PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Romano Redz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Clifton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Redz
vs
Clifton

180 cm
31
187 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

179 cm
28
191 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Romano Redz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Craig Clifton!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Redz misses with a body shot.
Redz fails to land with a series of punches.
Clifton moves out of range of the strikes.
Clifton tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Clifton fails to land the takedown.

Clifton throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Redz tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Clifton is in Redz's guard.
Clifton wants to pass the guard but Redz is keeping the position.
Clifton preventing the sweep.
Clifton works over Redz with some ground and pound from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clifton looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Redz keeping moving, preventing Clifton from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Redz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Clifton looking for a sweep. Not yet Clifton, not yet.
Redz lands a couple of digs.
Redz trying to control but Clifton is working from the bottom.
Clifton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Redz is one step ahead there.
Redz passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clifton is looking for a sweep. Redz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Redz content to control rather than advance.
Clifton wants to improve his position but Redz is controlling well.
Redz wants to control but Clifton is keeping him busy.
Clifton trying to control but Redz postures up.

Redz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Clifton is just riding it out for now. Redz eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redz throwing shots but Clifton is blocking nicely.
Redz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Redz is nestled in close to Clifton, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Redz slows the pace down in half guard.
Clifton is looking for a sweep. Redz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Clifton is staying active underneath Redz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Redz is looking to stall here but Clifton recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Clifton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Redz defends well.

Clifton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Redz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Redz trying to control but Clifton is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Redz throws a big right hand that misses.
Redz distracts Clifton with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romano Redz dominated that 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.

Clifton shoots in for a takedown but Redz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Clifton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Redz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Clifton fails with the takedown.
Romano Redz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Clifton.
Clifton fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Redz avoids it really well and circles away.
Redz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Clifton fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Redz lands a jab to the head.
Redz throws a jab when Clifton was well out of range.
Redz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Clifton can do to turn this around?
Redz misses with an uppercut.
Clifton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Redz but Redz pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifton with a lazy takedown attempt
and Redz counters with a stiff right hand.
Decent striking displayed by Redz there.
Redz throws out a loose jab but Clifton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Clifton misses with a takedown attempt
and Redz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jab from Redz.
Redz digs a good body shot into Clifton's ribs.
Redz works Clifton's body with a nice hook.
Clifton takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Clifton moves out of range as Redz strikes.
Redz lands with a nice body punch.
Craig Clifton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Redz with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clifton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Redz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Clifton somewhat.
Redz lands with an overhand left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Redz connects with the punch.
Clifton avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Redz misses with a hook.

Clifton closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Clifton is looking to stall here but Redz recovers full guard.
Clifton passes Redz's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Clifton is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Clifton is looking to stall here but Redz recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redz controlling the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Clifton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Redz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Redz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Redz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Redz wants to control from the top but Clifton keeps moving.

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.
Redz postures up.
Clifton working a defensive guard but Redz manages to pass into side control anyway.
Redz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Clifton keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Clifton bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Redz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clifton was well out of range. Poor timing from Redz.
Redz takes a swing at Clifton's ribcage but misses.
Clifton closes the distance and clinches up with Redz, looking for a takedown. Clifton pushes Redz against the ropes but Redz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Clifton closes this distance looking for a takedown but Redz circles away.

Clifton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Clifton goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Redz has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Clifton but great work by Redz.
Clifton tries to buck Redz off but Redz is having none of it.
Redz controls the position.
Redz lands some shots froms side control.
Redz staying calm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifton is looking for a sweep.
Clifton manages to get back to half guard.
Redz stalling.
Redz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Redz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Redz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Clifton does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Redz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Redz is trying to control the action in half guard but Clifton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Clifton works his way to full guard. Good work.
Clifton trying to keep a closed guard but Redz is proving a slippery customer.
Redz is looking to work some ground and pound but Clifton has wrist control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifton takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Clifton misses with a takedown attempt
and Redz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Romano Redz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Clifton.
Redz scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Redz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Redz lands with a hook. Clifton tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Clifton shoots and misses
and Redz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Redz.
Romano Redz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Clifton slips under a jab.

Clifton dives in and scores a takedown into Redz's guard.
Romano Redz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clifton trying to control but Redz is working from the bottom.
Clifton throws a big right hand that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Redz is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Redz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Craig Clifton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Clifton looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Redz passes into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Clifton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Clifton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Redz advances position into side control!
Redz wants to control but Clifton is keeping him busy.
Clifton is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Romano Redz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Redz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

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