PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fred Claus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raf Gon DIas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Claus
vs
Gon DIas

172 cm
22
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
177 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fred Claus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Raf Gon DIas!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Hugh Johnson and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gon DIas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gon DIas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Claus throws a body punch but Gon DIas moves out of range.

Claus closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Claus thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gon DIas takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The ground and pound from Claus seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gon DIas avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Claus.
Claus in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Claus working the ground and pound but Gon DIas is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claus looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gon DIas is avoiding damage well.
Gon DIas can't do much from the bottom here.
Claus tries to score with some ground and pound. Gon DIas controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Claus fails to land a wild elbow strike.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gon DIas swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Claus counters with a shoot takedown. Gon DIas fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Claus wants to control from the top but Gon DIas keeps moving.
Gon DIas working a defensive guard here.
Claus sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gon DIas's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claus throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Claus is trying to work for a kimura but Gon DIas is defending well.
Gon DIas is trying to get back to full guard.

Claus is working for a submission of some sort.

Claus is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gon DIas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Claus is trying to control the action in half guard but Gon DIas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gon DIas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Claus. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Claus is really struggling to control Gon DIas but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Claus on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gon DIas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gon DIas thows a body shot but no joy.
Gon DIas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gon DIas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Claus misses with a looping left.
A swing and a miss from Claus.
Gon DIas with a poor takedown

and Claus counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Claus is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gon DIas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Claus.

Claus is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gon DIas is just riding it out for now. Claus eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Claus 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.

Gon DIas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Claus counters with a series of strikes. Gon DIas will be more careful next time no doubt.

Claus gets the takedown into side control.
Gon DIas is not content to let Claus control the position.
Claus is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gon DIas is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Claus in side control, throwing shots but Gon DIas defends.
Claus sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gon DIas is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Claus tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Claus has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claus misses with the ground and pound.
Claus laying and praying for a moment but Gon DIas takes advantage and regains half guard.

Claus looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Claus controlling the action 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.
Claus wants to take a breather but Gon DIas is having none of it.

Claus is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gon DIas defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Claus is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gon DIas wants to control but Claus is keeping busy.

Claus is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gon DIas defends it well.
Gon DIas trying to control but Claus postures up.

That's four 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.
Gon DIas wants to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gon DIas throws a body punch but Claus moves out of range.
Gon DIas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fred Claus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gon DIas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Claus circles away quickly and effectively.
Gon DIas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gon DIas tries for a takedown but Claus circles away easily

so Claus counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gon DIas is breathing heavily.
Gon DIas can't keep his opponent in guard - Claus advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Claus wants to control but Gon DIas is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Claus dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Claus lands with a straight right. Gon DIas didn't see that one coming.
Claus misses with a looping right.
Claus will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gon DIas darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gon DIas throws a jab but it's blocked by Claus.
Claus uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gon DIas.
Gon DIas blocks a jab.
Gon DIas wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Claus could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Claus doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Gon DIas is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Claus rather than just go for the knockout.
Gon DIas scores with a hook to the body. Claus takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gon DIas closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Fred Claus has been cut.
Gon DIas works Claus's body with a nice hook.
Gon DIas misses with a few strikes there.
A jab from Gon DIas misses.
Claus takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gon DIas closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gon DIas wants to clinch

and Claus counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Claus.
Claus trying to control but Gon DIas is working from the bottom.
Claus is pushing down on Gon DIas's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gon DIas is fighting to maintain full guard but Claus has managed to sneak the leg through.

Claus is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gon DIas sees it coming and defends easily.

Gon DIas is defending against the submission attempts here by Claus.
Claus is keen to just control but Gon DIas is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Claus looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Claus wants to control but Gon DIas is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Claus seems to be looking for submissions.
Claus is keen to just control but Gon DIas is a slippery customer.
Claus missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Claus defending well as Gon DIas loads up on a big left hand.
Fred Claus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gon DIas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Claus circles away quickly and effectively.
Claus throws a body punch but Gon DIas moves out of range.
A jab from Gon DIas does it's job there.
Gon DIas throws a jab but it's blocked by Claus.
Claus showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gon DIas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Claus throws a body punch but Gon DIas moves out of range.
Gon DIas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Claus sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gon DIas throws a looping overhand right but Claus ducks down to avoid it.
Gon DIas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gon DIas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gon DIas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Claus throws out a powerful jab.
Gon DIas misses with a low kick.
Claus avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gon DIas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Claus throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gon DIas falls off balance throwing a combination
and Claus counters with a stiff right hand.
Raf Gon DIas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gon DIas walks into a left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raf Gon DIas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Claus 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fred Claus!