PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ike Clanton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Ovechkin (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.

Clanton
vs
Ovechkin

175 cm
25
180 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

180 cm
26
177 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Ike Clanton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Ivan Ovechkin!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ovechkin shoots for a takedown but Clanton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ovechkin missing with a left hand there. Clanton was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ovechkin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Clanton. No joy for Ovechkin on that attempt.
Ovechkin shoots for a double leg takedown but Clanton sprawls well. He's pushed Ovechkin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ike Clanton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Ovechkin.
Clanton stuffs the takedown attempt from Ovechkin. Ovechkin gets slowly back to his feet.
Ovechkin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Clanton.
Clanton lands with a cross.
Clanton just misses with a punch to the body.

Clanton shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ovechkin is trying to defend but Clanton finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Clanton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ovechkin keeps working.
Ovechkin moves into full guard.
Ovechkin keeping moving, preventing Clanton from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ovechkin throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ovechkin trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Clanton chips away with some ground and pound.
Clanton advances to half guard.
Ovechkin wants to improve his position but Clanton is controlling well.
Clanton trying to control the action but Ovechkin is working from the bottom.

Ovechkin is defending against the submission attempts here by Clanton.
Ovechkin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Clanton trying to mount his opponent but Ovechkin defends it.
Clanton is thwarting Ovechkin's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Clanton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Clanton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ovechkin throws the kick towards the body but Clanton avoids it.
Clanton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ovechkin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Clanton counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ovechkin won't be happy with that.
Ovechkin wants to control but Clanton postures up.
Clanton blocks the strikes from Ovechkin.
Clanton is looking to take a break and control but Ovechkin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Clanton landing strikes.
Ovechkin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Clanton's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clanton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Clanton looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ovechkin is looking to improve his position.
Clanton is trying to control the action in half guard but Ovechkin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ovechkin wants to get back to full guard.
Ovechkin tries to kick Clanton off but Clanton keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ovechkin won't allow Clanton to pass to mount.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ovechkin fails with the takedown

and Clanton counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ovechkin looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clanton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ovechkin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Clanton.

Clanton is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ovechkin sees it coming and defends easily.
Ovechkin is trying to stand.
Ovechkin trying to control but Clanton postures up.
Clanton perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Clanton 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.
Ovechkin tries to roll over but Clanton keeps him under control.
Ovechkin missing with punches from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ovechkin tries for a takedown but Clanton circles away easily

and Clanton counters with a shoot takedown. Ovechkin fights it but they end up in guard.
Clanton trying to control the position from guard on top but Ovechkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Clanton drops back looking for a leg! Ovechkin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ovechkin manages to kick Clanton off! Clanton jumps back into Ovechkin's guard.

Clanton drops back looking for a leg! Ovechkin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ovechkin manages to kick Clanton off! Clanton jumps back into Ovechkin's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ovechkin is trying to control the position but Clanton postures up.
Clanton wants to control from the top but Ovechkin keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ovechkin fails with the takedown
and Clanton counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A lazy body kick from Ovechkin
and Ovechkin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Clanton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ovechkin.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Clanton is defended easily by Ovechkin.
Ovechkin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ovechkin is breathing heavily.
Ovechkin shoots and misses
and Clanton counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ovechkin thinking.
Ike Clanton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Ovechkin.

Clanton shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Clanton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ovechkin is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clanton stays in close to Ovechkin's body and controls the position.
Clanton trying to control but Ovechkin is working from the bottom.
Ovechkin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Clanton is looking to control Ovechkin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Clanton avoid being mounted?

Clanton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ovechkin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ovechkin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ovechkin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ovechkin is thwarting Clanton's attempts to control the position.
Ovechkin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Clanton defending well though.
Ovechkin winds up and cracks Clanton with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Clanton manages to get to full guard.
Ovechkin cracks Clanton with a solid left hand.
Clanton looking for a sweep. Not yet Clanton, not yet.
Clanton trying to keep a closed guard but Ovechkin is proving a slippery customer.
Clanton is pulling down on Ovechkin's head. It's preventing any offense from Ovechkin, at least for the moment.
Ovechkin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ovechkin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Clanton is trying to keep Ovechkin in close.
Ovechkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Clanton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ovechkin lands a couple of digs.
Ovechkin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clanton is keeping the position for now.
Clanton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ovechkin thows a big elbow that misses.
Clanton working a defensive guard here.
Ovechkin wants to pass the guard but Clanton is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ike Clanton dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ovechkin walks into a left hand.
Ovechkin slips a jab from Clanton.
Clanton looks to throw the jab but Ovechkin is out of range.
A head kick misses from Ovechkin.
Ovechkin misses with a double jab
and Clanton counters with a straight right hand.
Ovechkin with a poor takedown
and Clanton counters with a straight right hand.
Clanton lands with a shot to the body.

Clanton shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ovechkin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ovechkin wants to sweep but no luck.
Ovechkin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Clanton cracks Ovechkin with a solid left hand.
Ovechkin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Clanton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ovechkin controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ovechkin will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ovechkin keeping moving, preventing Clanton from controlling successfully.
Ovechkin looking to control.

Clanton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ovechkin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Clanton's guard.
Clanton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ovechkin looking to pass the guard.
Ovechkin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Clanton looking for a sweep. Not yet Clanton, not yet.

Clanton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ovechkin defends it easily.
Ovechkin stands and throws Clanton's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ovechkin lands an elbow.
Ovechkin working the head with strikes.
Clanton is trying to get back to half guard.
Ovechkin looks up at the clock and then as Clanton takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ovechkin smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Ovechkin wants to control but Clanton is keeping him busy.
Ovechkin sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Clanton is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Clanton wants to control but Ovechkin postures up.
Check out the look on Ovechkin's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Ovechkin scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ovechkin misses with the ground and pound.
Ovechkin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Ike Clanton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Clanton is trying to control Ovechkin's posture but Ovechkin avoids it.

Ovechkin is trying to get an arm triangle but Clanton is defending well.
Ovechkin trying to control the position but Clanton is working away.
Clanton gets back to half guard.
Clanton trying to control but Ovechkin postures up.
Ovechkin is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Clanton is pressing down on Ovechkin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ivan Ovechkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ovechkin won't allow Clanton to sweep him here.

Ovechkin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Clanton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ovechkin manages to get himself to full guard.
Ovechkin keeping moving, preventing Clanton from controlling successfully.
Ovechkin wants to sweep but no luck.
Ike Clanton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Clanton trying to control but Ovechkin is working from the bottom.
Ovechkin will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Ovechkin is looking for a triangle but Clanton pushes his legs off easily.
Clanton is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ike Clanton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Clanton 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ike Clanton!