PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andre Clay (ranked 2292 p4p, 265 weight class) and Giovanni Gomes (ranked 8143 p4p, 680 weight class). Clay comes to the cage accompanied by Believe. 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.

Clay
vs
Gomes

170 cm
19
146 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
168 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andre Clay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Giovanni Gomes!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomes defending well as Clay loads up on a big left hand.
Clay sets himself, and Gomes steps forward looking for the clinch! Clay avoids it this time.
Clay throws a looping overhand right but Gomes ducks down to avoid it.
Gomes tries to counter with a clinch but Clay shakes him off and moves away.
Gomes checks the leg kick.
Clay throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gomes tries to counter by closing the distance.
Good exchange - Clay coming out on top.
A slow jab from Clay misses its intended target.
Gomes wants to counter with a clinch but Clay pushes him away.
Gomes moves out of range of the leg kick from Clay.
Gomes wants to counter with a clinch but Clay pushes him away.
Gomes staying out of range there.
Clay jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clay lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Gomes takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Gomes moves out of range as Clay strikes.
Clay misses with a few strikes there.
Gomes tries to counter with a clinch but Clay shakes him off and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gomes tries to counter with a clinch but Clay shakes him off and moves away.
Clay misses with a straight left.
Clay misses with an uppercut.
Gomes steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Clay.
Clay is looking to chop away at Gomes's legs.
Clay dips to his left and cracks Gomes with an uppercut!
Gomes defending well as Clay loads up on a big left hand.
Clay works Gomes's body with a nice hook.
Gomes looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Clay waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gomes.
Gomes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Clay.
Clay sets himself, and Gomes steps forward looking for the clinch! Clay avoids it this time.
Gomes staying out of range there.
Gomes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Clay fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gomes manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay misses with an uppercut.
Gomes has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Gomes ducks under a wild hook from Clay.
Gomes steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Clay.
Gomes blocks a jab.
Gomes wants to counter with a clinch but Clay pushes him away.
Clay throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gomes.
Andre Clay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gomes avoids the body shot from Clay.
Gomes is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Clay is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Clay throws a body shot but no joy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gomes closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Gomes moves away from the strike by Clay.
Clay misses with a wild combination.
Gomes wants to counter with a clinch but Clay pushes him away.
Clay pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Gomes back to the cage. Clay follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomes takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Clay misses with a looping right.
Clay pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gomes is out of range and Clay settles back down.
Gomes tries to counter by closing the distance.
Clay throws a hook but Gomes avoids it easily.
Gomes is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Clay throws a jab but it's blocked by Gomes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Clay. Gomes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Clay waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gomes.
Gomes tries to counter by closing the distance.
Clay misses with a lunging right hand

and Gomes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gomes.
Clay cracks Gomes with a nice body shot.
Clay stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gomes fails to pull guard.
Gomes tries a body shot but Clay blocks it.
Gomes can't find room to land a body shot as Clay controls the action.
Gomes working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Clay walks away with a smile on his face. Gomes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gomes checks a low kick from Clay.
Gomes steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Clay.
Clay misses with a straight right.
Gomes moves away from the strike by Clay.
Gomes steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Clay.
Clay swinging wildly here.
Clay throws a big shot that misses.
Gomes tries to counter by closing the distance.
Gomes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Clay.
Gomes tries to counter with a clinch but Clay shakes him off and moves away.
Gomes is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gomes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gomes tries to counter by closing the distance.
Gomes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A slow jab from Clay misses its intended target.
Gomes wants to counter the offense by Clay and move into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Clay 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.

Clay tests Gomes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gomes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Clay misses the target.
Clay sets himself, and Gomes steps forward looking for the clinch! Clay avoids it this time.
Clay looks to land a right hand but Gomes moved out of range.
Clay throws a right hand that Gomes ducks under and follows up with a left that Gomes also avoids with ease.
Clay misses with a straight left.
Gomes tries to counter with a clinch but Clay shakes him off and moves away.
The fighters circling - Clay throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gomes steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Clay.
Clay uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gomes has time to react.
Clay throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Clay sets himself, and Gomes steps forward looking for the clinch! Clay avoids it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gomes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clay.
Clay throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gomes tries to counter by closing the distance.
Gomes ducks under a wild hook from Clay.
Gomes tries to counter by closing the distance.
Clay connects with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay throws a leg kick but Gomes checks it.
Gomes wants to counter the offense by Clay and move into the clinch position.
Clay throws a leg kick that misses.
Gomes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Clay momentarily.
Clay misses with a body punch

and Gomes counters by moving into the clinch.
Clay softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Clay is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gomes can do to turn this around?
Gomes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Clay to keep the fight standing.
Clay lands a body shot in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gomes.
Clay lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gomes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Clay just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gomes throws a head punch that misses.
Clay is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gomes is defending well for now.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gomes.
Clay lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gomes backwards.
Clay lands a left hand.

Gomes jumps into guard, dragging Clay to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

Clay avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Clay content to stall in guard here.

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

Gomes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Clay defends it easily.
Clay in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gomes looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Clay passes into half guard.
Clay wants to free his trapped foot but Gomes is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Clay stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clay continues to stall.

That's four 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.
Gomes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Clay is working away from the top position though.
Clay is pressing down on Gomes's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gomes is holding on for now.
Clay sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Clay seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gomes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gomes is looking to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gomes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Clay pulls his head out easily.
Gomes is looking to control Clay's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gomes avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Clay dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gomes slips a straight right by Clay.
Gomes steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Clay.
A shot to the liver by Gomes. Beautiful body shot.
Clay is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gomes.
Clay connects with a solid leg kick.
Clay throws a right hand that Gomes ducks under and follows up with a left that Gomes also avoids with ease.
A combination from Clay does no damage.
Clay throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gomes wants to counter the offense by Clay and move into the clinch position.
Gomes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Clay.
Gomes is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clay misses with the combination.
Clay scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Clay.
Gomes tries to counter with a clinch but Clay shakes him off and moves away.
Gomes lands a body shot.
Gomes takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Clay takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Clay throws out a loose jab but Gomes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gomes walks into a left hand.
Clay loads up on a big right hand but Gomes slips the punch.
Gomes is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A lazy left from Gomes finds it's target.
Gomes misses with a few strikes there.
Gomes throws a body shot but no joy.
Clay tries to land a front kick but Gomes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gomes avoids the body shot from Clay.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomes misses with a few strikes there.
Gomes slips under a jab from Clay.
Andre Clay is winning the standup battle so far.
Clay thows a left - swing and a miss!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Clay throws a body shot but no joy.
Clay misses with a head kick.
Gomes tries to counter by closing the distance.
The fighters circling - Clay throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gomes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gomes tries to counter with a clinch but Clay shakes him off and moves away.
A swing and a miss from Clay.
Clay sets himself, and Gomes steps forward looking for the clinch! Clay avoids it this time.
Gomes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Clay.
Clay throws the kick towards the body but Gomes avoids it.
Clay throws a jab when Gomes was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay scores with a jab to the head.
Gomes walks into a stiff left hand from Clay.
Clay is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gomes.
Gomes wants to counter with a clinch but Clay pushes him away.
Gomes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Clay throws out the jab.
Clay misses the shot to the body.
Gomes is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Clay throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gomes is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Clay throws a right and a left that Gomes avoids nicely.
Clay throws a body shot but no joy.
Gomes walks into a straight right hand from Clay.
A slow jab from Clay misses its intended target.
Gomes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Clay.
Clay looks to land a right hand but Gomes moved out of range.
Gomes tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clay displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gomes throws out the jab.
Clay throws a right hand that Gomes ducks under and follows up with a left that Gomes also avoids with ease.
Andre Clay is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gomes misses with a straight left.
Clay misses with an uppercut.
Gomes wants to counter the offense by Clay and move into the clinch position.
Gomes jabs Clay right on the nose. Clay blinks but takes it well.
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!
Clay throws an overhand right that lands on Gomes's shoulder, as Gomes tries to avoid the shot.
Gomes tries to counter by closing the distance.
Gomes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Clay looks to throw the jab but Gomes is out of range.
Gomes wants to counter the offense by Clay and move into the clinch position.
Gomes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Clay.
Gomes throws a jab but it's blocked by Clay.
Giovanni Gomes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clay misses with an uppercut. Gomes saw that one coming.
Gomes tries to counter with a clinch but Clay shakes him off and moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre Clay showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Clay, 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Clay!
In his post fight interview, Andre Clay started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.