PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve The Smiling Assassin (ranked 872 p4p, 135 weight class) and Thomas Clawnes (ranked 1629 p4p, 246 weight class). Clawnes has chosen My name is MUD as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

The Smiling Assassin
vs
Clawnes

188 cm
31
215 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

190 cm
37
223 lbs
26 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve The Smiling Assassin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Clawnes!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Steve Montenegro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clawnes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Clawnes tests The Smiling Assassin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Clawnes scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Clawnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but The Smiling Assassin manages to avoid it.
Clawnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but The Smiling Assassin was well out of range. Poor timing from Clawnes.
Clawnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but The Smiling Assassin moves away.
Clawnes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Clawnes throws a shot from downtown. The Smiling Assassin moves away and avoids it.
Clawnes throws a body punch but The Smiling Assassin moves out of range.
The Smiling Assassin looks to throw the jab but Clawnes is out of range.
Clawnes lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Clawnes throws a nice head kick!

The Smiling Assassin clinches up with Clawnes and pushes him back against the cage.
The Smiling Assassin can't find room to land a body shot as Clawnes controls the action.
The Smiling Assassin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The Smiling Assassin lands an elbow that stopped Clawnes in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Thomas Clawnes has been cut.
Clawnes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Clawnes blocks a body shot from The Smiling Assassin.
The Smiling Assassin lands a body punch in the clinch.

The Smiling Assassin lands a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clawnes keeping moving, preventing The Smiling Assassin from controlling successfully.
Clawnes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as The Smiling Assassin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The Smiling Assassin wants to control from the top but Clawnes keeps moving.
The Smiling Assassin is really struggling to control Clawnes but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The Smiling Assassin throws a strike but Clawnes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Clawnes stopping the sweep attempt from The Smiling Assassin.
The Smiling Assassin keeping full guard, as Clawnes tries to pass.
The Smiling Assassin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Smiling Assassin has Clawnes pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clawnes trying to control the position from guard on top but The Smiling Assassin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clawnes throws a big elbow that misses.
The Smiling Assassin looking to control.
The Smiling Assassin keeping moving, preventing Clawnes from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The Smiling Assassin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Clawnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. The Smiling Assassin is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The Smiling Assassin avoids the body shot from Clawnes.
The Smiling Assassin sizes up Clawnes with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The Smiling Assassin looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
A decent looking body kick lands there for The Smiling Assassin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clawnes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The Smiling Assassin wants to clinch up but Clawnes keeps it at a distance.
Clawnes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Clawnes blocks a head kick by The Smiling Assassin.
The Smiling Assassin throws a lazy right hand but Clawnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Clawnes as he connects with a hook.
The Smiling Assassin misses with a lunging right hand
and Clawnes counters with a stiff right hand.
Clawnes lands with a nice body punch.
Clawnes blocks a jab.
Clawnes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The Smiling Assassin misses with a looping left.
The Smiling Assassin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Clawnes lands with a cross.
The Smiling Assassin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Clawnes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The Smiling Assassin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Clawnes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Smiling Assassin lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The Smiling Assassin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clawnes was well out of range. Poor timing from The Smiling Assassin.
A little jabbing left from Clawnes on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The Smiling Assassin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The Smiling Assassin misses with an uppercut. Clawnes saw that one coming.
Clawnes throws the left hand but The Smiling Assassin avoids the punch easily.
The Smiling Assassin slips under a jab from Clawnes.
The Smiling Assassin lands with a nice body punch.
The Smiling Assassin lands a front kick.
The Smiling Assassin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

The Smiling Assassin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - The Smiling Assassin lands in his opponent's guard.
The Smiling Assassin is in close to Clawnes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
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 Steve The Smiling Assassin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Thomas Clawnes's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The Smiling Assassin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Clawnes.
The Smiling Assassin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Clawnes.
It looked like The Smiling Assassin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Clawnes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and The Smiling Assassin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Clawnes. The Smiling Assassin does a little dance to reset his feet.
The Smiling Assassin is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Clawnes checks a leg kick.
Clawnes takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Clawnes's hands are dropping dangerously low here and The Smiling Assassin connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Clawnes scrambles back to his feet.
Clawnes tests The Smiling Assassin's chin there with a solid looking shot.

The Smiling Assassin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The Smiling Assassin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Clawnes has hold of The Smiling Assassin's hands but The Smiling Assassin slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Steve The Smiling Assassin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Smiling Assassin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Clawnes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Clawnes.
Clawnes seems keen to control The Smiling Assassin's posture.
Clawnes keeping moving, preventing The Smiling Assassin from controlling successfully.
The Smiling Assassin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The Smiling Assassin trying to control the position from guard on top but Clawnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Clawnes is pulling down on The Smiling Assassin's head to control his posture.
The Smiling Assassin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The Smiling Assassin won't allow Clawnes to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The Smiling Assassin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A nice combination there by The Smiling Assassin.
Clawnes throws a body punch but The Smiling Assassin moves out of range.
Thomas Clawnes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The Smiling Assassin throws a lazy right hand but Clawnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The Smiling Assassin thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Clawnes if he has to take too many more of those.
The Smiling Assassin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Clawnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clawnes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The Smiling Assassin walks into a left hand.
The Smiling Assassin looks to throw a body kick
and Clawnes counters with a nice uppercut.
The Smiling Assassin scores with a nice right hand.
The Smiling Assassin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Clawnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Clawnes tries to bum rush The Smiling Assassin with a series of wild strikes but The Smiling Assassin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The Smiling Assassin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The Smiling Assassin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Clawnes counters with a nice uppercut.
The Smiling Assassin throws a leg kick that misses.
It seemed like Clawnes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Oooooh!!! Clawnes has knocked The Smiling Assassin down with a huge combo! Clawnes steps away and waves a wobbly The Smiling Assassin back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

The Smiling Assassin is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clawnes cracks The Smiling Assassin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Oh The Smiling Assassin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Clawnes throws the left hand but The Smiling Assassin avoids the punch easily.
The Smiling Assassin throws a combination. Clawnes tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The Smiling Assassin looks to score with a jab to the body but Clawnes is just out of range.
Clawnes misses with a straight right.
The Smiling Assassin seems to have got his legs back now.
The Smiling Assassin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clawnes was well out of range. Poor timing from The Smiling Assassin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Clawnes.
Clawnes has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by The Smiling Assassin.
The Smiling Assassin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Clawnes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Clawnes on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The Smiling Assassin dips to his left and cracks Clawnes with an uppercut!
Clawnes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Clawnes on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The Smiling Assassin misses with a few strikes there.
Clawnes swings for the body but The Smiling Assassin moves out of range.
Clawnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from The Smiling Assassin.
Clawnes lands a nice looking body shot.
The Smiling Assassin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The Smiling Assassin throws a lazy uppercut
letting Clawnes counter with a right hand.

The Smiling Assassin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Clawnes, pushing him back against the cage.
Clawnes blocks an elbow strike from The Smiling Assassin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Steve The Smiling Assassin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Thomas Clawnes's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

The Smiling Assassin instigates a clinch.
The Smiling Assassin misses with a punch to the body.
Clawnes misses with a punch on the inside.
The Smiling Assassin lands a damaging elbow.
Clawnes is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Clawnes throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The Smiling Assassin is working Clawnes over against the cage.
Clawnes lands with a left to the head.
The Smiling Assassin throws an elbow but it misses.
The Smiling Assassin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Clawnes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Clawnes breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clawnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but The Smiling Assassin was well out of range. Poor timing from Clawnes.
Clawnes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The Smiling Assassin feints and then cracks Clawnes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Clawnes down.
The Smiling Assassin scores with a jab. Clawnes acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The Smiling Assassin scores with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clawnes connects with a good right hand that stumbles The Smiling Assassin. The Smiling Assassin circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Clawnes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? The Smiling Assassin is fending him off so far but Clawnes persists. Nope, The Smiling Assassin circles away and we're back to standing.
Clawnes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The Smiling Assassin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clawnes was well out of range. Poor timing from The Smiling Assassin.
It seemed like Clawnes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Clawnes stuffs the takedown attempt from The Smiling Assassin. The Smiling Assassin gets slowly back to his feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts The Smiling Assassin, as that shot connected.
The Smiling Assassin slips a jab from Clawnes.
The Smiling Assassin attempts a counter takedown but Clawnes avoids it well and moves away.
The Smiling Assassin throws a right hand that Clawnes ducks under and follows up with a left that Clawnes also avoids with ease.
The Smiling Assassin thows a left - swing and a miss!
The Smiling Assassin scores with a punch to the head.
The Smiling Assassin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The Smiling Assassin just misses with a punch to the body.
Clawnes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but The Smiling Assassin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Clawnes missing with a left hand there. The Smiling Assassin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clawnes throws a combination that misses
and The Smiling Assassin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from The Smiling Assassin is defended easily by Clawnes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clawnes looks to score with a jab to the body but The Smiling Assassin is just out of range.
The Smiling Assassin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Clawnes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten The Smiling Assassin somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve The Smiling Assassin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The Smiling Assassin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Clawness jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The Smiling Assassin dodges the punch combination from Clawnes.
The Smiling Assassin misses with a wild body shot.
The Smiling Assassin connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Smiling Assassin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The Smiling Assassin lands with a cross.
The Smiling Assassin moves out of range as Clawnes strikes.
The Smiling Assassin seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
The Smiling Assassin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A big left from The Smiling Assassin misses.
Clawnes wants to counter the offense by The Smiling Assassin and move into the clinch position.
Thomas Clawnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The Smiling Assassin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Clawnes throws a body shot but no joy.
The Smiling Assassin takes one to the side of the head.

The Smiling Assassin moves into the clinch successfully.

Clawnes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The Smiling Assassin lands a body shot.

The Smiling Assassin moves into range and clinches up with Clawnes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clawnes has had enough of the clinch but The Smiling Assassin keeps him there for the moment.
The Smiling Assassin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Clawnes avoiding damage.
The Smiling Assassin can't find room to land a body shot as Clawnes controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Smiling Assassin struggles to land a body shot inside as Clawnes controls his hands.
The Smiling Assassin throws an elbow but it misses.
Clawnes lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of The Smiling Assassin backwards.
Clawnes misses with a punch on the inside.
Clawnes avoids a wild elbow strike from The Smiling Assassin.
The Smiling Assassin creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Clawnes's defenses.
A head punch on the inside from Clawnes fails to land.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from The Smiling Assassin.
Clawnes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but The Smiling Assassin has him pressed against the cage.
The Smiling Assassin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Clawnes backwards.
The Smiling Assassin lands with a right to the head.
The Smiling Assassin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Clawnes backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for The Smiling Assassin.
Clawnes takes an elbow to the temple.
Nice body punch from The Smiling Assassin - that landed with a thud.
Steve The Smiling Assassin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A shot in the inside from The Smiling Assassin.
The Smiling Assassin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The Smiling Assassin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve The Smiling Assassin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for The Smiling Assassin, 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve The Smiling Assassin!
Steve The Smiling Assassin 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.