PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tazz Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Clarke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrew Clarke has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stevens
vs
Clarke

183 cm
29
182 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

182 cm
25
183 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Tokyo Defiance

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tazz Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andrew Clarke!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clarke shoots and misses
and Stevens counters with a one-two to the body.
Clarke avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stevens throws a poor cross that misses

and Clarke counters with a shoot takedown. Stevens fights it but they end up in guard.
Stevens looking for a sweep. Not yet Stevens, not yet.
Stevens trying to control the position.

Stevens working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Clarke doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Clarke manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clarke trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clarke must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Clarke!
Stevens tries to control but Clarke wriggling away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Clarke can do anything to dispel that myth.
Clarke is trying to escape the mount.
Stevens moves to take his opponent's back.

Stevens looking for the choke from the back.
Clarke wants to control his opponent's hands but Stevens gets his hands free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevens looking for the RNC.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stevens is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Clarke defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Stevens tightening his grip on Clarke, looking for the choke.
Clarke is trying to break free.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stevens tightening his grip on Clarke, looking for the choke.

Stevens is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Clarke defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke trying to control the position but Stevens manages to sink in the hooks.
Clarke breaks Stevens's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Clarke preventing the sweep.
Stevens is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Stevens is pressing down on Clarke's thigh, looking to free his foot. Clarke is holding on for now.

Stevens is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Clarke works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarke pulls Stevens in to control the position.
Clarke can't keep his opponent in guard - Stevens advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Stevens wants to work for an arm triangle but Clarke is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Clarke wants to control but Stevens is keeping busy.

Stevens is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Stevens is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Clarke defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tazz Stevens dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Stevens with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Stevens throws a good cross that connects.
Stevens bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Stevens tries to bum rush Clarke with a series of wild strikes but Clarke uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stevens swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Clarke looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stevens will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stevens misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Clarke.
Stevens looks to score with a jab to the body but Clarke is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens misses with a looping left.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stevens enables Clarke to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stevens manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Clarke trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevens lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Clarke!
Clarke stops Stevens from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Stevens moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Clarke has worked his arm free - good work by Clarke!

Stevens tries for a kimura but Clarke is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarke is looking to regain half guard here but Stevens keeps moving and retains side control.

Stevens thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Clarke is looking to regain half guard here but Stevens keeps moving and retains side control.
Clarke is trying to control Stevens's posture but Stevens avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Clarke is not content to let Stevens control the position.

Stevens tries for a kimura but Clarke is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke can't do much from the bottom here.

Stevens swings around for an armbar but Clarke sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Stevens's guard.
Clarke trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clarke working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stevens's head.

Stevens looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Clarke avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stevens is looking for a triangle here but Clarke uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Stevens tries to buck Clarke off but Clarke is having none of it.
Stevens sneaks back into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clarke looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stevens with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Clarke thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clarke trying to control the action but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Stevens is looking to control Clarke's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stevens avoid being mounted?
Stevens is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tazz Stevens dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Stevens falls off balance throwing a combination

and Clarke counters with a shoot takedown. Stevens fights it but they end up in guard.
Stevens bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Clarke's guard.
Stevens won't allow Clarke to sweep him here.
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.
Clarke is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Stevens pushing down on Clarke's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Clarke has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stevens is working away from the top position though.

Stevens seems to be working for a kimura but Clarke defends the submission attempt.
Clarke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stevens content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens moves into full mount! Clarke won't be happy about that!

Stevens goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Clarke turns into him and now he's in Stevens's guard.
Clarke wants to control from the top but Stevens keeps moving.

Clarke is posturing up here but Stevens has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Clarke tries to roll out but it's too tight and Clarke has to tap! Slick submission there by Stevens!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tazz Stevens!