PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Maris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Clay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jake Clay has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maris
vs
Clay

197 cm
19
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
220 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Maris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jake Clay!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, David Schapiro and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clay doesn't manage to clinch there - Maris circles away.
Clay throws out a powerful jab.
Clay misses with a takedown attempt
and Maris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Clay closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Maris to the mat! Maris manages to get full guard.
Maris is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Clay is controlling him.
Maris preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Clay trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maris could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Clay throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maris works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maris wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clay keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Maris's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Clay would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Clay stays in close to Maris's body and controls the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Clay wanted to stand there but Maris had control of the position.

That's two 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.

Clay has gone for a leg lock! Maris slips out almost immediately though and dives into Clay's guard.
Maris works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Clay wants to improve his position but Maris is controlling well.
Clay is staying active underneath Maris, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Maris is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Clay looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maris not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Clay trying to control the position here.
Clay keeping full guard, as Maris tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maris sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Clay's guard.

Maris is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Clay doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maris.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Clay is not content to let Maris control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jake Clay will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Clay shoots and misses
and Maris counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnny Maris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maris swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maris shoots in for a takedown but Clay shows good takedown defense.
Clay tries to clinch but Maris is having none of it.

Clay gets caught flat footed, as Maris shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Maris throws a big right hand that misses.
Clay has his hands on Maris's head, controlling the position.
Maris won't allow Clay to get back to his feet.
Clay looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maris is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Clay holds on and takes a little breather.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jake Clay.
Maris has a takedown stuffed.
Clay gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Maris counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maris wants to control from the top but Clay keeps moving.
Clay not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Clay is breathing heavily.
Maris controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Maris wants to control from the top but Clay keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnny Maris has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Clay misses with a takedown attempt
and Maris counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Johnny Maris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Clay.

Maris scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Maris 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.
Clay is trying to maintain the position but Maris is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maris throwing shots but Clay is blocking nicely.
Maris is trying to control the action in half guard but Clay is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maris takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Maris uses his free foot to push down on Clay's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Clay.
Clay tries to control the position but Maris now has his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Maris 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. This is the final round!

Clay shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Maris counters with a takedown into side control.

Maris working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Clay is pushing Maris's head away, looking to escape. Maris manages to hold on to the position though.
Clay tries to bench press Maris off him but Maris keeps the position.
Clay takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maris lands a decent elbow from side control.
Maris wants to lay and pray for a moment but Clay keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maris is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Clay has escaped the position, nice work there.
Maris lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maris wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Maris tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Clay parries the strikes from Maris easily there. Maris is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Clay to escape.
Maris will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Maris working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Maris wants to take a breather but Clay manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Maris.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maris stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Clay swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maris postures up.
Maris looking to sit in guard and control but Clay gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clay trying to control but Maris is working from the bottom.

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.
Clay pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maris is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Clay accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maris keeping moving, preventing Clay from controlling successfully.
Clay looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Maris showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maris 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Maris!