PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Clifton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adham Shaban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Clifton
vs
Shaban

178 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Craig Clifton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Adham Shaban!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaban shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Clifton closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Shaban did well to prevent Clifton getting side control.
Shaban wants to get back to full guard.
Clifton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shaban wants to improve his position but Clifton is controlling well.

Clifton is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Shaban trying to control but Clifton postures up.
Shaban wants to improve his position but Clifton is controlling well.
Shaban preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Clifton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shaban is defending against the submission attempts here by Clifton.
Clifton scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Clifton is thwarting Shaban's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clifton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Clifton is nestled in close to Shaban, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Shaban is refusing to be controlled, as Clifton sits in half guard.
Shaban keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Clifton working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Clifton wants to free his trapped foot but Shaban is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clifton is looking for a kimura but Shaban is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Clifton to get the leverage.
Shaban on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Clifton is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
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!
Clifton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shaban wants to get back to his feet.
Clifton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaban is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shaban looks winded!
Clifton is looking to take a break and control but Shaban is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Clifton is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Shaban is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifton prevents Shaban from improving his position.
Shaban really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Clifton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Clifton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Shaban is not content to let Clifton control the position.
Shaban wants to control but Clifton is keeping busy.
Shaban avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Clifton.
Clifton sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Clifton is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Shaban wants to improve his position but Clifton is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Clifton is looking for a kimura but Shaban is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Clifton to get the leverage.
Clifton working over Shaban with some ground and pound. Shaban looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Clifton wants to take a breather but Shaban is having none of it.
Clifton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Clifton is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shaban sees it coming and defends easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clifton scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Clifton in particular looking to stall.

Clifton is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Clifton is looking to advance position but Shaban won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shaban is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Clifton dominated that round.
That's time! Clifton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shaban tries for a takedown but Clifton circles away easily

and Clifton counters by moving into the clinch.
Clifton wants to take the fight to the mat but Shaban manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Shaban jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Clifton walks away with a smile on his face. Shaban gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Shaban tries to close the distance and clinch but Clifton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shaban tries to close the distance and clinch but Clifton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Clifton is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shaban's half guard.
Clifton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Clifton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Clifton lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Clifton performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Shaban is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifton is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Clifton looking to finish Shaban with some ground and pound. This is bad for Shaban!
Shaban gets back to half guard.
Craig Clifton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Clifton tries to pass to full mount but Shaban defends it.
Clifton content to control rather than advance.
Clifton is nestled in close to Shaban, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clifton working Shaban over with strikes.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Clifton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Shaban tries to roll over but Clifton keeps him under control.
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!
Clifton seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shaban does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Clifton is trying to work for a kimura but Shaban is defending well.
Clifton performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Clifton is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shaban is just riding it out for now. Clifton eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifton slows the pace down in half guard.
Ground and pound from Clifton.
Shaban is looking to improve his position.
Clifton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shaban wants to control but Clifton is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Shaban looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clifton slips a nice elbow through Shaban's hands, connecting with Shaban's forehead.
Clifton is looking to take a break and control but Shaban is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Clifton 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.
Shaban is looking to control Clifton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shaban avoid being mounted?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shaban is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Clifton scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Clifton dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Shaban displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Clifton.
Clifton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shaban as he jumps to the side.
Clifton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shaban sprawls well. Shaban wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Clifton gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Clifton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shaban gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Clifton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Clifton is looking to work some ground and pound but Shaban has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifton throwing strikes but missing.
Clifton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shaban can do to turn this around?
Shaban wants to stand and escape but Clifton is having none of it.
Shaban is trying to keep Clifton in close.
Shaban takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Clifton stopping the sweep attempt from Shaban.
Clifton forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shaban manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Clifton passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clifton controls the position from side control.
Clifton works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Clifton is putting a hurting on Shaban here, landing some big shots from side control.

Clifton is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shaban knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Clifton has an Americana. Shaban didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Clifton is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Clifton hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Craig Clifton!