PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kostya Tszyu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Les Claypool (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Les Claypool has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tszyu
vs
Claypool

175 cm
20
161 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

183 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ka-POW Clothing

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kostya Tszyu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Les Claypool!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tszyu lands with an overhand left.
A big left from Tszyu misses.
Claypool keeps the fight on the outside.
Claypool throws a right and a left that Tszyu avoids nicely.
Tszyu staying out of range there.
Claypool misses with a body shot.
Tszyu throws a body punch but Claypool moves out of range.
Tszyu misses with the combination.
Kostya Tszyu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tszyu wants to clinch.
Claypool throws a body punch but Tszyu moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Claypool circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tszyu looks to land a left hand but Claypool moved out of range nicely.
Good shot there by Tszyu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tszyu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tszyu throws and low kick but Claypool moves out of range easily.
Tszyu misses with a body kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tszyu.
Tszyu lands with a good body shot.
Tszyu misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Claypool counters with a single leg into guard. Tszyu didn't expect that.
Claypool is fighting to break Tszyu's control of his arms but Tszyu is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Tszyu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Claypool is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Claypool is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tszyu is on top in guard.
Claypool is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Claypool escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tszyu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Tszyu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tszyu wants to stand but Claypool has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Claypool isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Tszyu stacks Claypool on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Tszyu!
Claypool manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Claypool trying to control the action but Tszyu is working from the bottom.
Tszyu pushes Claypool off looking to stand but Claypool dives back in and keeps control.
Tszyu gets back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tszyu is looking to stand up but Claypool isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Claypool stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tszyu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tszyu is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tszyu keeping full guard, as Claypool tries to pass.
Claypool wants to control from the top but Tszyu keeps moving.

Tszyu has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Claypool off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Tszyu wants to clinch up but Claypool keeps it at a distance.
Tszyu darts in trying to clinch

so Claypool counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Les Claypool will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tszyu just misses with a punch to the body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Tszyu.
Tszyu throws a wild body kick that Claypool sees coming a mile off.
Tszyu lands a nice hook to Claypool's body. Claypool takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Claypool avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tszyu throws a right and a left that both miss.
Claypool looks to score with a jab to the body but Tszyu is just out of range.
Tszyu looks to score with a jab to the body but Claypool is just out of range.
Claypool changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tszyu tries to avoid it but Claypool manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tszyu to the ground. Tszyu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Claypool keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tszyu tries to close the distance and clinch but Claypool swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tszyu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tszyu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kostya Tszyu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tszyu lands a nice hook to Claypool's body. Claypool takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Claypool misses with a wild body shot.
Tszyu swings for the body but Claypool moves out of range.
Tszyu cracks Claypool with an open hand slap.
Tszyu scores with a one two! Claypool had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Claypool on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Tszyu digs a good body shot into Claypool's ribs.
Tszyu throws a body kick that misses.
Tszyu tries to clinch but Claypool moves away
and Claypool counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tszyu falls off balance throwing a combination
and Claypool counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tszyu thinking.
Tszyu lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Claypool circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Claypool misses.
Tszyu is looking to land body kicks.
Tszyu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tszyu is looking to wear down Claypool with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Tszyu tries to clinch but Claypool moves away
and Claypool makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Claypool slips a jab and a cross from Tszyu.
Tszyu misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tszyu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Claypool waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tszyu.
Tszyu moves in looking to clinch but Claypool pushes him off.
Tszyu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tszyu misses with a wild body shot.
Tszyu throws a body punch but Claypool moves out of range.
Tszyu bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Tszyu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claypool walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tszyu checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Tszyu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Claypool.
Claypool swats away the attempt to clinch by Tszyu.
Jab from Claypool.
Claypool shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tszyu but Tszyu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kostya Tszyu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Les Claypool.
Tszyu tries to clinch but Claypool moves out of range.
Tszyu swings for the body but Claypool moves out of range.
Tszyu throws a push kick but Claypool slaps the foot to one side.
Tszyu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Tszyu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Claypool throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tszyu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Claypool was well out of range. Poor timing from Tszyu.
Claypool misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tszyu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tszyu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Claypool avoids a kick to the body.
Claypool throws a head kick but Tszyu moves out of range.
Tszyu wants to clinch.
Tszyu tries to clinch there but Claypool circles away.
Tszyu wants to clinch.
Tszyu just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostya Tszyu 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tszyu clinches but Claypool breaks the clinch
and Claypool counters with a right hand to the body.
Tszyu tries to close the distance and clinch but Claypool swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tszyu wants to clinch but Claypool slips to the side
and Claypool counters with a right hand to the body.
Tszyu lands a body shot.
Tszyu tries to clinch up but Claypool circles away and keeps his distance.
Tszyu wants to clinch up but Claypool keeps it at a distance.
Claypool throws out a loose jab but Tszyu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tszyu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Claypool manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tszyu misses with a shot to the body

and Claypool counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tszyu trying to hold on to Claypool's head to control him but Claypool postures up.
Tszyu is not content to let Claypool control the position.
Tszyu makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tszyu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tszyu wants to sweep but no luck.
Claypool trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Claypool throwing strikes from guard but Tszyu blocks nicely.

Tszyu has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Claypool off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Claypool swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Claypool takes one to the chin there.
Claypool moves away from the strike by Tszyu.

That's two 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.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Claypool is defended easily by Tszyu.
Claypool shoots in and drives through. Tszyu sprawls well.
Claypool takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tszyu.
Claypool avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tszyu misses with a jab to the body
and Claypool counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tszyu thinking.
Tszyu is looking to clinch but Claypool is avoiding it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tszyu. Claypool does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tszyu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Claypool was well out of range. Poor timing from Tszyu.
Tszyu ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claypool blocks the body kick.
Tszyu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Claypool moves away.
Tszyu moves in looking to clinch but Claypool pushes him off.
Tszyu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Claypool scores with a jab to the head.
Claypool takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tszyu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Tszyu misses the body punch
and Claypool counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tszyu looks to land a body kick but Claypool moved away.
Tszyu doesn't manage to clinch there - Claypool circles away.
Tszyu misses with a hook to the body
and Claypool counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tszyu thinking.
Tszyu digs a good hook to Claypool's body.
Tszyu doesn't manage to clinch there - Claypool circles away.
Kostya Tszyu is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu swings away with a body shot that misses

and Claypool counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Claypool wants to control from the top but Tszyu keeps moving.
Claypool tries to free his leg and advance position but Tszyu is retaining full guard.
Claypool stands and throws Tszyu's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tszyu wants to get back to his feet but Claypool is dominant here and he's now got Tszyu's back!
Tszyu trying to control the hands but Claypool breaks the grip.
Will Claypool go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Tszyu is trying to shake Claypool off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Claypool won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Claypool swings and misses with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Les Claypool.
I think Claypool has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!