PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Seve Ballesteros (ranked 1080 p4p, 126 weight class) and Raoul Clavette (ranked 1821 p4p, 211 weight class). Ballesteros comes to the cage accompanied by Chamillionaire f. Scarface & Killer Mike - Reignfall. 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.

Ballesteros
vs
Clavette

175 cm
34
154 lbs
20 - 5 - 1

179 cm
30
150 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Seve Ballesteros!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Raoul Clavette!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clavette fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ballesteros manages to avoid it.
Clavette takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ballesteros lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Clavette checks the leg kick.
Clavette tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ballesteros swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ballesteros staying out of range there.
Sloppy strikes from Clavette. Those never looked like landing.
We've been informed that Clavette has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Raoul Clavette seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ballesteros ducks under a wild hook from Clavette.
Clavette scores with the left hand. Ballesteros knows he should have avoided that one.

Clavette throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ballesteros was covering up waiting for the punch and Clavette finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ballesteros can't keep his opponent in guard - Clavette advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ballesteros is refusing to be controlled, as Clavette sits in half guard.
Ballesteros is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ballesteros kicks off Clavette and gets to his feet.
Ballesteros misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And Clavette tries to counter it with a takedown but Ballesteros pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Clavette throws a leg kick but Ballesteros sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ballesteros is looking to counter punch.
The fighters circling - Ballesteros throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Seve Ballesteros is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Clavette lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ballesteros circles away quickly and effectively.
Clavette throws a hook to the side of Ballesteros's head but Ballesteros sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Clavette checks a leg kick nicely.
Clavette missing with a left hand there. Ballesteros was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ballesteros was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The fight stays on the outside here - Clavette looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ballesteros stuffs the takedown.
Clavette throws a low kick but Ballesteros moves out of range easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ballesteros, right into the meat.
Clavette looks to throw the jab but Ballesteros is out of range.

Clavette feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ballesteros wants to stand but Clavette is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clavette is standing up over Ballesteros. Ballesteros looks to escape but Clavette dives into side control.
The referee asks Clavette politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Clavette prefers to stall for the moment though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ballesteros explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Clavette shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ballesteros as he jumps to the side.
Ballesteros throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ballesteros throws a leg kick which misses Clavette's front leg but catches the back leg as Clavette tries to avoid it.
Clavette takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ballesteros lands with a kick to the temple. Clavette shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Clavette showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ballesteros.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clavette misses with a straight left.
Clavette with a jab.
Clavette throws a poor cross that misses
and Ballesteros counters with a stiff right hand.
Ballesteros dips to his left and cracks Clavette with an uppercut!
Clavette throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ballesteros connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ballesteros throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Clavette's head.
Ballesteros lands a jab-cross combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ballesteros. Clavette does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ballesteros uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Clavette.
Ballesteros lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ballesteros throws a shot from downtown. Clavette moves away and avoids it.
Clavette feints the counter takedown.
Clavette looks to land a combination but Ballesteros avoids it well.
Clavette dives in and grabs Ballesteros's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ballesteros pushes down on Clavette's head and hops out.
Seve Ballesteros has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raoul Clavette.
A combination from Clavette does no damage.
Ballesteros connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clavette misses with a double jab.
Clavette avoids the body shot from Ballesteros.
Clavette has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Clavette there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ballesteros lands with a right hand.
Clavette tries to close the distance and clinch but Ballesteros swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Clavette ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Clavette waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ballesteros.
Clavette takes a jab right on the kisser.
Clavette looks to land a left hand but Ballesteros moved out of range nicely.
Clavette takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Clavette on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Jab from Ballesteros.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ballesteros blocks a jab.
Ballesteros throws a jab when Clavette was well out of range.
Ballesteros bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ballesteros throws a series of punches but Clavette moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seve Ballesteros 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.

Ballesteros tries to clinch up
and Clavette connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ballesteros misses with the combination.
A big left from Clavette misses.
A quick step to the side and Ballesteros tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Clavette takes a kick to the side of the head.
Clavette looks to land a left hand but Ballesteros moved out of range nicely.
Ballesteros thinks about countering with a head kick.
Clavette lands with a straight right. Ballesteros didn't see that one coming.
Clavette tries to clinch but Ballesteros is having none of it.
Ballesteros misses with an uppercut. Clavette saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ballesteros misses with a looping left.
Ballesteros looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Clavette connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Clavette swings for the body but Ballesteros moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Clavette.
A counter left hand to the body from Ballesteros misses its target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballesteros ducks under a wild hook from Clavette.
A counter left hand to the body from Ballesteros misses its target.
Clavette misses with a hook
and Ballesteros counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ballesteros tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Clavette paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ballesteros fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Clavette, pushing him back against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ballesteros.
Ballesteros scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ballesteros lands a right hand that snaps the head of Clavette backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Clavette.
Clavette has Ballesteros pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ballesteros manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ballesteros can't find room to land a body shot as Clavette controls the action.
Clavette is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ballesteros blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Clavette is looking for a takedown.
Seve Ballesteros has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raoul Clavette.
Clavette is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ballesteros is defending well.
Ballesteros prevents the takedown attempt.
Ballesteros lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ballesteros softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Clavette misses with the head strike.
Ballesteros lands with a left to the head.

Ballesteros's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ballesteros avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ballesteros throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Ballesteros has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ballesteros there as he acknowledges the shot.
Clavette walks into a straight right hand from Ballesteros.
Ballesteros just misses with a punch to the body.

Ballesteros gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Clavette goes for a takedown attempt but Ballesteros pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sloppy strikes from Clavette. Those never looked like landing.
Clavette's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ballesteros under the eye.
The crowd cheers as Ballesteros lands an impressive looking overhand right. Clavette doesn't seem phased though.
Ballesteros is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Clavette can do to turn this around?
Nice shot lands for Ballesteros.
Raoul Clavette is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Clavette crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Ballesteros - the referee stops the clock and Clavette gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Ballesteros. Clavette manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Good shot there by Ballesteros.
Jab by Ballesteros.
Ballesteros dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ballesteros goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ballesteros dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Clavette. That did some damage!
Ballesteros throws a sloppy head kick and Clavette moves out of range easily.
Ballesteros throws out a powerful jab.
Clavette tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Seve Ballesteros is winning the standup battle so far.
Ballesteros throws a head kick that misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Clavette! But no joy.
Clavette misses with a looping right.
Ballesteros half committed to a counter leg kick.
Clavette throws a body punch but Ballesteros moves out of range.
Clavette tries to bum rush Ballesteros with a series of wild strikes but Ballesteros uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ballesteros appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ballesteros slips a jab and a cross from Clavette.
Ballesteros is looking to counter punch.
Clavette throws a right and a left that Ballesteros avoids nicely.
Ballesteros fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballesteros swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Clavette lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Clavette misses with a shot to the body
and Ballesteros counters with a straight right hand.
Good work by Clavette as he checks the leg kick.
Clavette throws an off balance right hand
and Ballesteros counters with a thumping low kick.
Ballesteros lands with a slapping head kick.
Clavette takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Ballesteros moves into the clinch.
Ballesteros lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ballesteros.
Clavette wants to take the fight to the mat but Ballesteros manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Ballesteros.
Ballesteros digs a right hand into Clavette's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Clavette's gas tank.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ballesteros lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ballesteros lands a body punch in the clinch.
Clavette's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Clavette tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ballesteros smiles and moves away.
Clavette is breathing heavily.
Ballesteros connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seve Ballesteros 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Clavette takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A shot to the liver by Clavette. Beautiful body shot.
Clavette with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ballesteros to score with a decent uppercut.
Ballesteros lands a nice leg kick that just misses Clavette's sensitive parts.
Clavette swinging wildly here.
Ballesteros shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Ballesteros clinches.
Seve Ballesteros has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ballesteros fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Clavette is working for takedown but Ballesteros is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clavette drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ballesteros lands a right hand.
Clavette's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ballesteros creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clavette is trying to drag Ballesteros to the mat but Ballesteros just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Seve Ballesteros has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raoul Clavette.

Ballesteros's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ballesteros lands a really nice looking cross but Clavette seems unphased.
Ballesteros lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Ballesteros clinches up with Clavette and pushes him back against the cage.
Ballesteros lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ballesteros lands a left hand.
I was talking to Ballesteros's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ballesteros makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Clavette.
Ballesteros with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ballesteros lands a shot to the body.
Ballesteros lands a left hand that snaps the head of Clavette backwards.
Ballesteros lands with a right to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ballesteros pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clavette misses with a punch on the inside.
Clavette blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Clavette changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ballesteros fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Clavette needs to keep his hands up - Ballesteros had a free shot at his head there.
Clavette blocks a head kick by Ballesteros.
A jab from Clavette misses.
Clavette throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ballesteros sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ballesteros.
Clavette on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A jab from Ballesteros does it's job there.
Ballesteros takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ballesteros misses with a lunging right hand
and Clavette counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ballesteros gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ballesteros throws a punch but it's blocked by Clavette.
Clavette is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ballesteros is defending well.
Ballesteros lands a left hand that snaps the head of Clavette backwards.
Ballesteros tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Clavette's elbow.
Ballesteros scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right hand to the body from Ballesteros.
Raoul Clavette has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clavette takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ballesteros lands a left hand.
Clavette goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ballesteros prevents it.
Ballesteros pushes Clavette back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Clavette jumps guard but Ballesteros stands there with Clavette around his waist. Clavette gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Ballesteros manages to break the clinch.

Ballesteros clinches up against the cage.
Clavette takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Raoul Clavette has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Ballesteros.
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!
Ballesteros lands a right hand.
Ballesteros tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ballesteros tries to land knees in the clinch but Clavette avoids the damage to the body.
Clavette wants to take the fight to the mat but Ballesteros manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ballesteros creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Clavette goes for a takedown attempt but Ballesteros pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ballesteros throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ballesteros moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Clavette lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ballesteros circles away quickly and effectively.
Ballesteros scores with a jab to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ballesteros.
Clavette walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Good exchange - Ballesteros coming out on top.
Jab by Clavette.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seve Ballesteros showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ballesteros, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seve Ballesteros!
An out of breath Seve Ballesteros thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.