PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clayton Laurence (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clayton Laurence could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Paul Phoenix's chin.

Laurence
vs
Phoenix

190 cm
30
245 lbs
7 - 13 - 0

189 cm
49
241 lbs
30 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Clayton Laurence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 21 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Paul Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix tries to land a leg kick but Laurence saw it coming and moves away.
Nice jab there from Phoenix.

Phoenix moves into the clinch successfully.
Laurence softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Laurence scores with a hook to the body.
Laurence managing to block the knees to the body from Phoenix.
A nice left hand lands by Laurence.
Laurence stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Phoenix misses with a short punch on the inside.
Laurence lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Phoenix or not.
Phoenix looks winded!
Nice body punch from Laurence - that landed with a thud.
Phoenix looking to throw knees to the head but Laurence is blocking nicely.

Laurence pulls Phoenix into guard.
Laurence looking for a sweep. Not yet Laurence, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Laurence throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laurence has Phoenix pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laurence striking off his back, scoring a few points.

Laurence is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Phoenix is aware though and is defending well.
Laurence is trying to control the position but Phoenix postures up.
Laurence is controlling Phoenix's posture.
Phoenix throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Laurence wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Laurence has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Phoenix has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Laurence gets control of Phoenix's arms and successfully pulls guard. Laurence will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Laurence works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Laurence working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Phoenix doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Phoenix manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Phoenix throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Laurence works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Laurence is on top in guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Laurence connects with a couple of short punches.
Laurence seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Phoenix looking for a sweep. Not yet Phoenix, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix keeping full guard, as Laurence tries to pass.
Laurence is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Laurence's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Laurence landing with the ground and pound.
Laurence is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Laurence trying to control but Phoenix is working from the bottom.

Laurence got a little sloppy there for a moment and Phoenix has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Laurence has managed to get both his arms back between Phoenix's legs - danger averted.
Laurence sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laurence forces his way into half guard.

Phoenix with the active half guard here but Laurence passes nicely into side control.
Phoenix is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Laurence staying calm.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phoenix is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice straight punches there by Laurence. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Laurence.
Laurence shoots in for a takedown but Phoenix shows good takedown defense.
Laurence misses the shot to the body.
Phoenix looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Laurence.
Phoenix swings for the body but Laurence moves out of range.
Paul Phoenix seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laurence bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Laurence tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Phoenix looks to land a right hand but Laurence moved out of range.
Laurence tries to work over Phoenix's front leg with a kick but Phoenix checks it.
Phoenix blocks a leg kick.
Phoenix throws a solid leg kick but Laurence takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Phoenix.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Phoenix tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Laurence counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Laurence clinches.
Laurence misses with a hook to the ribs.
Phoenix has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Laurence after a bit of a struggle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix prevents a body shot from Laurence.
Phoenix misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Phoenix with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Laurence manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Laurence is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Phoenix is aware though and is defending well.
Laurence looking to control.
Laurence pulls Phoenix in to control the position.
Phoenix loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Laurence is adopting a defensive guard.
Phoenix looking to sit in guard and control but Laurence gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Laurence pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phoenix is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix wants to sweep but no luck.
Clayton Laurence overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Laurence stands up over Phoenix, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
We've been hearing that Laurence has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Laurence postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Phoenix looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Laurence is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Phoenix can do to turn this around?

Phoenix working for a triangle but Laurence defends it easily.
Laurence trying to control but Phoenix is working from the bottom.
Laurence lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phoenix is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Laurence is aware though and is defending well.
Laurence slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Laurence stopping the sweep attempt from Phoenix.
Laurence lands a couple of elbows.
Laurence distracts Phoenix with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Phoenix has his foot on Laurence's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Laurence works his way back into a safe position though.
Laurence trying to control but Phoenix is working from the bottom.
Laurence postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laurence scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Laurence sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Laurence trying to control but Phoenix is working from the bottom.
Laurence scoring with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Laurence postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Phoenix is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Laurence stands up over Phoenix, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clayton Laurence dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

The fight stays on the outside here - Phoenix looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Phoenix misses the jab.
Phoenix drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Phoenix moves in looking to clinch but Laurence pushes him off.
Laurence thows a body kick. Phoenix tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Phoenix looks to land a right hand but Laurence moved out of range.

Laurence shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Laurence was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Phoenix takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Laurence trying to control the position but Phoenix is working away.
Laurence lands a nice forearm strike.
Phoenix is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laurence wants to lay and pray for a moment but Phoenix keeps working.
Laurence scores with a couple of short elbows.
Laurence has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Laurence working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Phoenix is rocked!
Laurence lands a big elbow - Phoenix is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Phoenix is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Clayton Laurence!
Clayton Laurence 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.