PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Cleary (ranked 4174 p4p, 554 weight class) and Jon Snitch (ranked 3630 p4p, 494 weight class). 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.

Cleary
vs
Snitch

172 cm
27
183 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

183 cm
26
173 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Amped Performance

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Patrick Cleary!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jon Snitch!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Kavanagh and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Snitch paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cleary shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Snitch sprawls well. Snitch wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cleary gets slowly back to his feet.
Snitch lands a jab to the nose.
Snitch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Snitch waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cleary.
Snitch's coach down at Westside Martial Arts was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Snitch's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Snitch shoots in for a takedown but Cleary shows good takedown defense.
A quick step to the side and Cleary tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Cleary feints and as Snitch raises his hands in defense, Cleary changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cleary looking to pass the guard.
Snitch is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cleary is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snitch sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Snitch trying to mount his opponent but Cleary defends it.
Cleary wants to improve his position but Snitch is controlling well.
Snitch is trying to control. Cleary wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cleary is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Midnight MMA that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Snitch stops Cleary from getting back to his feet.
Cleary tries to roll over but Snitch keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Snitch controlling the action here.
Cleary is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Snitch prevents Cleary from standing back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cleary misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Snitch keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cleary.
Cleary just misses with a punch to the body.
Cleary shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Good exchange - Snitch coming out on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleary circles away from the clinch attempt
and Cleary counters with a stiff right hand.

Cleary gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cleary lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Snitch blocking some punches.
Cleary drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Cleary. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Snitch slows down the pace here.
Snitch landing knees to the body.
Cleary working aggressively here.
Cleary lands a right hand.
Snitch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleary scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Cleary gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Snitch regains guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cleary stopping the sweep attempt from Snitch.
Cleary might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Snitch controlling Cleary's posture.
Snitch tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cleary is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cleary wants to control from the top but Snitch keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jon Snitch will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Snitch cracks Cleary with an open hand slap.
Snitch avoids the body shot from Cleary.
Snitch bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Snitch lands a lovely overhand right.
Cleary works the jab nicely.
Cleary swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Cleary takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Snitch lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cleary misses with a wild body shot.
Snitch scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cleary doesn't seem bothered though.
Cleary is looking to wear down Snitch with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A punch lands to the side of Cleary 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Good work by Cleary as he checks the leg kick.
Snitch shoots for a double leg takedown but Cleary sprawls well. He's pushed Snitch's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cleary tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Snitch counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Snitch fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cleary, pushing him back against the cage.
Cleary is trying to drag Snitch to the mat but Snitch just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cleary softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleary misses with the head strike.
Cleary tries to score a body lock takedown but Snitch shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cleary misses with some punches.
Cleary drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Cleary. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The referee calls for Snitch to work.
Cleary digs a right hand into Snitch's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Snitch's gas tank.
Cleary has a couple of punches blocked by Snitch.
Snitch takes a knee to the side of the body.
A head punch on the inside from Cleary fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cleary lands a left hand that snaps the head of Snitch backwards.
Snitch blocks an uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cleary misses with a short punch on the inside.
Snitch prevents the takedown attempt.
Cleary throws a head punch that misses.
Cleary drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Snitch gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cleary wants a takedown.
Cleary goes for a takedown attempt but Snitch pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Snitch has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Cleary closes the distance and clinches up with Snitch, looking for a takedown. Cleary pushes Snitch against the cage but Snitch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Snitch moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cleary tries to close the distance and clinch up but Snitch swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snitch cracks Cleary with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cleary throws a hook but Snitch avoids it easily.
Snitch connects with a looping right hand.
Patrick Cleary seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Snitch scores with a decent looking hook.
Snitch tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Cleary to counter with a crisp jab.
Cleary smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Cleary throws a jab when Snitch was well out of range.
Jon Snitch seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Snitch shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cleary as he jumps to the side.
Cleary waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Snitch.
Donk. Snitch catches Cleary right on the button with a cross.
Cleary shoots in but Snitch avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Snitch is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleary avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Snitch might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Cleary slips under a jab from Snitch.
No luck for Snitch with that takedown attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cleary shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Snitch but Snitch pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Cleary manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Snitch on his heels. He'll look to pass Snitch's guard now, I'm sure.

Snitch wriggles free and stands up.
Snitch wants to clinch.
Nice defenses there by Snitch.
Cleary checks the leg kick.
Snitch shoots in for a takedown but Cleary shows good takedown defense.
Cleary takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Snitch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Cleary shoots in for a takedown but Snitch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Snitch misses with a body shot.
Snitch tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cleary swivels and escapes.
Snitch has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Snitch there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cleary scores with a hook.

Cleary clinches up with Snitch and pushes him back against the cage.
Snitch can't get the takedown.
Cleary wants a takedown but no success here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cleary is trying to maintain a safe position but Snitch gets an underhook and turns Cleary into the cage.
Snitch holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Snitch controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd are getting on Snitch's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Snitch blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleary lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Snitch backwards.
Cleary swings wildly with an uppercut but Snitch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Snitch goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cleary prevents it.
Patrick Cleary has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Snitch.
Snitch is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Snitch tries to score a body lock takedown but Cleary shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cleary lands a shoulder strike.
Snitch prevents Cleary from breaking the clinch.
Cleary tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jon Snitch is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snitch tries to score a body lock takedown but Cleary shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Snitch prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cleary drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cleary is trying to force a seperation but Snitch has the dominant position.
Snitch blocks an uppercut.
Snitch is pressed up against the cage. Cleary has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Snitch down to the mat. Snitch avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Snitch scores with a nice right hand.
Snitch connects with a body shot.
Cleary connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Snitch's hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Cleary throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Snitch connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cleary's hands.
Cleary throws a looping overhand right but Snitch ducks down to avoid it.
Cleary throws a lazy right hand but Snitch sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Snitch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cleary's waist but Cleary gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Snitch off to one side.
Snitch's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cleary under the eye.
Cleary is trying hard to land a takedown here. Snitch sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Snitch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A big left from Cleary misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Cleary misses the target.
Cleary throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cleary on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Cleary moves to clinch but Snitch breaks away

and Snitch counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Cleary working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Snitch doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Snitch manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Snitch won't allow Cleary to get back to his feet.
Cleary can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Snitch controls the pace.
Snitch must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cleary pulls Snitch in close to prevent any damage.
Snitch is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Patrick Cleary has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cleary is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Snitch is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Patrick Cleary.
I think Snitch has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!