PBP Commentary

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

Rice
vs
French

200 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brown Rice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Clay French!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
French throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
French getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
French ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Good exchange - French coming out on top.
French misses with a hook. Rice ducked under it nicely.
Rice shoots in but French avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rice misses with a looping right.
Rice has a takedown stuffed.
Rice has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brown Rice. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rice shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in French's guard.
French manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rice manages to get himself to full guard.

Rice has his foot on French's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. French works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

French thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
French trying to control but Rice is working from the bottom.
French must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

French thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice pulls French in close to prevent any damage.

Rice looking for a guillotine here but French defends easily.
French passes into half guard.

French is trying to work for a kimura but Rice is defending well.
Rice tries to roll over but French keeps him under control.
French is trying to control. Rice wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rice works his way to full guard. Good work.
French pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rice is keeping the position for now.

Rice has an active guard here but French has managed to pass into half guard.
Rice is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rice moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

French is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rice is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rice has escaped and now he's on top!
Rice is looking to advance position but French has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French prevents Rice from getting the reversal.

French goes for an armbar but Rice turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rice.

Rice drops back, looking for a kneebar! French looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. French looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from French!
Rice is breathing heavily.
Rice tries to bench press French off him but French keeps the position.
Rice wants to control but French postures up.
Rice stops French from passing to mount.
Rice tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

French is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rice has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rice tries to control but French manages to take his back.
French wants to control but Rice is keeping busy.

Rice is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Rice tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
French avoids the attempt from Rice to control.
Rice is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

French is working for a guillotine from mount but Rice frees his head quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clay French dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

French fails to land with a series of punches.
French tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rice paws at him with a jab and circles away.
French moves in looking to clinch but Rice pushes him off.
Rice misses with the combination.

French moves into the clinch.
Rice tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rice tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A frustrated look appears on French's face as he tries to break the clinch.

French breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French scores with a jab to the head.
Rice shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brown Rice. That's going to take a lot out of him.

French gets a clinch.
Rice stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Rice's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
French fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rice fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
French cracks Rice with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rice shoots in for a double leg but French sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

French cracks Rice with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. French has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Rice to stand back up!

Rice is rocked!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
French is looking to clinch.
Oh Rice is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

French moves into the clinch.
French is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on French's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rice seems to have got his legs back now.
Rice tries to pull guard but French won't allow it.
French tries to break the clinch but Rice is controlling the position.
Rice tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. French just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice misses with a hook to the ribs.
French tries to break the clinch but Rice is controlling the position.

Rice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Brown Rice is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rice closes the distance and clinches up with French, looking for a takedown. Rice pushes French against the cage but French circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rice takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Rice shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in French's guard.
Rice trying to control but French is working from the bottom.

Rice avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
French wants to sweep here but Rice controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rice drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rice jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

French is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

French escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rice gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rice postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! French is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rice, into his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rice is looking for a triangle here but French uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clay French showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rice's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

French throws a good cross that connects.
French keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rice.
French scores with a jab to the head.
French throws a good cross that connects.
French throws a series of punches but Rice avoids them all with ease.
Rice misses with the combination.

French lands a big uppercut and Rice crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Rice looks OK. French waves Rice back to his feet!
French cracks Rice with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Rice tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but French pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Rice is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Clay French!