PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zlatko Horvat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Clayton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Horvat
vs
Clayton

179 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Brute

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Zlatko Horvat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Max Clayton!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clayton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Clayton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Horvat sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Clayton forces Horvat back against the cage and clinches.

Clayton successfully pulls guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Horvat wants to stand but Clayton is controlling his posture from full guard.
Horvat postures up.
Horvat 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.
Clayton has his hands on Horvat's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Max Clayton hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Clayton keeps the fight on the outside.
Horvat plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Horvat lands a two punch combo.
Clayton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice body kick from Horvat.
Clayton takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Clayton takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horvat is looking to clinch.
Zlatko Horvat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clayton throws a series of punches but Horvat avoids them all with ease.
Horvat drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Horvat lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clayton scores with a takedown into Horvat's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clayton looks winded!
Horvat wants to stand up but Clayton is controlling him.
Clayton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Horvat swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Clayton passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Horvat bucks up and tries to throw Clayton off but instead Clayton has got his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horvat has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Clayton biding his time, controlling Horvat.

Clayton is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Horvat is defending well though. Clayton let's go of the attempt for now.
Horvat wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clayton biding his time, looking for the opening.
Horvat trying to get back to his feet but Clayton is in full control for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zlatko Horvat will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horvat wants to clinch up but Clayton keeps it at a distance.
Horvat is looking to clinch but Clayton is avoiding it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Clayton has Horvat pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Clayton pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Horvat tumbling to the mat - Clayton dives into Horvat's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clayton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Horvat scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayton fails to land with a series of punches.
Clayton shoots in and drives through. Horvat sprawls well.
Clayton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Horvat paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Clayton throws a head kick but Horvat moves out of range.
Horvat tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Clayton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Clayton is breathing heavily.
Horvat scores with a jab to the jaw.
Horvat scores with a three punch combo!
Horvat lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Horvat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Horvat. No joy for Clayton on that attempt.
Zlatko Horvat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Clayton.
Horvat goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Clayton keeps the fight on the outside.
Zlatko Horvat is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Donk. Horvat catches Clayton right on the button with a cross.
Horvat keeps the fight on the outside.
Horvat throws a quick inside leg kick.
Horvat tries to clinch there but Clayton circles away.
Clayton keeps the fight on the outside.
Horvat tries to close the distance and clinch up but Clayton swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Clayton drives through and clinches with Horvat against the cage.
Horvat jumps guard but Clayton turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Clayton jumps guard but Horvat stands there with Clayton around his waist. Clayton gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horvat tries to break the clinch but Clayton is controlling the position.
Horvat prevents the takedown attempt.
Horvat can't break the clinch.
Clayton is struggling to control the position.

Horvat escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horvat lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Horvat scores with a spinning back kick!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Horvat - that will leave a mark!
Horvat scores with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Horvat.
Horvat lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Horvat wants to clinch.
Horvat tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Clayton moves in looking to clinch but Horvat pushes him off.
Clayton shoots for a takedown but Horvat saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Horvat throws a head kick that half lands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clayton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Horvat plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Horvat wants to clinch up but Clayton keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Horvat scores with a head kick. Clayton tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Clayton ducks right into an uppercut from Horvat.
Horvat pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horvat throws a right and a left that Clayton avoids nicely.

Horvat tries to keep at a distance but Clayton has taken the fight into the clinch.
Clayton with a knee to the head.
Horvat is trying to pull guard but Clayton turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Clayton successfully pulls guard.

Clayton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Clayton is looking for a triangle but Horvat pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horvat would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Clayton wants to sweep but no luck.
Horvat wanted to stand there but Clayton had control of the position.
Horvat working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Horvat decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Horvat pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Clayton back to the cage. Horvat follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horvat throws a sloppy head kick and Clayton moves out of range easily.
Horvat moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Clayton throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Horvat.
Clayton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Clayton blocks a head kick by Horvat.
Clayton misses with a head kick.
Horvat bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Horvat tries to clinch up.
Horvat scores with a shot to the body.
Horvat scores with a head kick. Clayton tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clayton fails to land the takedown.
Horvat rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Clayton moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Clayton shoots in looking for a takedown but Horvat manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Clayton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Horvat throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Clayton's head.
Zlatko Horvat is winning the standup battle so far.
Crunch! Horvat slams his shin into Clayton's torso.
Clayton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Horvat as he avoids it easily.
Zlatko Horvat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Clayton.
Horvat with a jab.
Horvat lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Clayton looks for a takedown but Horvat sprawls well.
Horvat throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Zlatko Horvat is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horvat lands a head kick!
Clayton shoots for a takedown but Horvat saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice body kick from Horvat.
Clayton shoots in looking for a takedown but Horvat manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Clayton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Horvat, as that shot connected.
Horvat turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Horvat scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horvat doesn't manage to clinch there - Clayton circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Clayton. Horvat does a little dance to reset his feet.
Max Clayton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Horvat tries to clinch but Clayton is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zlatko Horvat showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Horvat, 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zlatko Horvat!
A relieved looking Zlatko Horvat thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.