PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kalema Kirunda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ike Clanton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kirunda comes into the arena with The Hellacopters - In The Sign of Octopus blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Clanton's choice of entrance music: Outta your mind - Lil Jon. 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.

Kirunda
vs
Clanton

188 cm
28
185 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

175 cm
28
180 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalema Kirunda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Ike Clanton!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Glass and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirunda lands with an uppercut that bounces Clanton off the cage and back into rage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kirunda looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kirunda misses with a wild body shot.
Good leg kick by Kirunda there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kirunda tries to land a front kick but Clanton steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Clanton motions for Kirunda to come forward. Clanton throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Clanton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Clanton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kirunda sprawls well. Kirunda wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Clanton gets slowly back to his feet.

Kirunda takes the fight into the clinch.
Kirunda trying to land knees to the body.
Clanton tries to break free but Kirunda pushes him back against the cage.
Kirunda has Clanton pressed against the cage, preventing Clanton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kirunda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Clanton is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirunda is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kirunda with a knee to the head.
Kirunda softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kirunda is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A short right from Kirunda.
Kirunda stalling.
Clanton lands an uppercut.
Kirunda slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kirunda.
Kirunda is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Clanton jumps into guard, dragging Kirunda to the mat.
Kirunda wants to get up but he can't break Clanton's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Kirunda stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Clanton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kirunda.
Clanton fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kirunda is breathing heavily.
Clanton shoots in but no luck this time.
Clanton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kirunda tries to avoid it but Clanton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kirunda to the ground. Kirunda escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kalema Kirunda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ike Clanton.
Clanton on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kirunda. Kirunda obviously looking to wear him down.
Kirunda is looking to clinch.
Clanton tries to score with a low kick but Kirunda moves his leg out of the way.
Clanton takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nice straight punches there by Kirunda. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kirunda.
Kirunda works Clanton's body with a nice hook.
Kirunda lands with a hook. Clanton tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clanton throws a sloppy head kick and Kirunda moves out of range easily.
Clanton drops his hands momentarily and Kirunda takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Clanton on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kirunda throws a right hand that Clanton ducks under and follows up with a left that Clanton also avoids with ease.
Kirunda stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kirunda wants it to stay on the feet.
Clanton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kirunda doesn't manage to clinch there - Clanton circles away.
Clanton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Clanton will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kirunda defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Clanton.
Kirunda throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Clanton.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kirunda wants to clinch.
Clanton will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Good leg kick by Kirunda there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Kirunda rushes Clanton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kirunda connects with a nasty looking knee right to Clanton's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirunda leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kirunda works on Clanton's body with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kirunda is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Clanton is looking to break free of the clinch but Kirunda has double underhooks.
Clanton is looking to break free of the clinch but Kirunda has double underhooks.
Kirunda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Clanton takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kirunda unloads a knee to the mid-section. Clanton lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kirunda gets through Clanton's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kirunda keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Clanton's efforts to push away.
Clanton misses with a punch on the inside.
Kirunda landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A right handed body shot lands from Kirunda.
Kirunda manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kirunda makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirunda lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kirunda landing knees to the body.
Kirunda crunches a lovely knee into Clanton's ribcage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kirunda is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Kirunda breaks from the clinch.

Kirunda darts in and clinches Clanton up against the cage.
Kirunda dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kirunda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Clanton is defending well for now.
Kirunda tries to land knees in the clinch but Clanton avoids the damage to the body.
Kirunda using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Clanton has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Clanton tries to break free but Kirunda pushes him back against the cage.
Clanton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kirunda is pressed up against the cage. Clanton has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kirunda down to the mat. Kirunda avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kirunda.

Kirunda moves into range and clinches up with Clanton.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clanton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A right hook to the body lands for Kirunda.
Kirunda lands a good knee to the midsection. Clanton won't want to take too many of those.
Kirunda unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kirunda stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kirunda throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kirunda cracks Clanton with an open hand slap.
Kirunda looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Clanton moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kirunda lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kirunda's corner calls for a 1-2. Kirunda obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Clanton on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kirunda. Kirunda obviously looking to wear him down.
Kirunda is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Clanton throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Clanton looks for a takedown but Kirunda sprawls well.
Kirunda lands a nice shot to the body.
Kirunda lands a leg kick that knocks Clanton off balance momentarily.
Kirunda displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Clanton.
A combination from Kirunda does no damage.
Clanton is breathing heavily.
Kirunda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Clanton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kalema Kirunda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kirunda fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirunda has taken the fight to the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kirunda takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kirunda lands a good knee to the midsection. Clanton won't want to take too many of those.
Kirunda is working Clanton over against the cage.
Kirunda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clanton.
Clanton pushes Kirunda back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kirunda is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kirunda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kirunda prevents the takedown attempt.
Kalema Kirunda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ike Clanton.
Kirunda is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kirunda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Kirunda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Clanton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kirunda is fending him off so far but Clanton persists. Nope, Kirunda circles away and we're back to standing.
Kirunda thuds his shin into the meat of Clanton's side.
Clanton shoots for a double leg takedown but Kirunda sprawls well. He's pushed Clanton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kirunda scores with a jab to the body.
Kirunda connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Clanton's hands.

Kirunda forces Clanton back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirunda with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Clanton tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kirunda just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kirunda landing knees to the body.
Kirunda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Clanton working hard to break the clinch.
Nice body punch from Kirunda - that landed with a thud.
Kirunda crunches a lovely knee into Clanton's ribcage.
Kirunda wants to stall.
Kalema Kirunda has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kirunda has Clanton pressed against the cage, preventing Clanton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Clanton misses with a body punch.
Clanton is trying to break free.
Clanton avoiding damage as Kirunda throws knees to the body.
Clanton misses with a short punch on the inside.
Clanton has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kirunda avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Clanton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Clanton is trying to break the clinch but Kirunda is controlling him.
Kirunda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Clanton is defending well for now.
Kirunda using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Clanton has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kirunda keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Clanton's efforts to push away.

Kirunda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clanton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kirunda but Kirunda pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kirunda scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kirunda cracks Clanton with a good jab.
Clanton shoots in but Kirunda avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Kirunda gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kirunda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kirunda connects with a high kick.
Kalema Kirunda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kirunda misses with a few strikes there.
Clanton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kirunda sprawls well. Kirunda wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Clanton gets slowly back to his feet.
Kirunda slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kirunda tries to close the distance and clinch up but Clanton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick from Kirunda lands but Clanton takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirunda throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Clanton drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kirunda tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Clanton lands a big elbow.
Kirunda really wants to buck Clanton off and get back to his feet.

Clanton looking to secure an arm triangle but Kirunda defends it well.
Clanton lands a heavy elbow.
Clanton trying to control but Kirunda is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalema Kirunda dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Clanton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kirunda moves away.
Clanton's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kirunda will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Clanton lands with an overhand left.

It looks like Kalema Kirunda has been cut.
Nice shot lands for Kirunda.
Kirunda defending well as Clanton loads up on a big left hand.
Kirunda misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kirunda connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Clanton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Clanton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Clanton keeps the fight on the outside.
Kirunda scoring well with a low kick there.
Good standup being displayed there by Kirunda as he connects with a hook.

Kirunda clinches up with Clanton and pushes him back against the cage.
Kirunda is trying to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Clanton has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kirunda avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Kirunda as the two fighters clinch.
Clanton takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kirunda will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Clanton up against the cage.

Clanton gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Clanton is trying to work for a kimura but Kirunda is defending well.
Clanton stops Kirunda from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clanton wants to take a breather but Kirunda is having none of it.

Clanton is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Clanton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clanton seems to be working for a kimura but Kirunda defends the submission attempt.
Kirunda regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Clanton.
Clanton trying to control but Kirunda is working from the bottom.
Kirunda on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kirunda tries to get out of the position.
Clanton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirunda pushes Clanton off and gets back to his feet.
Kirunda stuffs the takedown.
Kalema Kirunda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ike Clanton.
Good standup being displayed there by Kirunda as he connects with a hook.
Kirunda stuffs the takedown attempt from Clanton. Clanton gets slowly back to his feet.
Kalema Kirunda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clanton takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kirunda throws a head kick that Clanton semi-blocks.
Clanton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice uppercut lands for Kirunda. That snapped Clanton's head back.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kirunda.
Kirunda bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Clanton's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirunda lands a glancing blow to the side of Clanton's head.

Kirunda rushes Clanton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kirunda scores a nice knee to the body.
Clanton takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kirunda with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Clanton throws a head punch that misses.
Kirunda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kirunda prevents a body shot from Clanton.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kirunda lands a nice knee to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Kirunda fails to land.
Clanton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Kirunda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kirunda keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kirunda is looking to clinch.
Ike Clanton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kirunda forces Clanton back against the cage and clinches.
Clanton tries to throw a body punch but Kirunda avoids it by throwing Clanton back against the cage.
Kalema Kirunda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Clanton lands with a light punch inside.
Kirunda with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalema Kirunda showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kirunda, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kalema Kirunda!