PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niko Clooten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eisenstein Priestley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Clooten
vs
Priestley

190 cm
22
222 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
200 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Niko Clooten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Eisenstein Priestley!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Priestley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Clooten.
Clooten jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Priestley avoids the head kick by Clooten.
Priestley throws a series of punches but Clooten avoids them all with ease.
A solid body kick from Clooten.
Priestley moves out of range of the body kick.
Donk. Priestley catches Clooten right on the button with a cross.
Clooten tries to close the distance and clinch up but Priestley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Clooten checks a low kick from Priestley.
Donk. Priestley catches Clooten right on the button with a cross.
Clooten slips a jab and a cross from Priestley.
Priestley throws a shot to the body.
Priestley showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Clooten.
Priestley looks for the body kick but Clooten saw that one coming.
Priestley lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Clooten circles away quickly and effectively.
Priestley throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clooten slips under a jab from Priestley.
Priestley throws a left and a right that both miss

and Clooten counters by clinching up.
Clooten looking to slow down the pace here.
Priestley with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Priestley tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Clooten avoids it.
Priestley slows down the pace here.
Priestley creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Clooten lands a body shot.
Priestley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Priestley lands a nice elbow.

Clooten has Priestley pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Clooten pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Priestley tumbling to the mat - Clooten dives into Priestley's guard.
Clooten is looking to work some ground and pound but Priestley has wrist control.
Priestley is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clooten missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Clooten throwing strikes from guard but Priestley blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clooten with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clooten throws and elbow that misses. Priestley uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Clooten's guard. Nice move by Priestley!
Priestley wants to get up but he can't break Clooten's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Clooten throws a head kick that misses.
Priestley jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Clooten pushes Priestley away with a front kick.
Priestley tries a head kick but it misses.
Priestley misses with a kick to the body
and Clooten counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Priestley thinking.
Clooten checks a leg kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Priestley cracks Clooten with an open hand slap.
Priestley looks to throw a body kick
and Clooten counters with a body kick that stops Priestley in his tracks momentarily.
Priestley looks gassed!
Clooten connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Priestley's hands.
Clooten throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Priestley.
Clooten scores with a crisp jab that stopped Priestley in his tracks.
Clooten showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Priestley.
Priestley uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Clooten.
Eisenstein Priestley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clooten tests Priestley's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Clooten ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Clooten checks a leg kick.
Priestley looks to land a combination but Clooten avoids it well.
Clooten bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Priestley's head backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Priestley thows a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Clooten dominated that round.
That's time! Clooten's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Priestley misses with a series of wild punches.
Clooten scoring well with a low kick there.
Priestley thows a leg kick but Clooten checks it
and Clooten counters with a head kick.
Eisenstein Priestley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Priestley blocks a head kick by Clooten.
Priestley throws a lazy head kick
and Priestley takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Clooten lands a glancing blow to the side of Priestley's head.
Priestley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Clooten connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Clooten.
Priestley looks to land a left hand but Clooten moved out of range nicely.
Priestley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Priestley throws a front kick aimed at Clooten's knee but Clooten avoids it well.
Priestley misses the jab.
Clooten lands with a slapping head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Priestley tries a head kick but it misses.
Priestley is breathing heavily.
Priestley swats away the attempt to clinch by Clooten.
Priestley wants to land a leg kick but Clooten is out of range.
Clooten throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Clooten scores with a punch to the head.
Priestley takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Priestley throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Clooten is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Niko Clooten is winning the standup battle so far.
Priestley thuds a left hand into Clooten's body.
Clooten shoots in and drives through. Priestley sprawls well.
Priestley thows a leg kick but Clooten checks it
and Clooten counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Clooten fails in his attempt to clinch.
Priestley looks to land a body kick but Clooten moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Priestley uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Clooten.
Priestley swings away with a body shot that misses
and Clooten counters with a leg kick.
Clooten lands with a straight right. Priestley didn't see that one coming.
Priestley throws a right hand that Clooten ducks under and follows up with a left that Clooten also avoids with ease.
Clooten tries to score a power double leg takedown but Priestley sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Clooten somewhat.
Clooten wants to clinch.
Clooten lands a jab to the nose.

Clooten closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Clooten lands a left hand that snaps the head of Priestley backwards.
Clooten looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Priestley throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Priestley lands a nice elbow.
Priestley throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Priestley working Clooten over with knees to the body.
Priestley lands an elbow inside.
Priestley looking to stall.
Clooten avoids a wild elbow strike from Priestley.
Clooten jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Priestley walks away with a smile on his face. Clooten gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Clooten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clooten fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Priestley manages to avoid it.
Priestley scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Priestley - that will leave a mark!
A bone on bone clash there as Clooten blocks the leg kick.
Priestley gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Clooten decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Priestley's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Priestley uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Priestley, as that shot connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clooten takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Clooten uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Priestley.
Priestley misses with a head kick.
Clooten lands with an uppercut that bounces Priestley off the cage and back into rage.
Nice body punch from Priestley.
Priestley moves away from the strike by Clooten.
Clooten misses with an uppercut. Priestley saw that one coming.
Priestley pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Priestley misses with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No luck for Clooten with that takedown attempt.
Priestley tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Clooten is able to avoid easily.
Priestley misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Clooten dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Priestley misses with a wild combination.
Priestley throws a leg kick that misses.
Clooten misses the shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Priestley.
Clooten throws a quick inside leg kick.
Priestley misses with a shot to the body
and Clooten makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Priestley throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Priestley tries a head kick but it misses.
Priestley throws a body punch but Clooten moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clooten throws a nice outside leg kick.
Clooten uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Priestley.
Priestley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Priestley lands a body shot.
Clooten throws a right hand that Priestley ducks under and follows up with a left that Priestley also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Priestley buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A solid body kick from Clooten.
Clooten lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Clooten avoids the head kick by Priestley.

Clooten moves into the clinch successfully.
Priestley throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Clooten blocks it with crossed arms.
Priestley keeps control of Clooten as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Clooten.
Clooten lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Priestley blocking some punches.

Priestley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Clooten lands a head shot.
A slow jab from Priestley misses its intended target.
Priestley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Priestley throws a lazy head kick
and Clooten counters with a good, hard body kick but Priestley shrugs it off.
Eisenstein Priestley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big right from Priestley misses.
Eisenstein Priestley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niko Clooten is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clooten shoots in for a takedown but Priestley shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Clooten ducks under a wild hook from Priestley.
Priestley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Clooten decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Clooten uses his free foot to push down on Priestley's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Priestley.
Clooten sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Clooten tries to control but Priestley wriggling away.
Clooten takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Priestley is wriggling around trying to escape.
Clooten wants to control the pace but Priestley is squirming around nicely.
Priestley is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Priestley is looking to get to half guard.

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.
Clooten thowing shots but they're missing.
Priestley blocking the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clooten looking to land elbow strikes but Priestley uses the position to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Clooten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Clooten has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niko Clooten!