PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Clair Huffman (ranked 25812 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Handston (ranked 6132 p4p, 0 weight class). Jon Handston has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Huffman
vs
Handston

186 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

190 cm
18
149 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Clair Huffman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jon Handston!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Handston feints and as Huffman raises his hands in defense, Handston changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Handston trying to control the position from guard on top but Huffman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Huffman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Handston defends well.
Huffman wants to get back to his feet but Handston is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Handston passes into half guard.
Huffman wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huffman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Handston.
Huffman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Handston is working away from the top position though.
Huffman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Huffman wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huffman is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Handston's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Handston's back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Handston rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Handston is trying to control but can't.
Handston tries to get to full guard but Huffman has control of the leg.
Handston wants to get back to his feet.
Handston wants to get back to full guard.
Handston keeps trying to improve his position.
Huffman tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Handston.

Huffman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handston wants to improve his position but Huffman is controlling well.
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. Huffman connects with a nice short shot to Handston's temple.
Handston manages to get to full guard.
Huffman postures up and lands a big shot to Handston's brow.

Handston looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Huffman works over Handston with some ground and pound from guard.
Huffman tries to stand but Handston is controlling from the bottom.

Handston scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Handston looks winded!

Handston drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huffman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Huffman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Huffman is looking to stand up but Handston won't let him.
Huffman connects with a couple of short punches.
Huffman landing with the ground and pound.
Huffman sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Handston looking to control.
Huffman sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Handston has momentary wrist control but Huffman slips an elbow through the middle.
Huffman 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.
Handston controls Huffman momentarily but Huffman frees himself.
Huffman cracks Handston with a solid left hand.
Handston has a closed guard, preventing Huffman from standing up.
Handston trying to keep a closed guard but Huffman is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Huffman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Huffman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
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 Clair Huffman will probably get the nod.
That's time! Huffman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Huffman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Handston is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Handston shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Huffman makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Clair Huffman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Handston scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Huffman bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Handston closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Huffman quickly recovers to half guard.
Handston seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Huffman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Huffman is trying to control but Handston manages to pass to mount!
Handston is breathing heavily.
Huffman is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huffman gets back to half guard.

Huffman kicks Handston off and gets back to his feet.
Jon Handston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Huffman gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Huffman is looking for a triangle but Handston pushes his legs off easily.
Handston stops Huffman from standing up.
Huffman wants to get back to his feet but Handston passes into half guard.
Handston throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handston not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Huffman controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Huffman is trying to stand back up but Handston is controlling him
Huffman is staying active underneath Handston, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Huffman is trying to stand back up but Handston is controlling him
Handston seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Huffman is not content to let Handston control the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Handston looking to score a takedown here. Huffman is defending well but Handston drives through and ends up in Huffman's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Handston trying to control but Huffman is working from the bottom.
Huffman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Huffman being controlled here, momentarily.

Huffman looking for a guillotine here but Handston defends easily.

Huffman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Handston gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Handston missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Huffman working for submissions but it's allowed Handston to get to half guard.

Huffman actively working from the bottom here.
Huffman is trying to maintain the position but Handston is very close to passing his half guard.
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 Clair Huffman will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Handston shoots in and gets a takedown into Huffman's guard.
Handston throws a big elbow that misses.

Huffman is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Huffman trying to keep a closed guard but Handston is proving a slippery customer.

Handston avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Handston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Huffman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handston trying to control the position from guard on top but Huffman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Handston working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Handston throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Clair Huffman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Huffman looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Handston has picked Huffman up and slammed him! Huffman can't keep hold of the triangle and Handston manages to pass to side control!
Huffman is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Handston tries for a kimura but Huffman is defending well.
Handston trying to control the action but Huffman is working from the bottom.
Huffman gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huffman controlling the position well.
Huffman trying to control from the bottom.

Huffman kicks off Handston and gets to his feet.
Huffman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Handston circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Handston gets a takedown into half guard.
Handston wants to take a breather but Huffman is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huffman wants to get back to his feet.
Huffman is in trouble now - Handston has advanced to mount!
Huffman tries to buck Handston off but he can't manage it.
Huffman is squirming around, avoiding Handston's attempts to control the action.
Huffman tries to buck Handston off but he can't manage it.
Huffman 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.
Huffman is squirming around, avoiding Handston's attempts to control the action.
Huffman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huffman tries to hold on but Handston pushes him away.
Handston controlling from the full mount.
Huffman really wants to buck Handston off and get back to his feet.
Handston tries to push Huffman's head away but Huffman is holding on tight.
Handston looking to control but Huffman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Jon Handston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clair Huffman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Huffman really wants to buck Handston off and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Handston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Huffman 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Clair Huffman!