PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between james konicke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Clapton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). konicke comes to the cage accompanied by Can't Be Touched. On his way into the cage it seems that james konicke has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily james konicke seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

konicke
vs
Clapton

195 cm
22
210 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

182 cm
23
220 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, james konicke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eric Clapton!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clapton shoots for a takedown but konicke saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
konicke leaves Clapton with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
konicke jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Clapton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
konicke is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Clapton off and has taken his back!
Clapton is in bad spot here.
Clapton avoids the strikes from konicke.
konicke will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Clapton is taking damage to the body and head.
Clapton rolls, trying to escape but konicke keeps control of the position.
konicke is trying to stick to Clapton's back but Clapton is turning into konicke. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in konicke's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Clapton.

Clapton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

konicke looking for a guillotine here but Clapton defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
konicke trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Clapton trying to control the position from guard on top but konicke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
konicke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
konicke is trying to keep Clapton in close.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
konicke closes the distance and clinches up with Clapton, looking for a takedown. konicke pushes Clapton against the cage but Clapton circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from konicke. No joy for Clapton on that attempt.
james konicke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Clapton.

Clapton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
konicke is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Clapton's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
konicke regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
konicke throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Clapton trying to control the position from guard on top but konicke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clapton stands and throws konicke's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Clapton tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
konicke is not content to let Clapton control the position.

Clapton tries for a kimura but konicke is defending well.
Clapton looks gassed!
konicke parries the strikes from Clapton easily there. Clapton is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable konicke to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
konicke is looking to regain half guard here but Clapton keeps moving and retains side control.
konicke takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
konicke is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
konicke is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Clapton off and has taken his back!
konicke lands strikes to the head.
konicke doesn't have the hooks in and Clapton manages to turn into his guard.

Clapton stands and steps away. konicke gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Clapton tries to close the distance and clinch but konicke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Clapton tries for a takedown but konicke circles away easily

and konicke holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clapton has konicke pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. konicke manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
konicke is trying to break the clinch but Clapton has him pressed against the cage.
Clapton has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. konicke avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

konicke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Clapton tries to clinch but konicke moves away

and konicke counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Clapton trying to control but konicke postures up.
konicke wants to control but Clapton is keeping him busy.
Clapton tries to get to full guard but konicke has control of the leg.
Clapton wants to control but konicke is keeping busy and won't allow it.

konicke is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clapton trying to control but konicke postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

james konicke dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A kick lands to the mid section there for konicke.
konicke shoots in and drives through. Clapton sprawls well.
Clapton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
konicke throws a head kick that misses.
konicke throws a front kick aimed at Clapton's knee but Clapton avoids it well.
Eric Clapton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

konicke moves into range and clinches up with Clapton.
konicke wants a takedown but no success here.
Clapton is trying to work for a single leg takedown but konicke pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Clapton tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. konicke smiles and moves away.
Clapton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and konicke counters with a nice double leg into side control. Clapton won't be happy with that.
james konicke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Clapton.
konicke is looking to take a break and control but Clapton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Clapton is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on konicke's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
konicke lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
konicke not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
konicke missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
konicke wants to free his trapped foot but Clapton is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Clapton wants to get back to his feet.
Clapton controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Clapton works his way to full guard. Good work.
Clapton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Clapton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Clapton seems keen to control konicke's posture.
Clapton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from konicke.
konicke is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Clapton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Clapton has control of konicke's left arm, preventing konicke from doing any damage.
Clapton trying to control the position.
konicke is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
konicke looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clapton looking for a sweep. Not yet Clapton, not yet.
konicke lands a couple of elbows.
Clapton is trying to keep konicke in close.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Clapton tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and konicke counters by moving into the clinch.
Clapton drops down looking for an ankle pick but konicke pulls his leg out and moves away.
konicke is looking to score with low kicks.
konicke misses with a jab, cross combination.
konicke tries to move into range but Clapton moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Clapton blocks a head kick by konicke.
Clapton checks the leg kick.
konicke looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Clapton fails with the takedown
and konicke counters with a head kick.

konicke shoots in and bounces Clapton off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Clapton has his foot on konicke's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. konicke works his way back into a safe position though.
konicke lands a couple of digs.
Clapton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Clapton looking to hit a scissor sweep but konicke is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

james konicke dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Clapton stuffs the takedown.

Clapton moves into range and clinches up with konicke.
konicke wants a takedown.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as konicke takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Clapton gets a trip takedown into half guard.
konicke is trying to control but can't.
Clapton looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
konicke is trying to maintain the position but Clapton is very close to passing his half guard.
konicke punching from the bottom.
Clapton uses his free foot to push down on konicke's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for konicke.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Clapton is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. konicke can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clapton working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
konicke really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Clapton throwing strikes here but konicke is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Clapton avoids the attempt from konicke to control.
Clapton looking to control but konicke is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
konicke tries to reverse the position but Clapton maintains control.
konicke in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
konicke is squirming around, avoiding Clapton's attempts to control the action.
Clapton dominating with strikes here.
konicke keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
konicke sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
konicke avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Clapton.
Clapton is pressing down on konicke's thigh, looking to free his foot. konicke is holding on for now.
konicke is trying to get back to full guard.
konicke is working hard here to advance position.
konicke trying to hold on to Clapton's head to control him but Clapton postures up.
james konicke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
konicke is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
konicke is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Clapton's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Clapton's back!
Clapton turns into konicke and is now in his guard.
Clapton working some strikes from top position.
konicke tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clapton sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed konicke's guard.

Clapton is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
james konicke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
konicke keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Eric Clapton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
konicke trying to control here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Clapton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well konicke has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... james konicke!