PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Great Clinch (ranked 2967 p4p, 3938 weight class) and Alex Rafael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: el momento es hora. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Clinch
vs
Rafael

176 cm
26
184
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
170
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Great Clinch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Rafael!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot by Clinch.
Rafael fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rafael blocks a jab.
Clinch sets himself, and Rafael steps forward looking for the clinch! Clinch avoids it this time.
Great Clinch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot lands for Clinch.
Clinch throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Rafael counters with a shoot takedown. Clinch fights it but they end up in guard.
Clinch is wriggling around but Rafael manages to pass to half guard.

Clinch manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Rafael keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Clinch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Clinch can't find room to land a body shot as Rafael controls the action.
Clinch misses with a punch on the inside.
Clinch tries a body shot but Rafael blocks it.
Clinch lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rafael takes a shot to the head.
Rafael blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rafael wants a takedown but no success here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rafael.

Clinch is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rafael is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Clinch to the mat. Clinch regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rafael is standing up over Clinch. Clinch looks to escape but Rafael dives into side control.
Rafael controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafael trying to control the action but Clinch is working from the bottom.
Rafael grinds an elbow into Clinch's temple.
Rafael trying to control the action but Clinch is working from the bottom.
Clinch is trying to buck Rafael off.
Rafael is staying tight to Clinch's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Clinch wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rafael wants to control but Clinch is keeping him busy.
Rafael tries to score with some ground and pound. Clinch controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clinch is trying to get back to his feet.

Clinch bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Horrible takedown attempt by Rafael or perhaps it was just good defense by Clinch, which made it look bad.
Rafael tries to clinch but Clinch is having none of it.
It looked like Clinch wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rafael wants to clinch.
Clinch definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rafael fails to land the takedown.
Great Clinch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Rafael.
Clinch's corner calls for a 1-2. Clinch obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Clinch fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rafael.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clinch gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rafael to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rafael working some strikes from top position.
Rafael won't allow Clinch to get back to his feet.
Rafael pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clinch is keeping the position for now.
Rafael won't allow Clinch to get back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rafael accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Clinch is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafael blocks a jab.
Nice defenses there by Rafael.
Rafael let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Clinch looks to land a right hand but Rafael moved out of range.

Rafael drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rafael throws an elbow but Clinch slips to the side and avoids it well.
Clinch wants to get back to his feet but Rafael is dominant here and he's now got Clinch's back!
Clinch trying to get back to his feet but Rafael is in full control for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Clinch preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rafael.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Great Clinch dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Clinch closes the distance and pushes Rafael back into the cage.
Clinch goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Clinch tries to throw a body punch but Rafael avoids it by throwing Clinch back against the cage.

Rafael ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rafael no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Alex Rafael has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rafael lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Clinch manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Clinch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rafael wants to take the fight to the mat but Clinch manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Clinch creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rafael blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Rafael breaks from the clinch.
Clinch lands with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clinch lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Clinch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rafael can do to turn this around?
Clinch lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Clinch circles away from the clinch attempt.
A lazy left from Clinch finds it's target.

Rafael is rocked!
Alex Rafael is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rafael has managed to clinch.
A shot in the inside from Clinch.
Rafael drops down looking for an ankle pick but Clinch pulls his leg out and moves away.
Clinch is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rafael tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Clinch swivels and escapes.
Great Clinch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Rafael.
Rafael is breathing heavily.
Clinch connects with a body shot.
Rafael takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rafael ducks right into an uppercut from Clinch.
Clinch lands with an overhand left.
Rafael is still on wobbly legs! Can Clinch finish him?
Rafael drops his hands momentarily. Clinch doesn't need a second invitation, landing a shot to the temple. Rafael staggers and falls to the mat and the ref dives in to save him from any more punishment. Rafael doesn't seem happy with the stoppage but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Great Clinch!
Great Clinch spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
Alex Rafael was interviewed post fight and said 'di lo mejo de mi pero hoy no se pudo'.