PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Demian Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Clayman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Demian Phoenix is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Phoenix
vs
Clayman

183 cm
22
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Demian Phoenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Clayman!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Clayman shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Clayman showed some decent athleticism there.
Clayman controlling the pace.
Clayman throws a strike but Phoenix avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Phoenix is trying to control the position but Clayman postures up.
Clayman with a nice head shot there.
Clayman trying to control the position from guard on top but Phoenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phoenix is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Clayman trying to control the position from guard on top but Phoenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clayman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Phoenix works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Clayman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Clayman trying to control but Phoenix is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Phoenix tries for a takedown but Clayman circles away easily

and Clayman counters with a shoot takedown. Phoenix fights it but they end up in guard.
Clayman trying to control the position from guard on top but Phoenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clayman postures up and lands a big shot to Phoenix's brow.
Phoenix avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Clayman is working Phoenix over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Clayman passes Phoenix's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Clayman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Phoenix defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phoenix is breathing heavily.
Clayman perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clayman lands with a punch from half guard.
Clayman wants to control but Phoenix is keeping him busy.
Clayman working Phoenix over with strikes.
Clayman blocks the strikes from Phoenix.
Clayman looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Clayman with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Phoenix is trying is best to control the position here.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Clayman has eaten all the pies!
Clayman is keen to just control but Phoenix is a slippery customer.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix trying to control here.
Phoenix has hold of Clayman's hands but Clayman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Phoenix slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Clayman wants to pass the guard but Phoenix is keeping the position.
Phoenix wants to sweep but no luck.
Clayman working some strikes from top position.
Phoenix controls Clayman momentarily but Clayman frees himself.

Phoenix looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Clayman scoring with some ground and pound.
Phoenix trying to keep a closed guard but Clayman is proving a slippery customer.
Clayman keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Phoenix's head.
Clayman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Clayman trying to control the position from guard on top but Phoenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clayman content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Clayman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Clayman trying to control but Phoenix is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Clayman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Clayman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Clayman preventing the sweep.
Phoenix avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Phoenix is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Clayman postures up.
Phoenix keeping moving, preventing Clayman from controlling successfully.
Clayman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clayman trying to control the position from guard on top but Phoenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Phoenix gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayman stands up over Phoenix, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Phoenix not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Clayman throws a strike but Phoenix rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Phoenix drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Clayman dives on top into guard.
Phoenix will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Clayman passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Clayman looks up at the clock and then as Phoenix takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Clayman smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clayman scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Phoenix to see if he's OK.
Clayman lands a decent elbow from side control.
Phoenix is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Clayman landing strikes.
Phoenix is working to avoid the ground and pound but Clayman connects with a decent elbow.
Clayman trying to control the position but Phoenix is working away.
Clayman in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Clayman tries to move to mount but Phoenix blocks the move with his legs.
Clayman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Phoenix keeps working.

Clayman is trying to get an arm triangle but Phoenix is defending well.
Phoenix tries to bench press Clayman off him but Clayman keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clayman is putting a hurting on Phoenix here, landing some big shots from side control.
Clayman is looking to take a break and control but Phoenix is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Phoenix takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Clayman tries to advance to mount but Phoenix denies him.
Phoenix is looking for a sweep.
Clayman working the ground and pound.
Phoenix takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Clayman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Phoenix keeps working.
Clayman moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Phoenix is looking for a sweep.

Clayman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Phoenix, who protects the arm well.
Phoenix tries to buck Clayman off but Clayman is having none of it.
Phoenix gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Clayman trying to control but Phoenix is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Clayman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Clayman scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Phoenix makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Phoenix.
Clayman wants to control from the top but Phoenix keeps moving.
Clayman slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Clayman working the head with strikes.
Phoenix tries to improve position but can't.
Phoenix takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayman trying to control the position but Phoenix is working away.
Clayman is putting a hurting on Phoenix here, landing some big shots from side control.
Clayman working the body and head with strikes.

Clayman is trying to get an arm triangle but Phoenix is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clayman tries to advance to mount but can't.
Phoenix taking a bit of punishment here - Clayman scoring with strikes.
Clayman lands a nice forearm strike.
Clayman working the head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Phoenix wants to control but Clayman is keeping busy.

Clayman is looking for a kimura here.
Mike Clayman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Phoenix is concentrating on defense, preventing Clayman from advancing position.
Clayman scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Clayman lands strikes from half guard.

Phoenix is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Clayman pulls his head out easily.
Clayman seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix tries to roll over but Clayman keeps him under control.

Clayman wants to work for an arm triangle but Phoenix is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Clayman working over Phoenix with some ground and pound. Phoenix looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Clayman takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Clayman tries to pass to full mount but Phoenix defends it.
Clayman trying to control from half guard but Phoenix is working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Phoenix.
Phoenix doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Clayman counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix can't do much from the bottom here.
Clayman wants to control but Phoenix is keeping him busy.
Clayman scoring with punches and elbows.

Clayman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Phoenix, who protects the arm well.

Clayman thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Demian Phoenix has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Clayman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Clayman throws an elbow but Phoenix slips to the side and avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Clayman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Clayman winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Clayman!