PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Jones (ranked 2898 p4p, 3572 weight class) and Kenny Claypool (ranked 388 p4p, 465 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kenny Claypool was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Jones
vs
Claypool

183 cm
27
174
7 - 4 - 0

186 cm
21
176
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Prefers standup

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kenny Claypool!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Albert Achterberg and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Claypool clinches with his opponent.

Claypool escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Jones closes the distance and clinches.

Jones gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Jones sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Claypool defending well though.
Jones 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.
Jones throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jones has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Jones is working for a kimura but Claypool is defending it quite comfortably.
Jones is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Claypool is positioning himself well to prevent Jones advancing to mount.
Jones throwing shots but Claypool is blocking nicely.
Claypool looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claypool keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jones throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jones throws a strike but Claypool avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Claypool can do anything to dispel that myth.
Jones throwing strikes from guard but Claypool blocks nicely.
Jones trying to control but Claypool is working from the bottom.
Jones trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jones throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Claypool works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Claypool trying to control the position here.
Jones trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones throwing strikes but missing.
Jones throws a big elbow that misses.
Jones trying to control but Claypool is working from the bottom.
Jones trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones postures up and lands a big shot to Claypool's brow.
Jones trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jones wants to pass the guard but Claypool is keeping the position.
Jones content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Jones throwing strikes but missing.
Jones stands up over Claypool, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Claypool preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jones trying to control but Claypool is working from the bottom.
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jones throws a big elbow that misses.
Jones pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Claypool is keeping the position for now.
Claypool preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jones won't allow Claypool to get back to his feet.
Claypool avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jones throws an elbow that misses. Claypool uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jones's guard. Nice move by Claypool!

Jones bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Claypool's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones postures up in Claypool's guard and throws a big left but Claypool blocks it.
Claypool wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Claypool working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jones.
Jones scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Claypool utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jones looking to sit in guard and control but Claypool gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Jones is pulling down on Claypool's head. It's preventing any offense from Claypool, at least for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Claypool stays in close to Jones's body and controls the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jones has a takedown stuffed.
Claypool tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kenny Claypool seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Claypool darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.
Jones letting Claypool take a breather here.
Jones has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Claypool is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jones goes for a takedown in the clinch but Claypool prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good body shot from Claypool.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jones's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Claypool breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Claypool gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jones fails to pull guard.
Jones has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Claypool after a bit of a struggle.
Claypool tries to throw a body punch but Jones avoids it by throwing Claypool back against the cage.
Claypool misses with a hook to the ribs.
Claypool works on Jones's body with a couple of short punches.
Jones is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Claypool pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Claypool tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jones's elbow.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Claypool takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Claypool presses Jones against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Jones tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jones is looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claypool is stalling here.
Come on Claypool - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Claypool doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Jones gets control of Claypool's arms and successfully pulls guard. Jones will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Jones is trying to keep Claypool in close.
Claypool won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
Claypool wants to stand but Jones has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claypool looking to sit in guard and control but Jones gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Jones trying to control but Claypool is working from the bottom.
Alex Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jones with a nice head shot there.
Jones missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Claypool is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jones is controlling him.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jones throwing strikes but missing.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jones throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Jones loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Claypool avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Claypool pulls Jones in close to prevent any damage.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Claypool utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Claypool utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Claypool is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Claypool wants to stand and escape but Jones is having none of it.
Claypool keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kenny Claypool will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jones is trying hard to land a takedown here. Claypool sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Claypool is looking to clinch but Jones is avoiding it.

Claypool has Jones up against the cage in a clinch.
Jones letting Claypool take a breather here.
Jones tries to pull guard but Claypool forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Claypool goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Claypool gets underhooks to prevent Jones's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones tries to land a knee to the head but Claypool blocks with his arms.

Claypool breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Jones clinches with his opponent.
Claypool scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones wants a takedown.
Claypool taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Claypool.
Claypool misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jones tries to pull guard but Claypool holds him up against the cage and eventually Jones drops back down to his feet.
Claypool lands a body shot.
Jones changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Claypool fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Jones gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Claypool lands a body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Claypool.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Claypool is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jones is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Claypool to keep the fight standing.
Claypool pushes Jones back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Jones drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Claypool gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Claypool lands with a left to the head.
Kenny Claypool seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Claypool presses Jones against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Claypool tries to work over Jones's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Claypool stalls.
Claypool lands a body shot in the clinch.
Claypool works on Jones's body with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones breaks from the clinch.

Claypool moves into range and clinches up with Jones.
A right hand to the body from Claypool.
Jones blocks a body shot from Claypool.
Claypool misses with a hook to the ribs.
Claypool stalling the fight.

Claypool breaks from the clinch.

Claypool has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Claypool.

Claypool breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Claypool has closed the distance and engaged Jones in a clinch.
Claypool tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Claypool breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claypool tries to clinch up but Jones circles away and keeps his distance.
Jones is looking to counter the offense by Claypool and move into the clinch.

Claypool instigates a clinch.
Claypool tries a body shot but Jones blocks it.
The referee calls for Claypool to work.
Claypool makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Claypool breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Claypool rushes Jones and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Claypool working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Jones changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Claypool fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Claypool gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenny Claypool comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Claypool has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenny Claypool!