PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Neil Patrick Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Clifton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Patrick Harris
vs
Clifton

183 cm
25
180 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

179 cm
22
176 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Neil Patrick Harris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Craig Clifton!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clifton dives in and grabs Harris's left leg, looking for a takedown. Harris pushes down on Clifton's head and hops out.

Clifton decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Harris's coaches at Iron Fist Training have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Clifton wants to pass the guard but Harris is defending well.
Still in half guard, Clifton seems content to control.
Clifton prevents Harris from standing back up.
Clifton tries to pass to full mount but Harris defends it.

Clifton is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Harris as he works his way to full guard.
Harris wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Clifton manages to pass to side control.
Clifton is trying to control the action in half guard but Harris is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris is looking to improve his position.
Clifton trying to mount his opponent but Harris defends it.

Harris is defending against the submission attempts here by Clifton.
Harris is looking for a sweep. Clifton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Clifton not doing much here.

Clifton is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clifton is trying to control the action in half guard but Harris is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Harris tries to get to full guard but Clifton has control of the leg.

Harris is defending against the submission attempts here by Clifton.

Clifton is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clifton is working for a submission of some sort.

Clifton is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Harris looks like he's trying to stand up.
Clifton is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Harris!
Harris is trying to stand.

Clifton moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Harris has worked his arm free - good work by Harris!
Clifton wants to control but Harris is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Clifton dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Clifton feints and as Harris raises his hands in defense, Clifton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Harris looking for a sweep. Not yet Harris, not yet.
Clifton controls from within his opponent's guard.
Harris wants to stand and escape but Clifton is having none of it.

Clifton drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Harris manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Clifton has Harris in his guard.

Clifton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Harris defends well.
Harris trying to control the position from guard on top but Clifton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clifton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Harris can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Harris avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harris trying to control the position from guard on top but Clifton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Clifton looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Harris passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clifton is pressing down on Harris's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Clifton is pulling down on Harris's head to control his posture.

Harris decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Clifton with a lazy takedown attempt
and Harris counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Craig Clifton has been cut.
Neil Patrick Harris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
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!
Clifton tries for a takedown but Harris circles away easily
and Harris counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Clifton misses with a takedown attempt

and Harris counters with a shoot takedown. Clifton fights it but they end up in guard.
Neil Patrick Harris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Clifton.
Harris is looking to stand up but Clifton won't let him.
Harris throwing strikes from guard but Clifton blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clifton is looking for a triangle here but Harris uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Harris throws an elbow but Clifton slips to the side and avoids it well.
Clifton tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Harris wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Harris stands up and beckons Clifton to his feet.
Clifton shoots in but no luck this time.
Clifton misses with a takedown
and Harris counters with a left and a right that stings Clifton.
Clifton misses with a takedown
and Harris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Clifton is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clifton misses with a takedown
and Harris counters with a one-two to the body.

Clifton is rocked!
No joy there for Harris, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Harris lands a nice leg kick that just misses Clifton's sensitive parts.
Clifton with a lazy takedown attempt

and Harris holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Clifton tightens his grip and picks Harris up, before dumping him to the ground. Harris manages to land in guard.
Clifton prevents Harris from getting back to his feet.

Harris is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Clifton frees his head nicely. Oh but Harris has switched to an armbar! Clifton is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Neil Patrick Harris!
Neil Patrick Harris decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.