PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santa Clause (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Susan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santa Clause has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Clause
vs
Susan

195 cm
23
275 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

172 cm
22
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Santa Clause!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Susan!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Susan doesn't manage to clinch there - Clause circles away.
Clause tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Susan swivels and escapes.
Susan tries to clinch but Clause moves out of range.
Clause fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Susan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Clause paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Clause closes this distance looking for a takedown but Susan circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santa Clause. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Susan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Clause paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Clause will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Clause throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Susan's waist but Susan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Clause off to one side.
Susan misses with a hook. Clause ducked under it nicely.
Clause shoots for a takedown but Susan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Susan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Clause clinches up against the cage.
Clause has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Susan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Susan.
Susan fails to pull guard.
Susan looking to slow down the pace here.
Clause wants a takedown but no success here.
Clause changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Susan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Clause shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Susan as he avoids it easily.
Clause is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Susan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Susan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Susan showed some decent athleticism there.

Clause actively working from the bottom here.
Susan is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Susan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Susan decides to stand and escape the position.
Susan walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Clause checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Susan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Susan lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Susan tries to stand but Clause is controlling from the bottom.

Clause looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Susan is stalling in the full guard.
Susan wants to stand but Clause is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Susan landing with the ground and pound.
Clause wants to sweep here but Susan controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Clause misses with a takedown

and Susan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Clause tries to roll over but Susan keeps him under control.
Susan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Susan's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Susan works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Susan trying to control but Clause is having none of it.
Susan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Susan wants to control the pace but Clause is squirming around nicely.
Clause wants to control but Susan is having none of it.
Clause tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Susan dominated that 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.

Clause gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Susan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Susan wants to control from the top but Clause keeps moving.
Clause working a defensive guard here.

Clause working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Susan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Susan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Susan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Clause tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Susan trying to control but Clause is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Susan gets to his feet. Clause looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Clause misses with a takedown

and Susan counters with a single leg into guard. Clause didn't expect that.
Clause wants to sweep here but Susan controlling him for the moment.
Susan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Susan decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Clause, up you get!

Clause tries to keep at a distance but Susan has taken the fight into the clinch.
Clause tries for a takedown but Susan manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santa Clause. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clause jumps guard but Susan stands there with Clause around his waist. Clause gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Susan tries for a takedown but Clause manages to get underhooks.
Susan tries to pull guard but Clause holds him up against the cage and eventually Susan drops back down to his feet.
Susan wants a takedown but no success here.
Susan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Clause smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Susan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Susan. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clause manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Susan manages to get himself to full guard.

Clause postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Susan is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Clause, into his guard.
Susan trying to control but Clause is working from the bottom.

Clause had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Susan is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Clause Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Susan's back instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Susan defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Mike Susan has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Susan tries to break free.

Clause is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Susan defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Clause is trying to stick to Susan's back but Susan is turning into Clause. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Clause's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Susan.
Susan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Clause bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Susan's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Susan looking to control.

Clause thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Susan is trying to keep Clause in close.
Susan tries to strike from the bottom.
Susan wants to stand but Clause is controlling the position.
Clause trying to control the position from guard on top but Susan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clause passes Susan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Clause seems to be working for a kimura but Susan defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Susan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Susan tries a head kick but it misses.
Clause has his takedown stuffed

and Susan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Clause's guard.

Clause isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Susan stacks Clause on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Susan!
Clause is not content to let Susan control the position.

Susan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Clause is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clause is trying to control Susan's posture but Susan avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Susan lands a decent elbow from side control.
Clause manages to work his way to half guard, despite Susan's best efforts.
Susan slips a nice elbow through Clause's hands, connecting with Clause's forehead.
Clause is looking to control Susan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Clause avoid being mounted?

Clause looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Susan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Clause is looking to control Susan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Clause avoid being mounted?
Susan passes the guard and advances to mount!
Clause wants to control but Susan is having none of it.
Clause is looking to improve his position but Susan isn't that keen on the idea.
Susan controlling his opponent.
Clause can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Susan lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Clause hang on?
Susan with shots to the head and body - Clause looks very uncomfortable down there.
Susan tries to control but Clause wriggling away.
Susan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Susan prevents Clause from getting the reversal.
Susan controlling from mount.
Clause really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Santa Clause has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Clause is working hard here to advance position.
Susan controlling his opponent.
Susan lands a nice shot to the head.
Clause has given up his back here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Susan scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Clause is looking for a way out.
Susan has the hooks in. Clause is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Susan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Susan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Susan!