PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jason Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Clooten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fernandez comes to the cage accompanied by Yakety Sax. The crowd seem to be enjoying Clooten's choice of entrance music: Hot Ride by The Prodigy. Matt Clooten is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Fernandez
vs
Clooten

183 cm
20
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
29
182 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Predator Clothing

Rivers Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jason Fernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Clooten!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Dean Styles and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clooten fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fernandez avoids it really well and circles away.
Fernandez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Clooten counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Fernandez clinches up against the cage.
Clooten scores with a nice hook to the head.
Clooten wants a takedown.
Fernandez fails to pull guard.

Clooten ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Clooten no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Fernandez wants to control from the top but Clooten keeps moving.
Fernandez preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clooten preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fernandez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fernandez throwing strikes from guard but Clooten blocks nicely.
Fernandez trying to control but Clooten is working from the bottom.
Fernandez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Fernandez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Fernandez throws a strike but Clooten rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Clooten won't allow Fernandez to sweep him here.
Fernandez is working hard here to advance position.

Fernandez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Clooten defends well.
Fernandez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Clooten is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Clooten does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Fernandez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Clooten's head.
Clooten is trying to get back to full guard.
Fernandez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Clooten keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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.
Fernandez trying to mount his opponent but Clooten defends it.
Fernandez throws a strike but Clooten avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Clooten working a defensive guard but Fernandez manages to pass into side control anyway.
Fernandez misses with the ground and pound.

Fernandez goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Clooten rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Fernandez's guard! Nice work there by Clooten!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fernandez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Fernandez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fernandez throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Clooten misses with a hook
and Fernandez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Clooten with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Clooten closes the distance and clinches.
Clooten's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Clooten lands with a right to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Clooten.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short left from Fernandez.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fernandez.
A right hook to the body lands for Fernandez.
Clooten wants to break the clinch but can't.
Clooten lands a nice uppercut.
Fernandez misses with a punch on the inside.

Clooten manages to break the clinch.
Fernandez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Clooten throws a left and a right that both miss
and Fernandez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fernandez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Fernandez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fernandez misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clooten misses with a body shot.
Clooten checks a leg kick nicely.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Fernandez checks a low kick from Clooten.
Clooten throws a poor cross that misses
and Fernandez counters with a two punch combo.
Fernandez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez misses with a right hand
letting Clooten counter with a right hand.
Clooten swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Fernandez has his takedown stuffed
and Clooten connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Clooten looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fernandez moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez trying to control the position.
Clooten wants to control from the top but Fernandez keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clooten stopping the sweep attempt from Fernandez.
Fernandez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jason Fernandez will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Clooten moves into the clinch successfully.
Clooten tries a knee to the head but Fernandez blocks it.
Fernandez looking to throw knees to the head but Clooten is blocking nicely.
A frustrated look appears on Clooten's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Fernandez lands an uppercut.
Fernandez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Clooten takes a shot to the head.
Fernandez lands with a left to the head.
Fernandez lands a shoulder strike.
Clooten pushes Fernandez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fernandez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short uppercut from Fernandez.
With the fighters up against the cage, Clooten throws an elbow but misses.

Clooten escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Clooten takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Clooten forces Fernandez back against the cage and clinches.
Fernandez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fernandez misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez landing knees to the head.
Fernandez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Clooten.
Fernandez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Fernandez swings wildly with an uppercut but Clooten uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fernandez pushes off an throws an elbow but Clooten leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Clooten prevents a body shot from Fernandez.
Fernandez has a couple of punches blocked by Clooten.
A short uppercut from Fernandez.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fernandez.
Clooten blocking some punches.
A short uppercut from Clooten.
Fernandez digs a right hand underneath Clooten's ribcage. Clooten let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fernandez.
Clooten wants a takedown but no success here.
Clooten has a couple of punches blocked by Fernandez.
Fernandez is leaning against Clooten and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Clooten throws a head punch that misses.
Fernandez takes a shot to the head.
Clooten digs a right hand underneath Fernandez's ribcage. Fernandez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Clooten swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Clooten takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Clooten.
Clooten lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Clooten lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Fernandez backwards.
Fernandez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fernandez lands a shot to the body.
Clooten blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Clooten as the two fighters clinch.
Fernandez throws a head punch that misses.
Matt Clooten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clooten blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Clooten misses with a punch on the inside.
Clooten makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Clooten drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fernandez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fernandez taking a breather.
Clooten throws a head punch that misses.
Fernandez scores with a shot to the side of Clooten's head.
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!
Fernandez tries to land a knee to the head but Clooten blocks with his arms.
Clooten working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Clooten fails to land.
Fernandez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Clooten backwards.
Fernandez misses with a punch on the inside.
Fernandez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Clooten is keeping busy.
Fernandez prevents the takedown attempt.
Jason Fernandez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Clooten.
Fernandez working aggressively here.
Clooten blocks an uppercut.
Fernandez lands with a light punch inside.

Fernandez drags the fight down to the ground.
Fernandez controls Clooten momentarily but Clooten frees himself.
Fernandez wants to improve his position but instead Clooten has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Clooten's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Clooten's back!

Fernandez is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Clooten knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Clooten for a finish.

Fernandez is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Clooten knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Clooten for a finish.
Clooten avoids the strikes from Fernandez.
Jason Fernandez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Clooten trying to control the action but Fernandez just sinks the hooks in.
Fernandez is looking to control Clooten but Clooten is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Fernandez misses with punches from the back.
Fernandez throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
A lull in the action here.
Fernandez throws a series of strikes and Clooten wriggles onto his back, so he's now mounted. He's in real trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jason Fernandez.
Well Fernandez 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Fernandez!