PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between De Clark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Doctor Gonzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clark comes to the cage accompanied by Sick Puppies - You're Going Down. Gonzo is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: White Rabbit. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Clark
vs
Gonzo

205 cm
22
265 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

189 cm
28
275 lbs
16 - 13 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, De Clark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Doctor Gonzo!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gonzo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Clark backs up against the cage.
Gonzo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Clark misses with a few strikes there.
Clark tries to clinch but Gonzo moves out of range.
Gonzo fails with a takedown attempt.
Clark tries to clinch up but Gonzo circles away and keeps his distance.
Gonzo throws a series of punches but Clark moves out of range.
Clark uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gonzo.
Gonzo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Clark throws a head kick that half lands.
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!

Clark clinches with his opponent.
Gonzo being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clark looking to stall.
Clark wants a takedown.
Clark is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gonzo tries to score a body lock takedown but Clark shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
De Clark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Doctor Gonzo.
Clark can't get the takedown.
Gonzo is trying to push Clark away but Clark has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Clark misses with the head strike.
Clark is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The referee calls for Clark to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clark is pressed up against the cage. Gonzo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Clark down to the mat. Clark avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gonzo throws a sloppy head kick and Clark moves out of range easily.
No joy there for Gonzo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gonzo misses with a straight right.
Clark stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Clark wants it to stay on the feet.
Gonzo looks winded!
Clark drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Clark blocks the body kick.
Clark avoids the body shot from Gonzo.
Clark stuns Gonzo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Clark staying out of range there.
Gonzo connects with a body shot that sends Clark's belly button to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clark gets a clinch.
Clark pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gonzo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Clark fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Clark moves out of range of the strikes.
Gonzo slaps away a takedown attempt from Clark, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Clark gets a takedown into half guard.
Gonzo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Clark.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clark trying to mount his opponent but Gonzo defends it.
Gonzo tries to get to full guard but Clark has control of the leg.

Clark seems to be looking for submissions.
Gonzo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gonzo won't allow Clark to pass to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Clark wants to work for an arm triangle but Gonzo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Clark tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gonzo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that De Clark will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Clark doesn't manage to clinch there - Gonzo circles away.

Clark gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Clark looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gonzo wants to control from the top but Clark keeps moving.
Gonzo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gonzo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Clark will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Clark managing to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gonzo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Clark, up you get!

Clark gets a clinch.
Clark lands a hook to the side of the head.
Clark misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Clark has Gonzo pushed against the cage.
Clark lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Clark working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Clark taking a breather.
Clark is trying to drag Gonzo to the mat but Gonzo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Clark misses with a hook from the clinch.
Clark is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gonzo is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Clark.
Gonzo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Clark gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Gonzo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Doctor Gonzo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gonzo is breathing heavily.
Clark tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Clark tries to clinch but Gonzo is having none of it.
Gonzo misses with a low kick.
Gonzo misses with a double jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Clark looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clark tries to clinch there but Gonzo circles away.
Clark tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gonzo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gonzo throws the left hand but Clark avoids the punch easily.
Clark tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gonzo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Doctor Gonzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gonzo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Gonzo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Clark misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gonzo throws a combination that misses

and Clark moves into the clinch.
Gonzo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Clark is looking to control Gonzo's arms but Gonzo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Clark has his back to the cage.
Gonzo goes for a takedown attempt but Clark pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gonzo swats away the attempt to clinch by Clark.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clark fails in his attempt to clinch.
A jab from Gonzo misses.
Clark buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Clark throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gonzo's head.
Clark shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gonzo defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for De Clark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonzo tries a low kick but Clark avoids it.
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 De Clark 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. This is the final round!

Gonzo keeps the fight on the outside.
Gonzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gonzo moves out of range of the strikes.
Clark moves in looking to clinch but Gonzo pushes him off.
Clark tries to clinch up.
Clark tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gonzo swivels and escapes.
Gonzo throws a right and a left that Clark avoids nicely.
Gonzo misses with a wild combination.
Gonzo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gonzo lands a glancing blow to the side of Clark's head.
Clark wants to clinch.
Clark changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gonzo tries to avoid it but Clark manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gonzo to the ground. Gonzo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clark was well out of range. Poor timing from Gonzo.

Gonzo drives through with a takedown into Clark's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Clark is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Doctor Gonzo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Clark wants to sweep but no luck.
Clark throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Gonzo throws a strike but Clark rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gonzo trying to control the position.
De Clark is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clark trying to control but Gonzo is working from the bottom.
Gonzo wants to sweep here but Clark controlling him for the moment.
Clark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gonzo is keeping the position for now.
Gonzo being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Clark is looking to clinch.
Gonzo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Clark to score with a decent uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Clark.
Gonzo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Clark clinches with his opponent.
Gonzo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Clark is defending well.
Clark drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gonzo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Doctor Gonzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for De Clark. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gonzo tries to keep at a distance but Clark has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzo tries to throw a body punch but Clark avoids it by throwing Gonzo back against the cage.
Clark blocks an uppercut.
Clark lands an uppercut.
Gonzo goes for a takedown attempt but Clark pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Clark closes the distance and pushes Gonzo back into the cage.
De Clark has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice body punch from Gonzo.

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 De Clark.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Clark, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 28:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... De Clark!
De Clark bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.