shoots in looking for a takedown but Thompson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Clarke's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clarke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thompson with the counter takedown but Clarke avoids it easily.
Clarke gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nice uppercut lands for Thompson. That snapped Clarke's head back.
Clarke tries a head kick but it misses.
Clarke throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thompson's waist but Thompson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Clarke off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Clarke.
Thompson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Thompson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Thompson cracks Clarke with a big elbow.
Clarke is trying to get back to half guard.
Thompson looks up at the clock and then as Clarke takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Thompson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Thompson scoring with punches and elbows.
Clarke is trying to escape the position but Thompson is controlling the position.
Clarke taking a bit of punishment here - Thompson scoring with strikes.
Thompson working the ground and pound.
Clarke manages to get back to half guard.
Clarke is staying active underneath Thompson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thompson trying to control from half guard but Clarke is working away.
Clarke on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Thompson is pressing down on Clarke's thigh, looking to free his foot. Clarke is holding on for now.
Clarke is refusing to be controlled, as Thompson sits in half guard.
Thompson is taking a breather. Clarke says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Thompson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Clarke keeps working.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Clarke is holding on to half guard well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Thompson thuds a left hand into Clarke's body.
Clarke shoots in for a takedown but Thompson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Clarke. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thompson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Clarke's half guard.
Scott Thompson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Clarke has hold of Thompson's hands but Thompson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thompson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Clarke has hold of Thompson's hands but Thompson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thompson is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarke gets back to full guard.
Thompson slips nicely into half guard.
Thompson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ground and pound from Thompson.
Clarke wants to improve his position but Thompson is controlling well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Clarke takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Thompson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Clarke on his heels. He'll look to pass Clarke's guard now, I'm sure.
Clarke wants to sweep but no luck.
Clarke keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thompson throws a big right hand that misses.
Clarke looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clarke avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Clarke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thompson.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Thompson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thompson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson swings for the body but Clarke moves out of range.
Clarke attempts a counter takedown but Thompson avoids it well and moves away.
Thompson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Clarke shoots in for a takedown but Thompson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thompson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thompson.
Thompson misses with a wild body shot.
Clarke tries to counter with a takedown but Thompson is quick to defend against it.
Thompson throws a good cross that connects.
Clarke takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Thompson misses with a takedown

and Clarke counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Clarke trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Clarke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mark Clarke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarke distracts Thompson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Thompson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Clarke wants to control from the top but Thompson keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Clarke is really struggling to control Thompson but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Thompson - just one landing.
Thompson misses with a body shot.
Clarke misses with a takedown attempt - Thompson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Clarke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Clarke throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thompson lands with an uppercut that bounces Clarke off the cage and back into range.
Clarke throws out a loose jab but Thompson uses good head movement to avoid it.

Thompson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Clarke is looking to regain half guard here but Thompson keeps moving and retains side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thompson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Clarke to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Clarke is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Clarke tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thompson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ground and pound from Thompson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Thompson working the ground and pound.
Thompson scores with punches from side control.
Clarke is letting Thompson control him for a moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thompson landing a few strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thompson working the ground and pound from side control.
Scott Thompson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thompson is looking to take a break and control but Clarke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Thompson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thompson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Thompson!
A very excited looking Scott Thompson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
The defeated Mark Clarke had this to say: 'You beat me again... Well played. I wish you the best of luck in the future... However this is my final fight, thank you to everyone who supported me.. I want to pass the torch to Handerson. Good work brother.'.