PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Puempel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Clarkson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clarkson has chosen Bark At The Moon as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Puempel
vs
Clarkson

186 cm
22
197 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Puempel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Richard Clarkson!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Clarkson clinches up with Puempel and pushes him back against the cage.
Puempel taking a breather.
Clarkson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Puempel tries to work over Clarkson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Puempel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Clarkson's defenses.

It looks like Richard Clarkson has been cut.
A short right from Puempel.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Puempel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Clarkson throws a head kick but Puempel moves out of range.

Puempel drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Puempel content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Clarkson is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarkson struggling a bit here.
Clarkson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Puempel kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
You can see the frustration on Clarkson's face as Puempel controls the position.
Clarkson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Puempel off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clarkson looking for the choke but no joy.
Clarkson doesn't have the hooks in and Puempel manages to turn into his guard.
Puempel sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Clarkson keeping full guard, as Puempel tries to pass.
Clarkson is looking to sweep but instead, Puempel has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puempel stops Clarkson from getting back to his feet.
Puempel stalling.
Clarkson is looking for a sweep. Puempel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puempel wants to free his trapped foot but Clarkson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Matt Puempel just wasn't active enough.
A chopping leg kick lands by Puempel.
Clarkson looks gassed!

Puempel rushes Clarkson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Puempel manages to break the clinch.
Clarkson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Puempel closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Puempel breaks from the clinch.

Clarkson clinches up against the cage.
Puempel lands an elbow just above Clarkson 's eye.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Puempel has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Clarkson is trying to keep an underhook but Puempel manages to get the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Puempel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Richard Clarkson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Clarkson dives in and grabs Puempel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Puempel pushes down on Clarkson's head and hops out.
A chopping leg kick lands by Puempel.
Puempel gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Clarkson.
No luck for Clarkson with that takedown attempt.

Puempel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Clarkson, pushing him back against the cage.

Puempel drags the fight down to the ground.

Clarkson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Puempel is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Clarkson, into his guard.
Puempel is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Clarkson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puempel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Clarkson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Puempel is controlling him.
Puempel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Puempel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Puempel gets to his feet - Clarkson follows without any prompting.

Puempel moves into range and clinches up with Clarkson.
Puempel with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puempel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Puempel lands an elbow just above Clarkson 's eye.

Puempel gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Puempel controlling the action here.
Puempel passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Clarkson!
Puempel content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Clarkson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That has opened up Richard Clarkson's cut even more.
Puempel tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarkson is desperately trying to improve his position but Puempel has a good base and remains in mount.
Clarkson wants to control but Puempel is having none of it.
Puempel takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Puempel's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Puempel dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Richard Clarkson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Clarkson misses with a takedown attempt
and Puempel counters with a good low kick that Clarkson was not able to check.

Puempel rushes Clarkson and presses him up against the cage.
Clarkson tries to circle away but Puempel has him pinned against the cage.
Puempel lands a damaging elbow.

The cut above Richard Clarkson's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

Puempel turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Puempel manages to end up in side control.
Clarkson trying to remain calm as Puempel controls from the top position.
Puempel has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Clarkson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Puempel wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Puempel takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Clarkson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Puempel pushes Clarkson up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Puempel has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Clarkson regains guard immediately.
Puempel sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Puempel sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Clarkson's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Puempel landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clarkson works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puempel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Puempel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Clarkson can do to turn this around?
Clarkson keeping full guard, as Puempel tries to pass.
Puempel controls from within his opponent's guard.
Matt Puempel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Puempel wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Puempel scores with a kick to the midsection.

Puempel closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Clarkson quickly recovers to half guard.
Puempel stalling.
Clarkson won't allow Puempel to pass to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Puempel passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Clarkson!
Puempel controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Puempel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Puempel 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Puempel!