PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cranium Basher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyson Clay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Basher
vs
Clay

162 cm
30
155 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

170 cm
27
147 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cranium Basher!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Tyson Clay!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Basher. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Basher.
Clay shoots in but no luck this time.
Basher missing with a left hand there. Clay was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Clay uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Basher.
Clay throws a looping overhand right but Basher ducks down to avoid it.
Clay misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Clay feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Bashers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cranium Basher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Basher thows a body shot but no joy.
Clay uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Basher.
Clay fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Basher manages to avoid it.
Basher throws a good cross that connects.
Basher just misses with a punch to the body.
Basher 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.
Clay stuffs the takedown.
Nice defenses there by Clay.
Clay misses with a hook.
Clay takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Basher scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Basher throwing shots but Clay is blocking nicely.
Clay regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basher slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Clay tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Basher with the ground and pound but Clay regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Basher missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Clay has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Clay blocking the ground and pound attempt from Basher.
Basher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Clay has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Basher is working away from the top position though.
Clay avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Basher.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basher throwing shots but Clay is blocking nicely.
Basher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Clay on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Clay trying to control but Basher postures up.
Basher is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Basher sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Clay defending well though.
Clay has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Basher is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basher throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Clay blocking the ground and pound attempt from Basher.
Basher wants to take a breather but Clay is having none of it.
Basher sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Clay defending well though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Basher lands a nice short elbow.
Basher wants to control but Clay is keeping him busy.
Clay preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Basher throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Clay keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basher looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Clay with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Basher is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Clay is looking for a sweep. Basher is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Basher throwing shots but Clay is blocking nicely.
Basher thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Clay's head.
Clay wants to control but Basher is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Basher is looking to advance position but Clay won't allow it.
Basher is trying to control the action in half guard but Clay is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cranium Basher dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Basher misses the shot to the body.
Clay swings widly with a right hand

so Basher counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Clay trying to control the position.
Clay working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Basher.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Basher loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Clay keeping moving, preventing Basher from controlling successfully.
Basher with a flurry of punches that miss.
Basher throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basher throwing strikes but missing.
Basher is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Basher lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Basher lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Basher throwing strikes but missing.
Basher wants to control from the top but Clay keeps moving.
Basher throwing strikes from guard but Clay blocks nicely.
Clay is trying to control the position but Basher postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basher trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Clay is trying to keep Basher in close.
Clay working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Basher.
Basher missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Basher is looking to work some ground and pound but Clay has wrist control.
Basher throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Basher looking to sit in guard and control but Clay gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Basher is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Basher is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Clay is aware though and is defending well.
Basher tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Basher is on top in guard.
Clay can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Basher controls the pace.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Clay is on top in guard.
Clay stopping the sweep attempt from Basher.
Clay trying to control but Basher is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clay stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Basher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Basher tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clay working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Basher looking for a sweep. Not yet Basher, not yet.
Clay throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Basher not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Clay with a flurry of punches that miss.
Clay in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Clay throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clay won't allow Basher to sweep him here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clay is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Basher escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Clay gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Basher has momentary wrist control but Clay slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cranium Basher dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Basher throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Clay stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Basher dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Basher lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Clay circles away quickly and effectively.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Clay!
Basher tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clay was well out of range. Poor timing from Basher.
Basher misses with a wild body shot.
Basher lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Clay circles away quickly and effectively.
Sloppy strikes from Clay. Those never looked like landing.
Clay throws an off balance right hand

and Basher counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Clay!
Basher wants to take a breather but Clay manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Basher.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clay preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Clay bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Basher's guard.

Basher working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Clay doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Clay manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basher wants to hit a switch here but Clay passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Basher there!
Basher tries to hold on but Clay pushes him away.
Basher really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Clay lands a big elbow.
Basher sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Clay works his way into side control.
Clay trying to control the position but Basher is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basher taking a bit of punishment here - Clay scoring with strikes.
Clay working the head and body with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes there by Clay.
Clay working away.

Clay wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Basher, who protects the arm well.
Basher takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Basher tries to buck Clay off but Clay is having none of it.

Clay is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Basher is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Clay tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Clay working the ground and pound but Basher is defending the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basher tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Clay wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Basher struggling a bit here.
Clay cracks Basher with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Clay tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Clay is looking to take a break and control but Basher is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Clay scores with punches from side control.
Basher manages to work his way to half guard, despite Clay's best efforts.
Clay not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Basher gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clay lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Basher keeping moving, preventing Clay from controlling successfully.

Basher has his foot on Clay's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Clay works his way back into a safe position though.
Clay content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Basher is trying to keep Clay in close.
Basher looking for a sweep. Not yet Basher, not yet.
Clay chips away with some ground and pound.
Clay with a flurry of punches that miss.
Clay stopping the sweep attempt from Basher.
Cranium Basher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Basher working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Clay is defended easily by Basher.
Basher shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Clay shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Clay with a flurry of punches that miss.
Clay chips away with some ground and pound.

Clay got a little sloppy there for a moment and Basher has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Clay has managed to get both his arms back between Basher's legs - danger averted.
Clay trying to control but Basher is working from the bottom.
Clay tries to free his leg and advance position but Basher is retaining full guard.
Clay has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Clay with a flurry of punches that miss.
Basher wants to sweep here but Clay controlling him for the moment.
Basher is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Basher is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Clay has gone for a leg lock! Basher slips out almost immediately though and dives into Clay's guard.
Basher throwing strikes but missing.
Clay keeping moving, preventing Basher from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Clay is on top in guard.
Basher working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Clay.

Clay is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Basher is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Basher has escaped and now he's on top!
Clay looking to control.
Basher trying to control the position from guard on top but Clay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Basher chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Basher postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Basher postures up.
Basher is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Clay looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Clay trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tyson Clay was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Clay throws the left hand but Basher avoids the punch easily.
Clay connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Basher's hands.
Clay scores with a jab to the body.
Clay takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Clay drops his hands momentarily and Basher takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Basher throws the left hand but Clay avoids the punch easily.

Clay feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Clay stopping the sweep attempt from Basher.
Clay trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clay passes Basher's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Basher is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Clay dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Basher lands a nice looking body shot.
Basher shoots in for a takedown but Clay shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Basher ducks under a wild hook from Clay.
Clay throws a hook to the side of Basher's head but Basher sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Basher misses with a hook.
Basher avoids the body shot from Clay.
Basher looks to throw the jab but Clay is out of range.
Clay leaves Basher with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Clay scores with a crisp jab that stopped Basher in his tracks.
Basher's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Clay connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Basher scrambles back to his feet.
Basher ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Clay moves away.
Basher lands with a straight right. Clay didn't see that one coming.
Clay misses with a body shot.
Basher tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Clay swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cranium Basher. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Clay drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clay makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay passes Basher's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Clay perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Basher trying to hold on to Clay's head to control him but Clay postures up.
Basher is trying to get back to full guard.
Basher gets full guard.
Clay won't allow Basher to sweep him here.
Clay looking to pass the guard.

Basher is looking for a triangle but Clay pushes his legs off easily.
Basher is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Clay scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Basher tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clay trying to control but Basher is working from the bottom.
Basher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Clay is one step ahead there.
Clay works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Clay looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Basher is refusing to be controlled, as Clay sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clay is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Basher has managed to free his arm - good work.
Basher gets full guard.
Clay lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Clay working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Basher's head.
Basher keeping full guard, as Clay tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Basher working for a triangle but Clay defends it easily.
Basher is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basher is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Basher connects with a nice short shot to Clay's temple.
Clay is looking for a sweep. Basher is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Basher keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ground and pound from Basher.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clay tries to roll over but Basher keeps him under control.
Basher throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Clay to regain full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tyson Clay.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 47:48
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 47:48
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyson Clay!
Tyson Clay is the new featherweight champion!
A relieved looking Tyson Clay thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.