PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Clifton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ikki De Fenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De Fenix has chosen Killing Inside as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Clifton
vs
De Fenix

179 cm
25
176 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

180 cm
24
175 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Solid chin

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 11 - 10 - 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 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ikki De Fenix!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Dmitry Maklakov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clifton is on the wrong end of a nice combination from De Fenix.
De Fenix throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
De Fenix digs a good body shot into Clifton's ribs.
De Fenix ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Clifton moves away.
Clifton slips under a jab from De Fenix.
Clifton tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but De Fenix swivels and escapes.
Clifton doesn't succeed with the takedown
and De Fenix counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
De Fenix looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
De Fenix lands a slapping body shot.
A punch combination from De Fenix misses.
De Fenix tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
De Fenix connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
De Fenix lands a slapping body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Clifton misses with a takedown
and De Fenix connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Clifton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clifton shoots and misses
and De Fenix counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Clifton shoots for a double leg takedown but De Fenix sprawls well. He's pushed Clifton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
De Fenix goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
De Fenix misses with a head kick.
Clifton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Craig Clifton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clifton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says De Fenix as he avoids it easily.
De Fenix lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
De Fenix tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clifton was well out of range. Poor timing from De Fenix.

Clifton shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Clifton is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. De Fenix doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Clifton.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clifton wants to work for an arm triangle but De Fenix is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
De Fenix 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.
Clifton wants to free his trapped foot but De Fenix is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Fenix wants to get back to full guard.
De Fenix has his hands clasped together around Clifton's back. He's all about the action.

Clifton is working for a kimura but De Fenix is defending it quite comfortably.
Clifton looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Clifton 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.
Clifton trying to control from half guard but De Fenix is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Clifton is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikki De Fenix dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Clifton changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. De Fenix looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Clifton is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, De Fenix has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clifton looking to control but instead De Fenix has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Clifton is sneakily working for an arm triangle but De Fenix sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clifton keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
De Fenix has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Clifton wants to pass the guard but De Fenix is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Fenix keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
De Fenix really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Clifton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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

Clifton is looking for a kimura here.

Clifton is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Clifton is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. De Fenix doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Clifton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
De Fenix is staying active underneath Clifton, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

De Fenix is defending against the submission attempts here by Clifton.
Clifton seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but De Fenix does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clifton is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Clifton trying to control from half guard but De Fenix is working away.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
De Fenix stuffs the takedown.

Clifton shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in De Fenix's guard.

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

Clifton looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clifton is trying to keep De Fenix in close.

Clifton looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Clifton looking for subs off his back but De Fenix has passed one foot through into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Clifton dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Clifton fails to land the takedown.
Clifton shoots in but De Fenix avoids the takedown attempt easily.
De Fenix is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Clifton rather than just go for the knockout.

Clifton gets a double leg takedown into De Fenix's guard.
De Fenix controls Clifton momentarily but Clifton frees himself.
Clifton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clifton trying to control the position from guard on top but De Fenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've been hearing that Clifton has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Clifton is really struggling to control De Fenix but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Clifton tries to free his leg and advance position but De Fenix is retaining full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Clifton slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
De Fenix is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Clifton misses with the ground and pound.
Clifton works to advance to full mount. De Fenix defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
De Fenix is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
De Fenix is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clifton wants to control the action but instead De Fenix gets a body lock and reverses into Clifton's guard! Nice work!

Clifton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and De Fenix defends well.
De Fenix preventing the sweep.
Clifton trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifton looking to hit a scissor sweep but De Fenix is one step ahead there.
De Fenix must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Clifton is on top in guard.

De Fenix looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Clifton stops De Fenix from standing up.
Craig Clifton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Clifton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Clifton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
De Fenix preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Clifton trying to control the position from guard on top but De Fenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clifton stands and throws De Fenix's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Clifton is looking to take a break and control but De Fenix is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Clifton wants to take a breather but De Fenix manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Clifton.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Clifton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Clifton has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Clifton!
Craig Clifton thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Ikki De Fenix spoke after the fight, saying 'he was the better man tonight. '.