PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Phelps (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franklin Clinton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franklin Clinton will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Phelps
vs
Clinton

196 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

198 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, George Phelps!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Franklin Clinton!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clinton circles away from the clinch attempt

and Clinton holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Phelps wants to take the fight to the mat but Clinton manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Phelps successfully pulls guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Phelps wants to stand but Clinton is controlling the position.
Clinton trying to control but Phelps is working from the bottom.
Clinton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Phelps. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Clinton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phelps is keeping the position for now.
Phelps utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Clinton trying to control but Phelps is working from the bottom.

Clinton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Phelps looking to hit a scissor sweep but Clinton is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phelps thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phelps lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Clinton!
Phelps can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Clinton is looking to escape.
Clinton regains half guard.
Phelps prevents Clinton from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clinton manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Phelps looks to score with a jab to the body but Clinton is just out of range.
Clinton looks to land a combination but Phelps avoids it well.
Clinton fails with the takedown
and Phelps counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
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!
Phelps throws a hook but Clinton avoids it easily.
A big left from Phelps misses.
Clinton wants to clinch.
Phelps fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phelps slaps away a takedown attempt from Clinton, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Phelps fails in his attempt to clinch.
Phelps stuffs the takedown attempt from Clinton. Clinton gets slowly back to his feet.
George Phelps has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franklin Clinton.
Phelps avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Clinton doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Phelps counters by moving into the clinch.
Phelps tries to pull guard but Clinton holds him up against the cage and eventually Phelps drops back down to his feet.

Phelps lands a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Clinton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Clinton looks winded!
Phelps is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Clinton wants to control but Phelps passes easily into half guard.

Phelps is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Clinton has managed to free his arm - good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
It looks like Phelps is going to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Phelps dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Clinton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Phelps could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Clinton tries to clinch up but Phelps circles away and keeps his distance.
Phelps connects with the punch.

Clinton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Phelps, pushing him back against the cage.
Clinton is trying to break the clinch but Phelps is controlling him.
Clinton stalling in the clinch but Phelps improves position.
Phelps throws a punch but it's blocked by Clinton.
Clinton wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Clinton is trying to pull guard but Phelps turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Clinton stops a takedown attempt from Phelps.
Phelps tries to pull guard but Clinton holds him up against the cage and eventually Phelps drops back down to his feet.
Clinton wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Phelps has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clinton keeps control of Phelps as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Phelps can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Phelps. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Phelps gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Clinton regains guard.

Phelps drops back looking for a leg! Clinton is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Clinton manages to kick Phelps off! Phelps jumps back into Clinton's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Clinton is on top in guard.
Clinton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Phelps will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phelps trying to strike off his back.
Phelps looking for a sweep. Not yet Phelps, not yet.
Clinton trying to control the position from guard on top but Phelps is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clinton tries to free his leg and advance position but Phelps is retaining full guard.
Clinton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Phelps looking for a guillotine here but Clinton defends easily.
Phelps tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clinton wants to control from the top but Phelps keeps moving.
Phelps wants to stand and escape but Clinton is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phelps looking for a sweep. Not yet Phelps, not yet.

Clinton stands and steps away. Phelps gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Phelps is looking to clinch.
Clinton shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Phelps defends it nicely.
Clinton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Phelps has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Phelps tries to clinch up but Clinton circles away and keeps his distance.
Clinton closes this distance looking for a takedown but Phelps circles away.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clinton trying to control the position but instead, Phelps has worked for underhooks and has pushed Clinton into the cage.
Phelps lands a hook that snaps the head of Clinton backwards.
Clinton stalling in the clinch but Phelps improves position.

Phelps breaks the clinch.
Clinton shoots for a takedown but Phelps saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Clinton keeps the fight on the outside.

Phelps drives through and clinches with Clinton against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Phelps breaks from the clinch.
Phelps is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
George Phelps is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Clinton swats away the attempt to clinch by Phelps.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Phelps dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Phelps throws a poor cross that misses

and Clinton counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Clinton.
Clinton is pressed up against the cage. Phelps has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Clinton down to the mat. Clinton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Clinton shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Phelps counters by clinching up.

Phelps pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Clinton scores with a jab to the body.
Clinton has his takedown stuffed
and Phelps counters with a head kick.
Clinton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Phelps pinned against the cage. Phelps gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
George Phelps has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franklin Clinton.
No joy there for Phelps, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Clinton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phelps fails with an attempt to clinch.
Clinton keeps the fight on the outside.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clinton.
Nice sprawl there from Phelps as Clinton shoots in.
A punch lands to the side of Phelps 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A jab lands there for Clinton.
Phelps doesn't manage to clinch there - Clinton circles away.
Clinton fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Phelps looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Clinton tries to clinch but Phelps is having none of it.
Phelps tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Clinton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
George Phelps is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Clinton drops his hands momentarily and Phelps takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Clinton throws a combination. Phelps tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Clinton doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Phelps counters with a single leg into guard. Clinton didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phelps gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Clinton keeps the fight on the outside.

Phelps moves into the clinch.
Phelps can't get the takedown.

Phelps has picked Clinton up - he's going for a ride! Phelps dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Clinton strikes from the bottom but Phelps uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Phelps trying to control the position but Clinton is working away.

Phelps tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Phelps is trying to get an arm triangle but Clinton is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

Phelps decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clinton shoots in and drives through. Phelps sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Phelps showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Phelps 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Phelps!