PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tom Clancy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Sassaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Sassaki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Clancy
vs
Sassaki

170 cm
20
152 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
159 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tom Clancy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Sassaki!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sassaki is looking to land body kicks.
Clancy loads up on a big right hand but Sassaki slips the punch.

Sassaki rushes Clancy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Clancy tries to stall but Sassaki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Clancy managing to block the knees to the body from Sassaki.
Sassaki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Clancy is defending well for now.
Clancy tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sassaki smiles and moves away.

Sassaki closes the distance and clinches.
Sassaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clancy.
Sassaki tries to land knees in the clinch but Clancy avoids the damage to the body.
Sassaki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Clancy avoids it.
Sassaki tries a knee to the head but Clancy blocks it.
Clancy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Clancy stalling in the clinch but Sassaki improves position.
Clancy avoiding damage as Sassaki throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sassaki trying to land knees to the body.
Clancy avoiding damage as Sassaki throws knees to the body.
Sassaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clancy.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Clancy takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sassaki looking to throw knees to the head but Clancy is blocking nicely.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Clancy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clancy is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sassaki is keeping busy.
Clancy lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sassaki backwards.
Sassaki missing with knees to the body.
Clancy avoiding damage as Sassaki throws knees to the body.
Clancy stalling against the cage.
Sassaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clancy.

Clancy pulls guard effortlessly.
Clancy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sassaki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Clancy seems content to control.

Clancy looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Clancy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sassaki keeps working.
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.

Clancy wants to work for an arm triangle but Sassaki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sassaki is looking to improve his position.

Clancy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sassaki is trying to maintain the position but Clancy is very close to passing his half guard.
Clancy throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Clancy is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sassaki wants to improve his position but Clancy is controlling well.

Clancy is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sassaki is looking for a sweep. Clancy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sassaki swings for the body but Clancy moves out of range.
Clancy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sassaki.
Sassaki fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Clancy is out of range.
Nice body kick there by Sassaki.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sassaki. That's going to slow Clancy down.
Sassaki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sassaki misses the shot to the body.
Clancy lands with a shot to the body.
Clancy wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sassaki throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sassaki misses with a body kick.
Clancy scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A combination from Clancy does no damage.
Sassaki will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sassaki throws a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sassaki, right into the meat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sassaki.
Sassaki takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Clancy throws a shot to the body.
Clancy digs a good body shot into Sassaki's ribs.
Sassaki looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch lands to the side of Sassaki 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Clancy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Clancy avoids a kick to the body.
Sassaki avoids the body shot from Clancy.
Sassaki on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sassaki is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Clancy.
Clancy lands with a cross.
Clancy scores with a hook to the body. Sassaki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sassaki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sassaki on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clancy lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Clancy works Sassaki's body with a nice hook.
Clancy scores with a hook to the body. Sassaki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Clancy closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sassaki to the mat! Sassaki manages to get full guard.

Clancy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Clancy dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Clancy works Sassaki's body with a nice hook.
Sassaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Clancy manages to avoid it.
Clancy with a nice cross.
Sassaki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Clancy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Clancy tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Clancy fails with the takedown.
Nice defenses there by Sassaki.
A punch lands to the side of Sassaki 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Clancy lands a right hook to the body.
Sassaki scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Clancy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sassaki is breathing heavily.
Sassaki scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Clancy doesn't seem bothered though.
Clancy misses with a few strikes there.
Sassaki throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sassaki misses with a jab to the body
and Clancy counters with a right hand to the body.
Clancy closes the distance and clinches up with Sassaki, looking for a takedown. Clancy pushes Sassaki against the cage but Sassaki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sassaki takes a swing at Clancy's ribcage but misses.
Sassaki misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sassaki. Clancy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Clancy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Clancy keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sassaki avoids the body shot from Clancy.
Sassaki wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rafael Sassaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Clancy scores with a body shot.
Sassaki looks for the body kick but Clancy saw that one coming.
Clancy cracks Sassaki with a good jab.
Clancy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sassaki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Clancy.
Clancy thuds a left hand into Sassaki's body.
Rafael Sassaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sassaki buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Clancy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sassaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Clancy.
Sassaki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clancy was well out of range. Poor timing from Sassaki.
Clancy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sassaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Clancy.
Sassaki misses with a hook to the body
and Clancy counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Clancy works over Sassaki's head and body with a nice combination.
Clancy lands a nice looking body shot.
Sassaki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sassaki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Clancy or perhaps it was just good defense by Sassaki which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Clancy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sassaki throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Clancy keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Clancy looks to score with a jab to the body but Sassaki is just out of range.
Clancy just misses with a punch to the body.
Tom Clancy is winning the standup battle so far.
Clancy has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sassaki.
Clancy fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Clancy just misses with a punch to the body.
Clancy with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Clancy thuds a left hand into Sassaki's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sassaki motions for Clancy to come forward. Sassaki throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Clancy lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Clancy lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sassaki at a distance.
Sassaki walks into a jab.
Clancy punishes Sassaki's body with a nice straight punch.
Clancy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sassaki. Clancy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sassaki throws a sloppy body shot
and Clancy counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Clancy.
Clancy fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Clancy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sassaki doesn't seem bothered though.
Clancy lands a glancing blow to the side of Sassaki's head.
Clancy lands a body shot.
Clancy stalks Sassaki and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sassaki's face. Sassaki staggers backwards, shaken.
Sassaki takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Clancy lands a glancing blow to the side of Sassaki's head.
Clancy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Clancy lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sassaki on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sassaki takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Clancy lands a nice shot that snaps Sassaki's head back.
Sassaki throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Clancy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sassaki can do to turn this around?
Clancy scores with a shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Clancy. Sassaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Clancy throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sassaki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Clancy scores a takedown into full mount!
Sassaki takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sassaki tries to reverse the position but Clancy maintains control.
Clancy is in the full mount, landing strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sassaki can do anything to dispel that myth.

Clancy looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Sassaki is looking to improve his position but Clancy isn't that keen on the idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sassaki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Clancy working for a submission but Sassaki is keeping him at bay.

Clancy working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Clancy dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sassaki dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sassaki looks for the body kick but Clancy saw that one coming.
Clancy lunges at Sassaki with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sassaki's hand.
Sassaki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clancy was well out of range. Poor timing from Sassaki.
Clancy connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Sassaki fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Clancy.
Clancy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Clancy is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Sassaki tries to clinch up but Clancy circles away and keeps his distance.
Sassaki misses the shot to the body.
Sassaki misses with a hook to the body
and Clancy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A right-left combo lands from Clancy.
Clancy lands with a nice body punch.
Clancy scores with the left hand. Sassaki knows he should have avoided that one.
A cross from Clancy lands.
Sassaki takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sassaki stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Clancy throws a series of punches but Sassaki avoids them all with ease.
Clancy lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Clancy, as that shot connected.
Clancy moves out of range of the body kick.
Sassaki thuds his shin into the meat of Clancy's side.
Clancy comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Clancy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sassaki.
Sassaki shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sassaki throws a sloppy body shot
and Clancy makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A nice combination there by Clancy.
Clancy scores with a shot to the body.
Clancy fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Clancy misses with a double jab.
Sassaki misses with a hook to the body
and Sassaki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sassaki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Clancy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sassaki.
Sassaki walks into a jab.
Sassaki motions for Clancy to come forward. Sassaki throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sassaki walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Clancy checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Clancy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sassaki swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Clancy scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rafael Sassaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clancy lands with a straight right. Sassaki didn't see that one coming.
Clancy moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sassaki stuffs the takedown.
Clancy stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sassaki.
Sassaki throws a predictable looking body shot
and Clancy counters with a straight right hand.
Sassaki scores with a hook to the body. Clancy takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Clancy chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sassaki can pounce on him.
Clancy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Clancy comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Clancy checks a leg kick.
Sassaki misses with a wild body shot.
Sassaki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Clancy.
Sassaki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Clancy moves out of range of the body kick.
Clancy shoots in for a double leg but Sassaki sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Clancy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sassaki changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Clancy tries to keep at a distance but Sassaki has taken the fight into the clinch.
Clancy is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clancy lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sassaki backwards.
Sassaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clancy.
Sassaki tries to land knees in the clinch but Clancy avoids the damage to the body.
Clancy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Clancy managing to block the knees to the body from Sassaki.
Clancy blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Clancy just leaning against Sassaki, taking a breather.
Clancy avoiding damage as Sassaki throws knees to the body.
Clancy effectively controlling the action here.

Clancy breaks from the clinch.
Clancy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sassaki.
Sassaki ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sassaki thows a body shot but no joy.
Clancy lands a nice hook to Sassaki's body. Sassaki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Clancy lands a nice looking body shot.
Clancy is looking to wear down Sassaki with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Clancy misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clancy scores with a shot to the body.
Clancy lands a right hook to the body.
Clancy listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Clancy lands a jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Clancy.
Clancy bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sassaki misses with a body kick.
Sassaki takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sassaki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tom Clancy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sassaki misses with a shot to the body
and Clancy counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Clancy connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Clancy lands a nice looking body shot.
Clancy fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sassaki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A right-left combo lands from Clancy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sassaki takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Clancy tests Sassaki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sassaki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Clancy goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Clancy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Clancy, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Clancy!