PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karol Rafal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Clattenburg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johny Clattenburg 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!

Rafal
vs
Clattenburg

180 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
202 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Karol Rafal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johny Clattenburg!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clattenburg dives in and grabs Rafal's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rafal pushes down on Clattenburg's head and hops out.
Rafal could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Clattenburg darts in looking for a takedown but Rafal gets double underhooks and turns Clattenburg into the cage.

Rafal successfully pulls guard.

Rafal throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Clattenburg avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Clattenburg trying to control but Rafal is working from the bottom.
Rafal looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clattenburg postures up in Rafal's guard and throws a big left but Rafal blocks it.
Rafal lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Clattenburg!
Clattenburg tries to reverse the position but Rafal maintains control.
Clattenburg is trying to reverse the position but instead Rafal has taken his back - oops!
Rafal controlling from the back.
Rafal has the hooks in. Clattenburg is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rafal looking for the choke but no joy.
Clattenburg is trying to get back to his feet but Rafal has full control of the position and if anything, Clattenburg has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Rafal is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Clattenburg is defending well though. Rafal let's go of the attempt for now.
Rafal missing with punches from the back.

Clattenburg defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Rafal's arms.
Rafal missing with punches from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafal misses with an elbow to the head.
Clattenburg is trying to stand back up.
Clattenburg is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Rafal.

Rafal looking for the choke from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rafal trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Clattenburg doesn't escape.
Rafal throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clattenburg can't escape the position.

Clattenburg is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Clattenburg tries to escape but Rafal has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Clattenburg defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Rafal is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Clattenburg knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Clattenburg for a finish.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rafal controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karol Rafal dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Clattenburg is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rafal sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Clattenburg throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rafal.
Rafal circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rafal counters by moving into the clinch.

Rafal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Clattenburg bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rafal's head backwards.
Rafal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rafal tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Clattenburg defends well and Rafal ends up having to push Clattenburg into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Rafal jumps into guard, dragging Clattenburg to the mat.
Rafal keeping moving, preventing Clattenburg from controlling successfully.
Rafal lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Clattenburg!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clattenburg is trying to reverse the position but instead Rafal has taken his back - oops!
Clattenburg is in bad spot here.
Rafal has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Clattenburg.
Rafal throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Rafal controlling the positon.
Clattenburg just trying to survive but Rafal is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Karol Rafal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Clattenburg is in bad spot here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rafal is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Rafal trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Clattenburg doesn't escape.
Rafal connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Clattenburg to escape the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Clattenburg defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Rafal's arms.
Rafal missing with strikes from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clattenburg looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Rafal has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Clattenburg has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Rafal is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Clattenburg has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Clattenburg really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rafal. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Clattenburg controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Clattenburg is breathing heavily.
Rafal biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clattenburg has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Rafal.
Rafal slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Clattenburg wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Rafal controlling the positon.
Rafal softening up his opponent with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karol Rafal dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rafal dodges the punch combination from Clattenburg.
Clattenburg defending well as Rafal loads up on a big left hand.
Clattenburg goes for a double leg but Rafal avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rafal continues to drive forward.
Clattenburg tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rafal just stands there and leans against the cage.

Rafal breaks from the clinch.
Clattenburg closes the distance and clinches up with Rafal, looking for a takedown. Clattenburg pushes Rafal against the cage but Rafal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Karol Rafal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johny Clattenburg.
Clattenburg throws a right and a left that Rafal avoids nicely.
Clattenburg wants to clinch but Rafal slips to the side

and Rafal counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Rafal successfully pulls guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rafal holds on and takes a little breather.
Clattenburg takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rafal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Clattenburg's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafal stays in close to Clattenburg's body and controls the position.
Rafal has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Karol Rafal just wasn't active enough.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Rafal pulls guard effortlessly.
Rafal pulls Clattenburg in close to his closed guard and prevents Clattenburg from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rafal looking for a guillotine here but Clattenburg defends easily.
Rafal pulls Clattenburg in to control the position.
Rafal is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Clattenburg wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafal performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Clattenburg has a hand on Rafal's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Rafal takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Rafal jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Clattenburg manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Clattenburg tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Clattenburg's face as Rafal controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rafal stands up.
Rafal throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Clattenburg tries for a takedown but Rafal circles away easily

and Rafal holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rafal looking for a takedown.

Rafal pulls Clattenburg into guard.
Rafal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Clattenburg's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rafal is looking to work some ground and pound but Clattenburg has wrist control.
Johny Clattenburg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karol Rafal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rafal slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karol Rafal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rafal, 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karol Rafal!