PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Blikstein (ranked 6356 p4p, 549 weight class) and Archie Clay (ranked 3021 p4p, 350 weight class). Paulo Blikstein could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Archie Clay's chin.

Blikstein
vs
Clay

187 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
195 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paulo Blikstein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Archie Clay!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping leg kick lands for Clay.
Clay throws a quick inside leg kick.
Clay feints and then cracks Blikstein's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Blikstein down.
Clay throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Clay shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Archie Clay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blikstein throws a shot from downtown. Clay moves away and avoids it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Clay.
Clay looks to score with a jab to the body but Blikstein is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice straight punches there by Blikstein. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Blikstein.
Blikstein displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Clay.
Blikstein tries to counter by clinching up but Clay breaks away and moves out of range.
Clay scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Paulo Blikstein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Archie Clay.
Clay throws a leg kick that misses.

Blikstein has Clay up against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Blikstein softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Clay pulls guard effortlessly.
Blikstein is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Blikstein with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blikstein in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Blikstein throws an elbow that misses. Clay uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Blikstein's guard. Nice move by Clay!

Blikstein tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clay loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Clay pushes down on Blikstein's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Blikstein avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Clay.
Clay slows the pace down in half guard.
Blikstein is trying to control but can't.
Blikstein is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Clay scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clay seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Blikstein does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Clay working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Blikstein knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Clay on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein wants to improve his position but Clay is controlling well.
Clay wants to take a breather but Blikstein is having none of it.
Clay working the head and body with strikes.
Clay drops an elbow to the side of Blikstein's head.
Clay wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blikstein keeps working.
Blikstein is controlling Clay's trapped leg to prevent Clay from advancing to side control.

Clay is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Clay missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Clay scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Blikstein looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Clay.

Clay is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Clay is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Clay prevents Blikstein from improving his position.
Clay is trying to control the action in half guard but Blikstein is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Clay is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clay has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Clay scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Archie Clay dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Clay misses with a takedown
and Blikstein counters with a series of strikes. Clay will be more careful next time no doubt.
Clay thumps Blikstein with a low kick.
Clay feints and then cracks Blikstein's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Blikstein down.
Clay closes the distance looking to clinch
and Blikstein counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Clay is rocked!
Clay throws a solid leg kick but Blikstein takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Clay.
Blikstein swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clay tries for a takedown but Blikstein circles away easily
and Blikstein counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blikstein tries to clinch up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Clay is defended easily by Blikstein.
Paulo Blikstein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Archie Clay.

Clay gets a double leg takedown into Blikstein's guard.
Blikstein on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Blikstein tries to get out of the position.
Blikstein is trying to control the position but Clay postures up.
Archie Clay has got the better of the ground game so far.
Clay wants to control from the top but Blikstein keeps moving.
Clay throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blikstein works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Blikstein looking for a guillotine here but Clay defends easily.
Clay wants to control from the top but Blikstein keeps moving.
Clay seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clay stands and throws Blikstein's legs to the side, diving into side control.
An elbow from Clay crashes against the mat.
Clay scoring with punches and elbows.
Clay blocks the strikes from Blikstein.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay wants to control but Blikstein is keeping him busy.
Clay working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Blikstein on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Clay is chipping away with strikes.
Clay has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blikstein is not content to let Clay control the position.
Blikstein dodges the ground and pound from Clay.
Clay wants to control but Blikstein is keeping him busy.
Sloppy strikes there by Clay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
What's Blikstein going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Blikstein looking for a sweep but Clay has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Clay lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Clay fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Clay controlling from the full mount.
Clay landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clay putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Clay lands a big shot there that rocks Blikstein but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blikstein is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Archie Clay showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Clay shoots in for a takedown but Blikstein shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Clay fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Blikstein uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Clay.
Clay throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Blikstein counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Clay connects with a nice looking jab.
A shot to the body from Clay misses
letting Blikstein counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blikstein fails to land with a series of punches.

Clay moves into the clinch.
Clay is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Paulo Blikstein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Archie Clay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blikstein scores with a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Blikstein.
Blikstein working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Blikstein leaning against his opponent.
Clay misses with the head strike.
Blikstein content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Blikstein breaks the clinch.
Clay displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Blikstein throws out the jab.
Clay shoots in for a takedown but Blikstein shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Blikstein throws a lazy right hand but Clay sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Clay only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Clay looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay scores with a shot to the body.
Clay walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Blikstein checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Clay uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Blikstein.
Clay looks for a takedown but Blikstein sprawls well.
Blikstein is looking to counter punch.
Clay motions for Blikstein to come forward. Clay throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Blikstein tries to sprawl but Clay drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blikstein is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay is trying to control. Blikstein wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Clay is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Blikstein sees it coming and defends easily.
Blikstein wants to control but Clay is keeping busy.

Clay seems to be looking for submissions.
Archie Clay is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Clay is trying to control the action in half guard but Blikstein is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Blikstein desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Blikstein is trying to get back to full guard.

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.
Clay is trying to control. Blikstein wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Blikstein is in trouble now - Clay has advanced to mount!
Blikstein is squirming around, avoiding Clay's attempts to control the action.
Clay controlling from the full mount.
Blikstein wants to hold on but Clay pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clay scoring with strikes but Blikstein is staying in there.
Paulo Blikstein has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clay trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paulo Blikstein.
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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Archie Clay!