PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Isaac Hetfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Clifton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hetfield comes to the cage accompanied by Stomp. Craig Clifton is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hetfield
vs
Clifton

184 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
176 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 St Petersburg, Isaac Hetfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Craig Clifton!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hetfield looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Clifton closes the distance and clinches.
Hetfield goes for a takedown attempt but Clifton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Hetfield clinches.
Clifton looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Clifton is trying to stall.
Hetfield has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Clifton after a bit of a struggle.
Clifton working aggressively here.
Clifton misses with an elbow strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Clifton takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hetfield is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Clifton pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaac Hetfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hetfield tries to stall but Clifton uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Clifton trying to stall but Hetfield improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifton misses with an elbow over the top.
Clifton lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Clifton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hetfield's brow.
Clifton stops a takedown attempt from Hetfield.
Clifton misses with an elbow over the top.
Hetfield changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Clifton fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Clifton closes the distance and pushes Hetfield back into the cage.
Hetfield trying to control the position but instead, Clifton has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hetfield into the cage.
Clifton has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.
Hetfield blocks an uppercut.
Hetfield is looking to take this one to the mat.
Clifton fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
I was talking to Hetfield's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Hetfield takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Isaac Hetfield has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hetfield blocks the elbow strike.
Hetfield is looking to take this one to the mat.
Clifton misses with a punch on the inside.
Hetfield blocks the elbow strike.
Clifton displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hetfield up against the cage.
Hetfield can't get the takedown.
Clifton is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short left from Clifton.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hetfield is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The referee calls for Hetfield to work.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Clifton - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hetfield changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Clifton fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Clifton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hetfield shoots for a double leg takedown but Clifton sprawls well. He's pushed Hetfield's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Clifton tries to clinch there but Hetfield circles away.

Clifton has Hetfield up against the cage in a clinch.
Hetfield wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Clifton has him pressed against the cage.
Clifton has Hetfield pushed against the cage.
Clifton is trying to maintain a safe position but Hetfield gets an underhook and turns Clifton into the cage.
Hetfield avoids the elbow strike from Clifton, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hetfield blocks an uppercut.
Clifton is trying to stall.
Hetfield tries for a takedown but Clifton manages to get underhooks.
Clifton misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hetfield blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hetfield has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hetfield blocks the elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Clifton.
With the fighters up against the cage, Clifton throws an elbow but misses.
Hetfield tries to score a body lock takedown but Clifton shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hetfield wants a takedown.
Clifton is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Clifton creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Clifton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Isaac Hetfield's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Clifton closes the distance but Hetfield moves to the side

and Hetfield counters by moving into the clinch.
Clifton gets underhooks to prevent Hetfield's takedown attempt.
Hetfield wants to break free but Clifton has control.
Hetfield can't get the takedown.
Clifton gets underhooks to prevent Hetfield's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaac Hetfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clifton throws a punch but it's blocked by Hetfield.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hetfield.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Clifton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hetfield's brow.
Clifton slows down the pace here.
A head punch on the inside from Clifton fails to land.
Hetfield blocks an uppercut.
Clifton has a couple of punches blocked by Hetfield.
Clifton throws an elbow that misses.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Clifton in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hetfield looking for a takedown.
Hetfield dodges an elbow strike from Clifton.
Clifton content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Clifton swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Clifton gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hetfield.
A bit of stalling here from Clifton.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Craig Clifton.
Clifton fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clifton moves in looking to clinch but Hetfield pushes him off.
Clifton throws a right and a left that Hetfield avoids nicely.
Clifton looks to clinch
and Hetfield counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Clifton moves in looking to clinch but Hetfield pushes him off.
Clifton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hetfield misses with a takedown attempt - Clifton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Clifton tries to clinch but Hetfield moves out of range.
Clifton throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Clifton tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hetfield was well out of range. Poor timing from Clifton.

Clifton has Hetfield up against the cage in a clinch.
Clifton throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hetfield avoids the elbow strike from Clifton, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hetfield avoids the elbow strike from Clifton, against the cage.
Hetfield drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Clifton gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hetfield blocks an elbow strike.
Hetfield goes for a takedown attempt but Clifton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hetfield fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Isaac Hetfield is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Clifton takes the fight into the clinch.
Hetfield lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Clifton backwards.
Hetfield goes for a takedown in the clinch but Clifton prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hetfield misses with a short punch on the inside.
Clifton dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hetfield wants a takedown but no success here.
Clifton looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hetfield dodges an elbow strike from Clifton.
Clifton has a couple of punches blocked by Hetfield.
Hetfield goes for a takedown attempt but Clifton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hetfield shoots in looking for a takedown but Clifton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hetfield's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Craig Clifton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hetfield tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Clifton swivels and escapes.
Hetfield fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Clifton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Isaac Hetfield's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Clifton tries a head kick but it misses.

Clifton darts in and clinches Hetfield up against the cage.
Hetfield blocks an elbow strike from Clifton.
Clifton misses with an elbow over the top.
Clifton throws a head punch that misses.
Clifton lands a right hand.
Hetfield misses with a punch to the body.
Clifton throws a punch but it's blocked by Hetfield.

Hetfield has hold of one of Clifton's legs. Clifton is fighting the takedown attempt but Hetfield gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Clifton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hetfield gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hetfield is pushing down on Clifton's leg trying to pass to half guard. Clifton is fighting to maintain full guard but Hetfield has managed to sneak the leg through.

Clifton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hetfield pulls his head out easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hetfield sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Clifton defending well though.

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

Clifton has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Hetfield is in real trouble here. Clifton gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Hetfield is tapping out! Clifton wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Craig Clifton!
During a confident post fight interview, Craig Clifton thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.