PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Clifton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Sepulveda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sepulveda has chosen Bleed it out as his entrance music. The key to victory for Craig Clifton has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Clifton
vs
Sepulveda

179 cm
21
176 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

188 cm
27
170 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Craig Clifton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin Sepulveda !
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Clifton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Clifton lands in his opponent's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Clifton tries to free his leg and advance position but Sepulveda is retaining full guard.
Clifton won't allow Sepulveda to sweep him here.
Sepulveda wants to improve his position but instead Clifton has moved into half guard.
Sepulveda tries to get to full guard but Clifton has control of the leg.
Clifton has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Sepulveda actively working from the bottom here.
Sepulveda tries to get to full guard but Clifton has control of the leg.
Sepulveda felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Sepulveda actively working from the bottom here.
Sepulveda wants to get back to full guard.

Clifton wants to work for an arm triangle but Sepulveda is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Clifton is looking to take a break and control but Sepulveda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Clifton seems to be working for a kimura but Sepulveda defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clifton is working for a kimura but Sepulveda is defending it quite comfortably.

Clifton is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sepulveda is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Clifton's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Clifton's back!

Sepulveda is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Clifton defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Clifton breaks Sepulveda 's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Sepulveda escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Clifton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sepulveda wants to sweep here but Clifton controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clifton showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Clifton stopping the sweep attempt from Sepulveda .
Clifton slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Clifton is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sepulveda has escaped the position, nice work there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Clifton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sepulveda manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clifton is trying to work for a kimura but Sepulveda is defending well.
Sepulveda works his way to full guard. Good work.

Sepulveda looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Clifton advances to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Clifton in particular looking to stall.
Sepulveda is pressing down on Clifton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Sepulveda is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Clifton is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Clifton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sepulveda is keeping the position for now.
Clifton showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sepulveda wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sepulveda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Clifton defends it easily.

Sepulveda is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Clifton defends well.
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!
Sepulveda keeping moving, preventing Clifton from controlling successfully.

Sepulveda looking for a guillotine here but Clifton defends easily.
Clifton trying to control the position from guard on top but Sepulveda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Clifton drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Clifton jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
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 Craig Clifton will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sepulveda tries to sprawl but Clifton drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Sepulveda looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Clifton seems to be looking for submissions.
Sepulveda tries to get to full guard but Clifton has control of the leg.

Clifton seems to be working for a kimura but Sepulveda defends the submission attempt.
Sepulveda is looking to improve his position.
Sepulveda gets full guard.

Sepulveda throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sepulveda looking for a guillotine here but Clifton defends easily.
Clifton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sepulveda is keeping the position for now.

Clifton drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Clifton jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sepulveda looking to control.

Clifton is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sepulveda is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sepulveda has escaped and now he's on top!

Sepulveda drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sepulveda jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sepulveda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clifton is keeping the position for now.

Clifton working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sepulveda has passed into half guard!
Sepulveda moves nicely into side control.

Sepulveda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Clifton, who protects the arm well.
Clifton is looking to reverse the position.

Sepulveda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Clifton is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Sepulveda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Clifton is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifton manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Sepulveda is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Clifton holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Sepulveda wants to work for an arm triangle but Clifton is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Clifton has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sepulveda is working away from the top position though.
Sepulveda stalling away here and it's allowed Clifton to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Clifton keeping moving, preventing Sepulveda from controlling successfully.
Sepulveda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Clifton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Clifton looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sepulveda wants to control from the top but Clifton keeps moving.
Sepulveda wants to pass the guard but Clifton is keeping the position.
Sepulveda keeps trying to improve his position.
Clifton is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Clifton is looking for a triangle but Sepulveda pushes his legs off easily.

Clifton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sepulveda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sepulveda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Clifton throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sepulveda escapes and throws Clifton's legs to the side, diving into side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sepulveda tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sepulveda has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Justin Sepulveda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Clifton shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Clifton was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sepulveda is trying to get back to half guard.
Clifton trying to control the position but Sepulveda is working away.
Sepulveda is looking for a sweep.
Sepulveda sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifton trying to control the action but Sepulveda is working from the bottom.
Clifton wants to free his trapped foot but Sepulveda is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sepulveda is looking for a sweep. Clifton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sepulveda slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sepulveda keeping moving, preventing Clifton from controlling successfully.

Clifton postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sepulveda is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Clifton, into his guard.
Sepulveda forces his way into half guard.
Clifton gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sepulveda wants to pass the guard but Clifton is keeping the position.

Clifton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sepulveda defends it easily.

Clifton looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sepulveda passes into side control.
Clifton manages to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sepulveda is stalling here. Clifton is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sepulveda seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Clifton has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Sepulveda is trying to improve his position.
Justin Sepulveda has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clifton has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Sepulveda is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Clifton yanks on the arm and Sepulveda is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Clifton.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Craig Clifton!
Craig Clifton decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.