PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mongolian Wrestler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santa Claus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santa Claus will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Wrestler
vs
Claus

177 cm
23
177 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
23
171 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Experienced

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mongolian Wrestler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Santa Claus!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Claus takes the fight into the clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Wrestler has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Claus looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Wrestler pulls Claus into guard.
Wrestler wants to stand and escape but Claus is having none of it.
Claus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wrestler works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wrestler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wrestler is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Claus is controlling him.
Wrestler trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Claus throwing strikes from guard but Wrestler blocks nicely.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Claus gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Wrestler.
Wrestler is looking to take this one to the mat.
Claus lands a nice elbow.
Wrestler is trying to pull guard but Claus turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mongolian Wrestler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wrestler has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Claus uses from the top position.

Wrestler has his feet on Claus's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Claus gets a clinch.
Claus is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Claus landing knees to the body.
Wrestler has Claus pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Claus manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Wrestler blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Claus.
Claus lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wrestler swings wildly with an uppercut but Claus uses good head movement to avoid it.
Claus doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Claus gets underhooks to prevent Wrestler's takedown attempt.
Wrestler is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wrestler blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wrestler drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Claus lands an elbow inside.
Claus misses with a body punch.
Wrestler takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wrestler takes an elbow to the temple.
Claus lands a knee to the body.
Wrestler takes an elbow to the temple.
Wrestler takes a knee to the side of the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Claus just misses with a elbow thrown towards Wrestler's brow.
Claus pushes off an throws an elbow but Wrestler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Claus lands a nice knee to the body.
Nice elbow from Claus.
Nice elbow from Claus.
Wrestler takes an elbow to the forehead.
Knees in the clinch landing for Claus.
Claus throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Claus pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Claus lands an elbow inside.
Claus is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Wrestler avoids a wild elbow strike from Claus.
Claus misses with a punch to the body.
Claus misses with a body punch.
Wrestler is trying to pull guard but Claus turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Claus lands an elbow that stopped Wrestler in his tracks for a moment.
Claus unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claus lands a nice elbow.
Knees in the clinch landing for Claus.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Claus obliges.
Claus misses with a hook to the ribs.
Wrestler blocks an elbow strike.
Claus gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Wrestler goes for a takedown attempt but Claus pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Claus moves into range and clinches up with Wrestler.
Knees to the body from Claus.
Claus gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Claus utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Wrestler is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Claus is defending well.
Wrestler has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Claus is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Wrestler avoids the elbow strike from Claus, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Claus.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Claus unloads a knee to the mid-section. Wrestler lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Claus lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Claus misses with a body punch.
Claus is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Wrestler is defending well for now.
Claus throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Claus is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Claus gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Wrestler tries to pull guard but Claus forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Wrestler wants the takedown. Claus is fighting it off but Wrestler persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Claus's guard against the cage.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Claus wants to stand but Wrestler is controlling the position.
Wrestler lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wrestler stops Claus from standing up.
Wrestler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santa Claus dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Claus moves into range and clinches up with Wrestler.
Wrestler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Claus just stands there and leans against the cage.
Claus creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Wrestler jumps guard and drags Claus to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Wrestler is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Claus must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wrestler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Claus accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wrestler is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Claus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wrestler is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Claus is controlling him.
Claus has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Claus fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wrestler, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claus lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Wrestler has hold of one of Claus's legs. Claus is fighting the takedown attempt but Wrestler gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wrestler accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wrestler content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wrestler stops Claus from standing up.
Wrestler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Claus wants to get back to his feet but Wrestler is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Wrestler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Wrestler's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Wrestler makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Claus is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mongolian Wrestler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wrestler makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Claus wants to stand but Wrestler is controlling the position.
Wrestler distracts Claus with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claus is looking to stand up but Wrestler isn't so interested in that idea.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Claus can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wrestler working some strikes from top position.
Wrestler passes Claus's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wrestler looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Claus wants to get back to his feet.
Wrestler 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.
Wrestler takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wrestler scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Wrestler takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Wrestler seems to be looking for submissions.

Wrestler is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Wrestler stops Claus from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wrestler landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Claus is trying to stand back up but Wrestler is controlling him
Wrestler working the head and body with strikes.
Wrestler lands strikes from half guard.
Wrestler slips a nice elbow through Claus's hands, connecting with Claus's forehead.
Ground and pound from Wrestler.
Wrestler lands strikes from half guard.
Claus avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Wrestler.

Wrestler is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Wrestler lands with a punch from half guard.
Claus is trying to stand back up but Wrestler is controlling him
Claus avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Wrestler.
Claus is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Wrestler.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Wrestler connects with a nice short shot to Claus's temple.
Wrestler landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Claus taking some punishment here, with Wrestler in his half guard.
Wrestler thows a huge punch but Claus dodges it nicely.
Claus wants to get back to his feet.
Claus is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Nice strikes from Wrestler there.
Claus is trying to stand back up but Wrestler is controlling him
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Wrestler connects with a nice short shot to Claus's temple.
Wrestler takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Claus is trying to stand back up but Wrestler is controlling him
Claus has hold of Wrestler's hands but Wrestler slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Claus is trying to stand up here but Wrestler is controlling him well.
Wrestler scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Claus is looking to escape.
Wrestler scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mongolian Wrestler dominated that second round.
That's time! Wrestler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Claus rushes Wrestler and presses him up against the cage.
Wrestler tries for a takedown but Claus manages to get underhooks.

Wrestler jumps into guard, dragging Claus to the mat.
Claus landing with the ground and pound.
Claus stops Wrestler from standing up.
Claus postures up in Wrestler's guard and throws a big left but Wrestler blocks it.

Wrestler has his feet on Claus's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Claus gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Wrestler gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Claus wants to get back to his feet.
Wrestler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Wrestler is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Claus has hold of Wrestler's hands but Wrestler slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claus is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Wrestler scores with a couple of nice shots.
Wrestler sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Claus defending well though.
Claus wants to get back to his feet.
Wrestler 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.

Wrestler is working for a kimura but Claus is defending it quite comfortably.
Wrestler not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Wrestler missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Claus is trying to stand up here but Wrestler is controlling him well.
Wrestler working Claus over with strikes.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Wrestler connects with a nice short shot to Claus's temple.
Wrestler lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wrestler sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Claus defending well though.
Wrestler seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Claus pushes Wrestler off looking to stand but Wrestler dives back in and keeps control.
Wrestler throwing shots but Claus is blocking nicely.
Claus blocking the ground and pound attempt from Wrestler.
Wrestler missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wrestler seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Claus looks like he's trying to stand up.
Wrestler working the head and body with strikes.
Claus wants to get back to his feet.
Wrestler missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Claus pushes Wrestler off looking to stand but Wrestler dives back in and keeps control.
Claus is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Wrestler scores with a couple of nice shots.
Claus really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wrestler. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claus is looking to escape.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Wrestler lands a nice short elbow.
Wrestler lands with a punch from half guard.

Wrestler is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Claus sees it coming and defends easily.
Claus is looking to escape.
Wrestler lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Wrestler thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wrestler lands strikes from half guard.

Wrestler is working for a submission of some sort.
Claus blocking the ground and pound attempt from Wrestler.
Claus tries to kick Wrestler off but Wrestler keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Wrestler scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Wrestler missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Claus is defending against the submission attempts here by Wrestler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Wrestler.

Wrestler seems to be looking for submissions.
Claus is looking to escape.
Wrestler not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Claus wants to get back to his feet.

Wrestler is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Claus has managed to free his arm - good work.
Wrestler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Claus keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wrestler prevents Claus from standing back up.

Wrestler is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Claus is trying to stand back up but Wrestler is controlling him
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mongolian Wrestler showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wrestler has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mongolian Wrestler!
Mongolian Wrestler decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.