PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ezekiel Ithamar (ranked 2960 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Clay (ranked 3389 p4p, 0 weight class). Clay has chosen Believe as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Ezekiel Ithamar has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ithamar
vs
Clay

176 cm
31
145 lbs
24 - 7 - 0

170 cm
29
146 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ezekiel Ithamar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andre Clay!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clay looks to land a combination but Ithamar avoids it well.
Clay ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Clay moves away from the strike by Ithamar.
Clay tries to counter by closing the distance.

Clay scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ithamar is trying to control Clay's posture but Clay avoids it.

Clay working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Clay creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Clay has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Clay throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Clay trying to control the action but Ithamar is working from the bottom.
Clay grinds an elbow into Ithamar's temple.
Ithamar tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ithamar takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clay working away.
Ithamar is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clay working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ithamar tries to improve position but can't.
Ithamar is not content to let Clay control the position.
Clay working the ground and pound.
Clay works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Clay working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ithamar takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Ithamar tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Clay wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ithamar, who protects the arm well.
Ithamar is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar manages to get back to half guard.

Ithamar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Clay looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Clay scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Clay is keen to just control but Ithamar is a slippery customer.
Ithamar moves into full guard.
Clay is in close to Ithamar's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clay wants to control from the top but Ithamar keeps moving.
Clay working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Clay makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Clay is in close to Ithamar's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Clay avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Clay tries to free his leg and advance position but Ithamar is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ithamar working a defensive guard here.
Clay lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Clay avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Clay is posturing up here but Ithamar has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Clay tries to roll out but it's too tight and Clay has to tap! Slick submission there by Ithamar!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ezekiel Ithamar!
Ezekiel Ithamar was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.