PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Artur Sowinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Clay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sowinski's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Totentanz-Swiatlo Dnia. Alex Clay told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sowinski
vs
Clay

177 cm
20
164 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Fighters First Nutrition

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Artur Sowinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alex Clay!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clay gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sowinski.
Clay ducks under a wild hook from Sowinski.
Alex Clay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clay closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sowinski circles away.
Clay shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sowinski sprawls well. Sowinski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Clay gets slowly back to his feet.
Clay fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Artur Sowinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Clay.
Clay closes the distance and clinches up with Sowinski, looking for a takedown. Clay pushes Sowinski against the cage but Sowinski circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Clay on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Clay walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Clay bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sowinski throws a nice looking combination but Clay bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Sowinski gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Clay to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Sowinski throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clay trying to control but Sowinski is working from the bottom.
Sowinski wants to stand up but Clay is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sowinski keeping full guard, as Clay tries to pass.
Clay advances to half guard.
Clay keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sowinski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Sowinski looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Clay really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sowinski. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Well, if Clay is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sowinski wants to control but Clay is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sowinski is looking to improve his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Clay in particular looking to stall.

Sowinski actively working from the bottom here.
Clay controlling the action here.
Clay is trying to control. Sowinski wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Sowinski looking for submissions off his back.
Sowinski looks like he's trying to stand up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sowinski looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sowinski looking for submissions off his back.
Sowinski is breathing heavily.
Clay sitting and controlling from the half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alex Clay hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clay.

Clay drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clay taking a breather here.
Clay wants to control but Sowinski is keeping him busy.
Sowinski wants to get back to his feet but Clay drags him back down.
Clay controls the position.
Sowinski is pushing Clay's head away, looking to escape. Clay manages to hold on to the position though.
Clay wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sowinski keeps working.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sowinski is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clay in side control, just content to control the action for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Clay dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Clay moves out of range as Sowinski strikes.
Sowinski throws a big shot that misses.
Sowinski throws a hook to the side of Clay's head but Clay sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Clay fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sowinski avoids it really well and circles away.
Sowinski stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sowinski wants it to stay on the feet.
Sowinski works over Clay's head and body with a nice combination.

Clay changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sowinski looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sowinski tries to escape but Clay is in control.
Sowinski being controlled for a moment.
Clay wants to control but Sowinski is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clay decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Clay is defended easily by Sowinski.
Artur Sowinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Clay.
Clay ducks under a wild hook from Sowinski.
Clay shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sowinski defends it nicely.
The crowd cheers as Sowinski lands an impressive looking overhand right. Clay doesn't seem phased though.
Clay shoots in looking for a takedown. Sowinski tries to sprawl out of it but Clay keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sowinski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sowinski scores with a sloppy right hand. Clay should have avoided that one.
Clay tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sowinski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Clay somewhat.
Clay moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sowinski is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clay fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sowinski sprawls well initially but Clay persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Clay is controlling the pace.
Sowinski is not content to let Clay control the position.
Sowinski tries to roll over but Clay keeps him under control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Clay is controlling the pace.
Sowinski trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sowinski looks like he's trying to stand up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alex Clay.
Sowinski stuffs the takedown attempt from Clay. Clay gets slowly back to his feet.

Clay manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sowinski on his heels. He'll look to pass Sowinski's guard now, I'm sure.

Sowinski is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Clay defends well.
Sowinski can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Clay controls the pace.
Clay pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sowinski is keeping the position for now.
Clay stopping the sweep attempt from Sowinski.
Sowinski keeping moving, preventing Clay from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clay keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sowinski's head.
Sowinski lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Clay!
Clay working to try and regain half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Clay tries to lock up and control but Sowinski gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Clay is trying desperately to improve position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sowinski has control of Clay's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Clay regains control of the situation pretty easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Clay showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fighters circle momentarily. Sowinski darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sowinski misses the jab.
Sowinski lands with a nice combination. Clay backs away looking to recover.
Clay shoots for a double leg takedown but Sowinski sprawls well. He's pushed Clay's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Clay slips a jab from Sowinski.
Clay shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sowinski sprawls well. Sowinski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Clay gets slowly back to his feet.
Sowinski lands a jab to the nose.

Clay shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sowinski's guard.
Clay trying to control the position from guard on top but Sowinski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sowinski had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Clay defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sowinski keeping moving, preventing Clay from controlling successfully.

Sowinski looking for a guillotine here but Clay defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Clay pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sowinski is keeping the position for now.
Clay looking to sit in guard and control but Sowinski gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Clay tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sowinski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Clay trying to control the position here.
Artur Sowinski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay wants to sweep but no luck.
Clay trying to control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Sowinski 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.

Sowinski 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.
Clay tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sowinski throwing strikes but missing.
Sowinski postures up.
Clay trying to control the position here.

Sowinski 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.
Clay wants to sweep but no luck.

Sowinski stands up from Clay's guard - Sowinski perhaps looking for a knockout.
Clay misses with a takedown attempt - Sowinski sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Artur Sowinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Clay.
Clay looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sowinski is fending him off so far but Clay persists. Nope, Sowinski circles away and we're back to standing.
Alex Clay is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clay walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A jab from Sowinski finds it's way through Clay's defenses.
Clay closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sowinski circles away.
Horrible takedown by Clay or perhaps it was just good defense by Sowinski which made him look bad.
Artur Sowinski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Clay fails to land the takedown.
Sowinski moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sowinski jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Clay closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sowinski circles away.
Horrible takedown by Clay or perhaps it was just good defense by Sowinski which made him look bad.
No luck for Clay with that takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sowinski lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Alex Clay is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Clay is rocked!
Sowinski looks to throw the jab but Clay is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artur Sowinski showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Clay has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Clay!