PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erick Clap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao De Santo Cristo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De Santo Cristo has chosen Que país é esse? as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Clap
vs
De Santo Cristo

172 cm
24
165 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

174 cm
27
165 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Erick Clap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao De Santo Cristo!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

De Santo Cristo gets a clinch.
Clap prevents a takedown attempt there.
Clap tries to throw a body punch but De Santo Cristo avoids it by throwing Clap back against the cage.
De Santo Cristo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Clap or not.
A head punch on the inside from Clap fails to land.
De Santo Cristo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Clap trying to stall but De Santo Cristo improves his position.

De Santo Cristo has picked Clap up - he's going for a ride! De Santo Cristo dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Clap wants to get back to full guard.

De Santo Cristo seems to be looking for submissions.
De Santo Cristo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Clap knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Clap actively working from the bottom here.
De Santo Cristo slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clap wants to control but De Santo Cristo is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Clap actively working from the bottom here.

Clap looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
De Santo Cristo lands strikes from half guard.

Clap actively working from the bottom here.
Clap taking some punishment here, with De Santo Cristo in his half guard.

De Santo Cristo is working for a kimura but Clap is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Clap tries to roll over but De Santo Cristo keeps him under control.
De Santo Cristo is keen to just control but Clap is a slippery customer.
De Santo Cristo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
De Santo Cristo passes to side control.

De Santo Cristo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Clap is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
De Santo Cristo in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

De Santo Cristo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Clap has escaped the position, nice work there.
Clap is trying to improve his position.
Clap is letting De Santo Cristo control him for a moment.
De Santo Cristo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Clap to see if he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Clap's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
De Santo Cristo working the ground and pound.

De Santo Cristo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Santo Cristo looks up at the clock and then as Clap takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, De Santo Cristo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
De Santo Cristo working the body and head with strikes.

Clap is rocked!
De Santo Cristo connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Clap some visible discomfort.
Oh Clap is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Clap is looking for a sweep.
De Santo Cristo controlling the position from side mount.
Clap seems to have got his legs back now.
Clap manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

De Santo Cristo is looking for a kimura but Clap is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for De Santo Cristo to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao De Santo Cristo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

De Santo Cristo misses the jab.
As De Santo Cristo backs away, Clap returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Clap thuds his shin into the meat of De Santo Cristo's side.
Clap throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
De Santo Cristo shoots for a double leg takedown but Clap sprawls well. He's pushed De Santo Cristo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Clap appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Clap comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Clap, as that shot connected.
Clap looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
De Santo Cristo tries to land a front kick but Clap steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Clap.
De Santo Cristo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Clap throws out the jab.
De Santo Cristo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
De Santo Cristo tries to land a front kick but Clap steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
De Santo Cristo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Santo Cristo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Clap lands a shot to the body.

Clap tightens his grip and picks De Santo Cristo up, before dumping him to the ground. De Santo Cristo manages to land in guard.
De Santo Cristo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Clap trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
De Santo Cristo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Clap trying to control but De Santo Cristo is working from the bottom.
De Santo Cristo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Clap wants to control from the top but De Santo Cristo keeps moving.
Clap looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Santo Cristo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Clap is one step ahead there.
De Santo Cristo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
De Santo Cristo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Clap misses with a body kick.
De Santo Cristo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

De Santo Cristo has Clap up against the cage in a clinch.
De Santo Cristo misses with a punch to the body.
De Santo Cristo lands a hook that snaps the head of Clap backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clap has a couple of punches blocked by De Santo Cristo.
Clap has a couple of punches blocked by De Santo Cristo.
Clap pushes De Santo Cristo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
De Santo Cristo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
De Santo Cristo has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Clap seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if De Santo Cristo can turn it around.
De Santo Cristo misses with a body punch.
De Santo Cristo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
De Santo Cristo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
De Santo Cristo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
De Santo Cristo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Clap's elbow.
Clap lands a right hand that snaps the head of De Santo Cristo backwards.
Clap taking a breather.

Clap has clasped his hands together around De Santo Cristo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Clap trying to control the position but De Santo Cristo is working away.

Clap working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Santo Cristo is not content to let Clap control the position.
De Santo Cristo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Joao De Santo Cristo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Clap wants to control but De Santo Cristo is keeping him busy.
De Santo Cristo won't allow Clap to pass to mount.
De Santo Cristo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Clap with a flurry of punches that miss.
This has been an exciting period of action!
De Santo Cristo keeping full guard, as Clap tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Clap dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Clap.
Clap misses with a hook
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Clap takes a jab right on the kisser.
De Santo Cristo throws a looping overhand right but Clap ducks down to avoid it.
De Santo Cristo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Clap feints and then cracks De Santo Cristo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow De Santo Cristo down.
De Santo Cristo moves into range and connects with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Santo Cristo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Clap.
Clap thows a left - swing and a miss!
Clap dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on De Santo Cristo. That did some damage!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clap tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but De Santo Cristo was well out of range. Poor timing from Clap.
Nice body punch from Clap.
Erick Clap is winning the standup battle so far.
Clap throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
De Santo Cristo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
De Santo Cristo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
De Santo Cristo moves in looking to clinch but Clap pushes him off.
Joao De Santo Cristo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

De Santo Cristo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
De Santo Cristo tries to work over Clap's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Clap lands an uppercut.
Clap is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Clap works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Clap controls from within his opponent's guard.
De Santo Cristo is pulling down on Clap's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Santo Cristo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Clap is one step ahead there.
De Santo Cristo keeping moving, preventing Clap from controlling successfully.
Clap pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. De Santo Cristo is keeping the position for now.
De Santo Cristo managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Santo Cristo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

De Santo Cristo is looking to take a break and control but Clap is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Clap gets back to full guard.
De Santo Cristo looking to pass the guard.
De Santo Cristo is fighting to break Clap's control of his arms but Clap is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
De Santo Cristo trying to control but Clap is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Santo Cristo throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
De Santo Cristo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
De Santo Cristo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
De Santo Cristo wants to pass the guard but Clap is keeping the position.
Clap is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clap wants to take a breather but De Santo Cristo is having none of it.
De Santo Cristo moves into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erick Clap showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Clap 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erick Clap!
Erick Clap took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Conviction for their support in the buildup to the fight.