PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Clifton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Craig Clifton has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Clifton
vs
Malone

179 cm
32
191 lbs
17 - 18 - 0

190 cm
28
195 lbs
2 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

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 17 - 18 - 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 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sam Malone!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clifton darts in looking for a takedown but Malone gets double underhooks and turns Clifton into the cage.
Clifton defending well as Malone loads up on a big left hand.
Clifton appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sam Malone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Malone, as that shot connected.
Malone misses with a hook.
Malone lands with an overhand left.

Clifton feints and as Malone raises his hands in defense, Clifton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Malone is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Clifton stopping the sweep attempt from Malone.
Malone trying to control the position.
Clifton throwing strikes from guard but Malone blocks nicely.
Malone is controlling Clifton's posture.

Malone throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Clifton with a flurry of punches that miss.
Malone will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Clifton trying to control but Malone is working from the bottom.
Malone is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
No joy there for Malone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Malone bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Clifton's head backwards.

It looks like Craig Clifton has been cut.
Nice shot by Malone.
Clifton shoots in but Malone avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Malone throws out a counter right but Clifton avoids it with no problem.
Clifton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Clifton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malone misses with an uppercut. Clifton saw that one coming.

Clifton dives in and scores a takedown into Malone's guard.
Malone looking for a sweep. Not yet Malone, not yet.
Malone can't keep his opponent in guard - Clifton advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Malone wants to get back to his feet.
Clifton trying to mount his opponent but Malone defends it.
Clifton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Clifton working over Malone with some ground and pound. Malone looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clifton trying to pass the guard but Malone defending well.
Clifton frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Clifton fails to move to back control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifton tries to control but Malone wriggling away.
Malone tries to reverse the position but Clifton maintains control.
Clifton raining down shots from the mount!
The referee warns Malone that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Malone tries to reverse the position but Clifton maintains control.
Clifton wants to control the pace but Malone is squirming around nicely.
Clifton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Malone just holding on.
Malone manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Malone regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Clifton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone looking to hit a scissor sweep but Clifton is one step ahead there.
Clifton trying to control the position from guard on top but Malone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clifton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Malone looking to hit a scissor sweep but Clifton is one step ahead there.
Clifton trying to control but Malone is working from the bottom.
Clifton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malone keeping full guard, as Clifton tries to pass.
Clifton trying to control the position from guard on top but Malone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Craig Clifton will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Craig Clifton's cut.
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.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Malone enables Clifton to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Malone manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Malone wants to sweep here but Clifton controlling him for the moment.
Malone is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Malone is adopting a defensive guard.
Clifton sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Malone's guard.
Clifton is trying to control. Malone wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clifton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Clifton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Malone wants to improve his position but Clifton is controlling well.
Malone taking some punishment here, with Clifton in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone has hold of Clifton's hands but Clifton slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Malone 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.
Malone is trying to control but can't.
Malone is staying active underneath Clifton, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Malone regains full guard. Nicely done.
Clifton looking to sit in guard and control but Malone gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Malone must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Malone postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Malone stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Clifton has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Malone manages to get his head free but now Clifton has transitioned to an armbar! Malone grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Clifton! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Craig Clifton!
A relieved looking Craig Clifton thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.