PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Clarke (ranked 3669 p4p, 2951 weight class) and Rodrigo Duterte (ranked 420 p4p, 349 weight class). Clarke comes to the cage accompanied by One Cent, Five Cent, Ten Cent, Dollar - Soca Boys. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Clarke
vs
Duterte

185 cm
30
275
9 - 8 - 0

195 cm
25
270
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Granite 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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Clarke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rodrigo Duterte!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clarke takes one to the chin there.
Clarke throws a series of punches but Duterte moves out of range.
Duterte is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Clarke with a body shot.
Duterte has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Duterte closes the distance and clinches.

Duterte escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Duterte darts in and clinches Clarke up against the cage.
Clarke has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Duterte after a bit of a struggle.
Duterte prevents a takedown attempt there.
Clarke takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Mark Clarke has been cut.
Duterte is pressed up against the cage. Clarke has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Duterte down to the mat. Duterte avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Clarke. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Duterte moves into the clinch successfully.
Clarke changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Duterte fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Clarke looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
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!
Duterte controls Clarke momentarily but Clarke frees himself.
Duterte can't keep his opponent in guard - Clarke advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Duterte is looking for a sweep. Clarke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarke working Duterte over with strikes.
Clarke working the head and body with strikes.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Clarke connects with a nice short shot to Duterte's temple.
Clarke throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Clarke is controlling the pace.
Clarke working over Duterte with some ground and pound. Duterte looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Clarke is thwarting Duterte's attempts to control the position.
Clarke trying to control the action but Duterte is working from the bottom.
Clarke working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarke wants to control but Duterte is keeping him busy.
Clarke is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Duterte is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Clarke has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Duterte is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Clarke scores with a couple of nice shots.
Clarke drops an elbow to the side of Duterte's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duterte moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Duterte is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Duterte looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Clarke passes into half guard.

Duterte looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Clarke trying to control the action but Duterte is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duterte looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Clarke.
Duterte is looking to improve his position.
Clarke wants to take a breather but Duterte is having none of it.
Duterte is looking to improve his position.
Clarke working Duterte over with strikes.
Duterte trying to control but Clarke postures up.
Clarke slips a nice elbow through Duterte's hands, connecting with Duterte's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarke looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Clarke takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Duterte is staying active underneath Clarke, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Clarke with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Duterte moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Clarke makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Duterte working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Clarke doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Clarke manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Clarke scoring with some ground and pound.
Clarke wants to control from the top but Duterte keeps moving.
Clarke advances position into side control!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Clarke dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Clarke's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Clarke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Duterte looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Clarke tries a head kick but it misses.

Duterte fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Clarke, pushing him back against the cage.
Clarke wants to take the fight to the mat but Duterte manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Duterte prevents a takedown attempt there.

Duterte pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Clarke gets a double leg takedown into Duterte's guard.

Clarke got a little sloppy there for a moment and Duterte has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Clarke has managed to get both his arms back between Duterte's legs - danger averted.
Duterte lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Duterte working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Clarke is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Duterte can do to turn this around?
Duterte stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Clarke swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duterte wants to control from the top but Clarke keeps moving.
Clarke wants to sweep here but Duterte controlling him for the moment.
Duterte stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Clarke swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mark Clarke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Clarke is trying to keep Duterte in close.
Duterte throwing strikes from guard but Clarke blocks nicely.
Clarke keeping moving, preventing Duterte from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Duterte won't allow Clarke to sweep him here.
Clarke bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Duterte's guard.

Duterte wants to sweep here but Clarke controlling him for the moment.
Duterte keeping moving, preventing Clarke from controlling successfully.
Clarke stays in close to Duterte's body and controls the position.
Duterte pulls Clarke in close to prevent any damage.

Duterte throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duterte controls Clarke momentarily but Clarke frees himself.
Clarke chips away with some ground and pound.
Clarke works over Duterte with some ground and pound from guard.
Clarke lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Duterte looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Duterte wants to hit a sweep here but Clarke passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Duterte there!
Duterte takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Clarke putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarke scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Clarke lands a big elbow.
Duterte is in all sorts of trouble here.
Duterte wants to hold on but Clarke pushes him away.
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!
Clarke punishing his opponent with strikes.
Duterte is trying to escape the mount.
Clarke landing punches.
Clarke working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Duterte is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Clarke lands a couple of good shots and Duterte has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Duterte tries to roll but Clarke sticks to his back.
Clarke throwing damaging strikes from the back! Duterte could be in trouble here!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Clarke dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mark Clarke's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Clarke swings for the body but Duterte moves out of range.
Clarke tries a head kick but it misses.
Duterte tries to clinch but Clarke moves out of range.
Clarke misses with a takedown attempt - Duterte sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Clarke takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Clarke swinging wildly here.
Rodrigo Duterte seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A swing and a miss from Clarke.
Clarke has his takedown stuffed
and Duterte counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duterte avoids the head kick by Clarke.
Duterte fails in his attempt to clinch.

Duterte clinches.
Duterte with a knee to the head.

Duterte manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duterte tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Clarke manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Duterte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Duterte scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Duterte looks to clinch

and Clarke counters with a takedown into side control.
Duterte tries to bench press Clarke off him but Clarke keeps the position.
Duterte can't do much from the bottom here.
Clarke landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Clarke scores with a couple of short elbows.
Clarke wants to control but Duterte is keeping him busy.
Duterte on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Mark Clarke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Duterte wants to control but Clarke postures up.
Clarke controls the position from side control.
Duterte tries to improve position but can't.
Clarke controls the position from side control.
Clarke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Duterte keeps working.
Duterte wants to control but Clarke postures up.
Clarke is looking to take a break and control but Duterte is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Clarke staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke trying to control the position but Duterte is working away.
Duterte is being controlled here.
Duterte is looking for a sweep.
Clarke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Duterte keeps working.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Clarke controlling the position from side mount.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Duterte tries a head kick but it misses.
Clarke attempts a counter takedown but Duterte avoids it well and moves away.

Duterte moves into range and clinches up with Clarke.
Duterte is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Duterte lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Duterte breaks the clinch.
Clarke rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Duterte moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Some wild striking there from Duterte.
Clarke appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Duterte dips to his left and cracks Clarke with an uppercut!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rodrigo Duterte.
I think Clarke 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Clarke!
A less than humble Mark Clarke misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
Rodrigo Duterte was interviewed post fight and said 'Don't worry I will be back!!'.