PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Theo Clement (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Fanning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clement comes into the arena with Hussle In The House blaring out of the sound system. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Clement
vs
Fanning

170 cm
21
151 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

178 cm
21
153 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Theo Clement!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Fanning!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fanning looks to score with a jab to the body but Clement is just out of range.
Fanning keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Clement is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Clement, as that shot connected.
Clement misses with an uppercut.
A slow jab from Clement misses its intended target.
Fanning scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Clement doesn't seem bothered though.
Clement swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Fanning feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Clement looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fanning scoring with some ground and pound.

Clement is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fanning trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fanning trying to control but Clement is working from the bottom.
Clement looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fanning is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanning slips nicely into half guard.
Clement throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Fanning is thwarting Clement's attempts to control the position.
Clement is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fanning is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Fanning looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Clement with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
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. Fanning connects with a nice short shot to Clement's temple.
Fanning lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clement tries to roll over but Fanning keeps him under control.
Fanning missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Clement actively working from the bottom here.
Clement trying to get back to full guard but Fanning takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Clement tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Fanning with shots to the head and body - Clement looks very uncomfortable down there.
Clement is trying desperately to improve position.
Fanning with the ground and pound from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Clement is desperately trying to improve his position but Fanning has a good base and remains in mount.
Fanning in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clement tries to hold on but Fanning postures up.
Fanning landing strikes from the mount and Clement is in trouble!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fanning raining down hammerfists from mount.
Fanning lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Fanning is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Clement can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Fanning lands with some strikes.
Fanning landing strikes from the mount and Clement is in trouble!
A nice elbow there by Fanning.

Clement is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clement is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Fanning is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Fanning has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Clement's face.
Oh Clement is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Fanning is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Clement to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Clement shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clement is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Clement seems to have got his legs back now.
Clement is breathing heavily.
Fanning raining down hammerfists from mount.
Clement tries to reverse the position but Fanning maintains control.
Fanning breaks from Clement's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Clement is trying desperately to improve position.
Fanning landing strikes from the mount and Clement is in trouble!
BOOM! Fanning connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Fanning in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Clement in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
BOOM! Fanning connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Fanning postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Clement looks a forlorn figure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Fanning dominated that 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.

Clement walks into a stiff left hand from Fanning.
Clement with a lazy takedown attempt

and Fanning counters with a single leg into guard. Clement didn't expect that.
Clement has momentary wrist control but Fanning slips an elbow through the middle.
Fanning stands up over Clement, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fanning trying to control the position from guard on top but Clement is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Clement looking for a guillotine here but Fanning defends easily.
Fanning works over Clement with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanning scoring with some ground and pound.
Fanning passes into half guard.
Fanning prevents Clement from improving his position.
Clement is looking to get back to is feet but Fanning passes into side control.
Fanning trying to control the position but Clement is working away.
Fanning scoring with punches from side control.
Clement tries to improve position but can't.
Fanning scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanning controls the position.
Clement struggling a bit here.
Fanning is working Clement over with some ground and pound from side control.
Fanning working away.
Clement takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Fanning working away.
Fanning is looking to take a break and control but Clement is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Clement's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fanning scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clement takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Clement is trying to improve his position.
Fanning lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Clement down.
Clement tries to improve position but can't.
Clement wants to control but Fanning postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fanning working the ground and pound.
Fanning wants to lay and pray for a moment but Clement keeps working.
Clement taking punishment in the form of punches.
Clement manages to get back to half guard.
Fanning wants to take a breather but Clement is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fanning is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Fanning is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Clement defends it well.
Clement is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fanning wants to pass to mount but Clement is defending the position.
Fanning working over Clement with some ground and pound. Clement looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Clement looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Fanning showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Fanning blocks a jab.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Clement.
Fanning sneaks back into half guard.

Clement is trying for a kimura here. Fanning looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Clement wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Theo Clement!