PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Les Claypool (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valio Hristov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Claypool
vs
Hristov

183 cm
20
165 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

175 cm
24
167 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Les Claypool!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Valio Hristov!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hristov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Claypool circles away quickly and effectively.
Hristov throws the left hand but Claypool avoids the punch easily.
Claypool finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hristov misses with a double jab.

Hristov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Claypool to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Claypool working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hristov is trying to keep Claypool in close.
Claypool stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hristov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hristov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Claypool wants to control from the top but Hristov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hristov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Claypool is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hristov keeping moving, preventing Claypool from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hristov throws a right hand that Claypool ducks under and follows up with a left that Claypool also avoids with ease.
Hristov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hristov thuds a left hand into Claypool's body.
Hristov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Claypool.
Claypool just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Claypool defending well as Hristov loads up on a big left hand.
Hristov takes a swing at Claypool's ribcage but misses.
Claypool takes a swing at Hristov's ribcage but misses.
Hristov misses with a wild combination.
Claypool defending well as Hristov loads up on a big left hand.
Hristov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Claypool ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hristov moves away.
Hristov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hristov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Claypool circles away quickly and effectively.
Claypool swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Claypool dodges the punch combination from Hristov.
Claypool swings for the body but Hristov moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hristov misses with a hook. Claypool ducked under it nicely.
Claypool slips a jab and a cross from Hristov.
Claypool is looking to wear down Hristov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hristov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hristov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hristov throws a body punch but Claypool moves out of range.
Hristov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hristov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Claypool gets the takedown into side control.

Claypool is trying to get an arm triangle but Hristov is defending well.

Claypool looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hristov is trying to control Claypool's posture but Claypool avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hristov is looking for a sweep.
Claypool working away.
Claypool tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hristov's legs.

Claypool is trying to get an arm triangle but Hristov is defending well.

Claypool is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hristov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
What's Hristov going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Les Claypool dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Claypool takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A combination from Hristov does no damage.
Hristov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hristov just misses with a punch to the body.
Hristov throws a right and a left that both miss.

Claypool drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Claypool is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hristov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Claypool tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Claypool has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Hristov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hristov is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Claypool is staying active.
Hristov is looking to regain half guard here but Claypool keeps moving and retains side control.

Claypool is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hristov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Claypool working away.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Claypool fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hristov is out of range.
Hristov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hristov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hristov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Claypool throws and low kick but Hristov moves out of range easily.

Claypool darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hristov tries to roll over but Claypool keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claypool moves into full mount! Hristov won't be happy about that!
Hristov wants to control but Claypool is having none of it.

Claypool looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Claypool with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Hristov tries to hold on but Claypool postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Claypool with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Claypool looking to secure an arm triangle but Hristov defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hristov is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hristov tries to lock up and control but Claypool gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Claypool is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hristov has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hristov!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Les Claypool 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. And we move into the final round!

Claypool changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hristov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hristov trying his best to control but Claypool has mounted him.

Claypool looking for a guillotine from mount but Hristov is having none of it.
Claypool with good strikes from the mount here!
Hristov is desperately trying to improve his position but Claypool has a good base and remains in mount.

Claypool is working for a guillotine from mount but Hristov frees his head quite easily.

Claypool goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Hristov is on top in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hristov slips nicely into half guard.
Claypool is refusing to be controlled, as Hristov sits in half guard.
Claypool tries to get to full guard but Hristov has control of the leg.
Hristov wants to take a breather but Claypool is having none of it.
Hristov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Claypool kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Valio Hristov.
Hristov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Claypool.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hristov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Claypool.
Claypool dodges the punch combination from Hristov.
Hristov just misses with a punch to the body.
Some wild striking there from Hristov.
Les Claypool is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hristov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Valio Hristov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hristov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hristov lands a head shot.
Claypool throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hristov misses with the combination.
A big left from Hristov misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claypool steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hristov.
Claypool closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Claypool throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hristov.
No joy there for Hristov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Claypool throws a body punch but Hristov moves out of range.
Claypool misses the body punch
and Hristov counters with a nice uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Claypool. Hristov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hristov lands a body shot.
Hristov scores with a sloppy right hand. Claypool should have avoided that one.
Claypool throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hristov throws a series of punches but Claypool avoids them all with ease.
Claypool slips a jab and a cross from Hristov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claypool misses with a wild body shot.
Hristov falls off balance throwing a combination

so Claypool counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Les Claypool overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Claypool controlling from the top position.
Claypool seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hristov for as long as he can get away with.
Claypool passes Hristov's left leg - he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Les Claypool showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Claypool, 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Les Claypool!