PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Clayton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Boldin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clayton comes to the cage accompanied by I Want It All. Ethan Clayton could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Robert Boldin's chin.

Clayton
vs
Boldin

189 cm
21
280 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

200 cm
21
275 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Empire Threads - Featuring Deadly Clothing

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ethan Clayton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robert Boldin!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Lou da Vinci and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clayton avoids a kick to the body.
Clayton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Boldin tries to land a front kick but Clayton steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Boldin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Clayton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boldin wants to clinch up but Clayton keeps it at a distance.
Clayton changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Clayton keeps the fight on the outside.
Boldin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Clayton circles away quickly and effectively.
Clayton throws a body punch but Boldin moves out of range.
Clayton throws a hook but Boldin avoids it easily.
Boldin misses with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boldin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Clayton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Clayton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Clayton looks to score with a jab to the body but Boldin is just out of range.
Boldin is looking to clinch but Clayton is avoiding it.
Boldin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boldin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Clayton.
Boldin is looking to clinch.
Boldin tries to close the distance and clinch but Clayton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Robert Boldin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Boldin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Clayton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boldin misses with a double jab.
Boldin blocks a leg kick.
Boldin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Clayton fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clayton.
Boldin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Clayton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Boldin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Clayton swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two 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.
Clayton takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Ethan Clayton has been cut.
Clayton's corner calls for a 1-2. Clayton obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Boldin tries to clinch up but Clayton circles away and keeps his distance.
Clayton closes this distance looking for a takedown but Boldin circles away.

Clayton shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Boldin is trying to defend but Clayton finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Clayton frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Clayton throws some wild stikes that Boldin manages to avoid easily.
Boldin is squirming around, avoiding Clayton's attempts to control the action.
Clayton throwing strikes here but Boldin is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clayton goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Boldin is on top in guard.
Boldin wants to control from the top but Clayton keeps moving.
Boldin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Boldin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Clayton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boldin tries to stand but Clayton is controlling from the bottom.
Clayton has control of Boldin's left arm, preventing Boldin from doing any damage.
Boldin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clayton is keeping the position for now.

That's four 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.
Boldin wants to get up but he can't break Clayton's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Clayton manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Clayton. Those never looked like landing.
Boldin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Boldin tries to clinch but Clayton is having none of it.
Boldin tries to clinch but Clayton is having none of it.
Clayton tried to score with a low kick but Boldin checks it.
Clayton is looking to wear down Boldin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Boldin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Clayton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Clayton shoots in looking for a takedown but Boldin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Clayton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Clayton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Clayton drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Clayton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ethan Clayton's cut.
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.

Clayton misses the shot to the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Clayton crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Boldin - the referee stops the clock and Clayton gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Boldin. Clayton manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Clayton slips a straight right by Boldin.
Boldin tries to clinch but Clayton is having none of it.
Boldin scores with a leg kick.
Boldin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Clayton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Robert Boldin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boldin delivers a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boldin tries a head kick but it misses.
Boldin wants to clinch.
Boldin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Clayton thows a body shot but no joy.
Boldin is looking to clinch but Clayton is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boldin doesn't manage to clinch there - Clayton circles away.
Clayton blocks a head kick by Boldin.
Boldin doesn't manage to clinch there - Clayton circles away.
Clayton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Clayton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A shot to the liver by Boldin. Beautiful body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Clayton checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Clayton keeps the fight on the outside.
Boldin misses with a combination
and Clayton counters with a nice uppercut.
Robert Boldin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Clayton circles away from the clinch attempt.
A combination from Clayton does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boldin lands a nice shot that snaps Clayton's head back.
Boldin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Clayton has a takedown stuffed.
Boldin darts in trying to clinch

and Clayton counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boldin struggling a bit here.

Clayton wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Boldin, who protects the arm well.

Clayton goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Boldin rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Clayton's guard! Nice work there by Boldin!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boldin stays in close to Clayton's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clayton seems keen to control Boldin's posture.
Boldin won't allow Clayton to sweep him here.
Boldin tries to free his leg and advance position but Clayton is retaining full guard.
Clayton seems keen to control Boldin's posture.
Boldin wants to control from the top but Clayton keeps moving.
Clayton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four 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.

Ethan Clayton has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Clayton misses with a hook to the body
letting Boldin counter with a right hand.
Boldin darts in trying to clinch
and Clayton counters with an outside leg kick.
Boldin looks to clinch
and Clayton counters with a right hand to the body.
Clayton shoots in looking for a takedown but Boldin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Clayton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Clayton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boldin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Clayton backs up against the cage.
Boldin tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Clayton counters with a left to the body.
Boldin wants to clinch but Clayton slips to the side
letting Clayton counter with a right hand.
Boldin throws a sloppy head kick

and Clayton counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Clayton is looking for a kimura but Boldin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Clayton to get the leverage.

Clayton is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Boldin defends it well.
Clayton misses with a head shot. Boldin uses the momentum to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Boldin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ethan Clayton's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Clayton fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Clayton uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Boldin has time to react.
Clayton circles away from the clinch attempt
and Clayton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Clayton circles away from the clinch attempt
and Clayton counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Boldin closes the distance but Clayton moves to the side
letting Clayton counter with a right hand.
Boldin tries to clinch
and Clayton counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boldin wants to clinch
and Clayton counters with a right hand to the body.
Clayton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Clayton connects with a solid leg kick.
Boldin clinches but Clayton breaks the clinch
and Clayton counters with a left to the body.
Boldin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Clayton is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Boldin's half guard.
Clayton is keen to just control but Boldin is a slippery customer.
Nice strikes from Clayton there.
Well, if Clayton is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Clayton looking for a submission but Boldin manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boldin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ethan Clayton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Clayton won't allow Boldin to get back to his feet.
Clayton stopping the sweep attempt from Boldin.
Clayton throwing strikes from guard but Boldin blocks nicely.
Boldin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clayton trying to control the position from guard on top but Boldin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boldin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Boldin tries to stand and escape but Clayton is controlling the position.
Boldin is pressing down on Clayton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Clayton is holding on for now.
Clayton is pressing down on Boldin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Clayton is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Boldin stopping the sweep attempt from Clayton.
Clayton keeping moving, preventing Boldin from controlling successfully.
Clayton looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Boldin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Clayton's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ethan Clayton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Clayton has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ethan Clayton!