PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Korneliusson (ranked 6156 p4p, 24801 weight class) and Marcel Clay (ranked 524 p4p, 535 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Korneliusson
vs
Clay

195 cm
21
280
0 - 1 - 0

197 cm
20
255
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Benjamin Korneliusson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcel Clay!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Korneliusson moves in looking to clinch but Clay pushes him off.
Clay shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Korneliusson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Clay tries to move into range but Korneliusson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Clay has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Clay there as he acknowledges the shot.
Clay dodges the punch combination from Korneliusson.
Clay moves out of range of the strikes.
Korneliusson ducks under a wild hook from Clay.
Korneliusson with a nice cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korneliusson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Clay under the eye.
Korneliusson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Clay counters with a nice low kick that buckles Korneliusson's knee momentarily.
Korneliusson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Korneliusson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Clay on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korneliusson connects with a crisp jab.
Clay lands a body shot.
Clay throws an overhand right that lands on Korneliusson's shoulder, as Korneliusson tries to avoid the shot.
Korneliusson missing with a left hand there. Clay was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Korneliusson misses with a hook.
Clay is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Clay lands with a good body shot.
Korneliusson misses with a hook. Clay ducked under it nicely.
A low kick lands for Clay.
Korneliusson just misses with a punch to the body.
Korneliusson misses with a combination
and Clay counters with an inside leg kick.
Korneliusson is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korneliusson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Korneliusson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Korneliusson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Clay. Clay obviously looking to wear him down.

Clay closes the distance and clinches.
Clay lands a nice uppercut.
Clay misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Korneliusson.
Clay tries to work over Korneliusson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Korneliusson tries to work over Clay's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Clay blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Korneliusson.
Korneliusson misses with the head strike.
Clay lands a left hand.
Clay scores with a shot to the side of Korneliusson's head.
Korneliusson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Clay tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Korneliusson avoids it.
Korneliusson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Clay lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Clay keeps control of Korneliusson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Clay missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Clay successfully pulls guard.

Clay is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Korneliusson defends well.
Korneliusson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Clay is on top in guard.

Korneliusson controlling Clay's posture.

Clay got a little sloppy there for a moment and Korneliusson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Clay has managed to get both his arms back between Korneliusson's legs - danger averted.
Clay trying to control the position from guard on top but Korneliusson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Clay is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korneliusson looking for a sweep. Not yet Korneliusson, not yet.
Korneliusson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Clay trying to control but Korneliusson is working from the bottom.
Clay tries to free his leg and advance position but Korneliusson is retaining full guard.
Korneliusson has Clay pulled in close to control his posture.
Clay tries to free his leg and advance position but Korneliusson is retaining full guard.
Clay must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Korneliusson pulls Clay in close to his closed guard and prevents Clay from doing any damage or advancing position.
Korneliusson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marcel Clay will probably get the nod.
That's time! Korneliusson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Korneliusson misses with a looping right.
Clay is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Clay fails to land with a series of punches.
Korneliusson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Benjamin Korneliusson has been cut.
Clay throws a hook but Korneliusson avoids it easily.
Korneliusson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Korneliusson 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.
Clay with the inside leg kick.

Clay has managed to clinch.
Clay working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Clay fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clay wants to stall.
Korneliusson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Clay trying to control the position but instead, Korneliusson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Clay into the cage.
Clay trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korneliusson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Korneliusson lands with a short shot to the head.
Korneliusson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Clay backwards.
Korneliusson misses with the head strike.
Clay is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Korneliusson is defending well for now.
A left hand lands to the body for Korneliusson.
Clay has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Korneliusson seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Clay can turn it around.
Korneliusson scores with a shot to the side of Clay's head.
Clay's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Clay tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Clay is breathing heavily.
A short left from Korneliusson.
Clay working aggressively here.
Clay prevents a body shot from Korneliusson.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Korneliusson.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Korneliusson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Clay throws a head punch that misses.
Clay can't find room to land a body shot as Korneliusson controls the action.
Clay lands an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Korneliusson prevents a body shot from Clay.
A shot in the inside from Korneliusson.
A short right from Korneliusson.
Clay tries a body shot but Korneliusson blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Korneliusson lands with a right to the head.
Korneliusson lands a shoulder strike.
Benjamin Korneliusson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Korneliusson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Korneliusson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Clay tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Korneliusson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Korneliusson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Korneliusson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Korneliusson presses Clay against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Clay prevents a body shot from Korneliusson.
Korneliusson scores with a shoulder strike.
Korneliusson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Korneliusson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Korneliusson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Korneliusson can't find room to land a body shot as Clay controls the action.
Korneliusson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Clay or not.
A short uppercut from Korneliusson.
Clay prevents a body shot from Korneliusson.
Korneliusson tries a body shot but Clay blocks it.
Clay blocks a body shot from Korneliusson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korneliusson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Korneliusson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Korneliusson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Korneliusson tries a body shot but Clay blocks it.
Korneliusson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Clay's elbow.

Clay breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Korneliusson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Clay shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sloppy strikes from Korneliusson. Those never looked like landing.
Korneliusson throws a nice looking combination but Clay bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Clay throws a counter combo.
Korneliusson misses with an uppercut.
Clay waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Korneliusson.
Korneliusson throws out a powerful jab.
A big left from Korneliusson misses.
Clay let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Korneliusson finds it's target.
Korneliusson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Clay stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Clay cracks Korneliusson with an open hand slap.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Clay takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Korneliusson throws a series of punches but Clay moves out of range.
Clay only half commits to the counter leg kick.
A shot to the body from Korneliusson misses
and Clay counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Clay scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Korneliusson doesn't seem bothered though.
Korneliusson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Korneliusson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Korneliusson throws a right hand that misses
and Clay makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Korneliusson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Benjamin Korneliusson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Clay scores with the left hand. Korneliusson knows he should have avoided that one.
Clay throws a nice inside leg kick.
Clay takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Clay tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Clay walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Korneliusson cracks a nice hook into Clay's ribs.
Korneliusson misses with a wild body shot.
Clay was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Korneliusson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Clay only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Benjamin Korneliusson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korneliusson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Clay attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Korneliusson swings for the body but Clay moves out of range.
It seemed like Clay was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korneliusson thuds a left hand into Clay's body.
Korneliusson lands the left hand.
Clay looks to score with a jab to the body but Korneliusson is just out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Korneliusson misses the target.
Sloppy strikes from Korneliusson. Those never looked like landing.
A swing and a miss from Clay.
It looked like Korneliusson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Korneliusson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Clay.
Korneliusson misses the jab.
Clay only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Clay ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Korneliusson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A slow jab from Korneliusson misses its intended target.
Korneliusson misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Korneliusson throws out the jab.
Clay is trying to counter with his kicks.
Korneliusson looks to land a left hand but Clay moved out of range nicely.
Clay replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Korneliusson blocks it well.
Korneliusson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Clay throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Clay moves out of range of the strikes.
Korneliusson wants to clinch.
Korneliusson wants to clinch but Clay slips to the side
and Clay connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Korneliusson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Clay.
Clay scores with a hook to the body. Korneliusson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Korneliusson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Clay staying out of range there.
It seemed like Clay was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Clay lands a nice shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Clay throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Korneliusson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Clay counters with a low kick, right behind Korneliusson 's knee.
Korneliusson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Korneliusson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Clay.
Clay misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clay fails in his attempt to clinch.
Korneliusson throws a body punch but Clay moves out of range.
Clay fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Korneliusson is out of range.
Clay will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Clay throws a body punch but Korneliusson moves out of range.
Clay on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Korneliusson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Clay doesn't seem bothered though.
Clay steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Korneliusson.
Korneliusson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Clay cracks Korneliusson with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Clay has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Korneliusson to stand back up!

Korneliusson is rocked!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marcel Clay.
I think Clay 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Marcel Clay!