PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thad Clarke (ranked 24461 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Long (ranked 2690 p4p, 0 weight class). Thad Clarke has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Clarke
vs
Long

157 cm
19
278 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

200 cm
25
250 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Can Moonwalk

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 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thad Clarke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Long!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Chad Campbell and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clarke throws a sloppy head kick

and Long counters with a nice double leg into side control. Clarke won't be happy with that.
Clarke is trying to get back to his feet.
Long tries to move to mount but Clarke blocks the move with his legs.
Clarke being controlled for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clarke stops Long from passing to mount.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long trying to control the action but Clarke is working from the bottom.
Clarke tries to escape but Long is in control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Long showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Clarke.
Clarke misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Clarke tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Long manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Long with the counter takedown but Clarke avoids it easily.
Clarke misses the shot to the body.
And Long tries to counter it with a takedown but Clarke pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Clarke shoots in but Long avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Long is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Clarke throws a nice looking combination but Long bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Long showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Clarke.
Long is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke misses with a few strikes there.
Long tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Clarke darts in looking for a takedown but Long gets double underhooks and turns Clarke into the cage.
Clarke tries to clinch

and Long decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Clarke's guard.
Long tries to free his leg and advance position but Clarke is retaining full guard.
Clarke is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Clarke throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Long stays in close to Clarke's body and controls the position.
Clarke wants to stand but Long is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarke is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Clarke throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Clarke misses with a body punch

and Long counters with a nice double leg into side control. Clarke won't be happy with that.
Clarke is trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Long is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Clarke's shoulder. That is not cool.
Clarke stops Long from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Long dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Clarke misses with a double jab

and Long counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Clarke!
Clarke struggling a bit here.
Clarke pushes Long away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Long gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lull in the action here as Long stalls from top position.
Clarke misses with a strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long tries to move to full mount but Clarke actually manages to regain half guard.
Justin Long has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Long has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Clarke.

Long sneaks out the side door and pushes Clarke away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thad Clarke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Long circles away from the clinch attempt.
Long drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Clarke defends it well.
Clarke throws a nice looking combination but Long bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Long drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Clarke defends it well.
Clarke misses with a double jab

and Long counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Clarke!
Long has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Clarke wants to control but Long postures up.
Long is looking to take a break and control but Clarke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Clarke regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke is trying to stand.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Long. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Clarke wants to control but Long is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Long prevents Clarke from standing back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A nice combination there by Clarke.
Clarke jabs Long to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Clarke fails with a takedown attempt.
And Long tries to counter it with a takedown but Clarke pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Clarke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Long with the counter takedown but Clarke avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Clarke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Long.
Long changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Clarke throws a combination that misses

and Long decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Clarke's guard.
Clarke is wriggling around but Long manages to pass to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Long showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. 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.

Clarke throws a combination that misses

and Long counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Long trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Clarke is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Long is controlling him.
Clarke trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Long must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Long 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clarke looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Long really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Clarke. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Clarke wants to get back to his feet but Long is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Long trying to control the position from guard on top but Clarke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Clarke is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Long lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Long stops Clarke from getting back to his feet.
Long is controlling the pace.
Clarke looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke trying to hold on to Long's head to control him but Long postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Danga de danga de dang - Clarke scores with a four punch combination!
Clarke tries to clinch up

and Long counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarke tries to kick Long off but Long keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Clarke is trying to escape back to his feet but Long uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Long just content to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clarke wants to get back to his feet but Long drags him back down.

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 Thad Clarke.
I think Long 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Long!