PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Justin Clinton (ranked 4690 p4p, 360 weight class) and Stephen Oyalade (ranked 4790 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Clinton
vs
Oyalade

188 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Clinton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Oyalade!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Columbo Gatti and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clinton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Oyalade connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Justin Clinton has been cut.

Clinton has Oyalade up against the cage in a clinch.

Clinton gets control of Oyalade's arms and successfully pulls guard. Clinton will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Clinton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Oyalade can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Clinton looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Oyalade has picked Clinton up and slammed him! Clinton can't keep hold of the triangle and Oyalade manages to pass to side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clinton misses with a strike from the bottom.
Oyalade wants to stand but Clinton has his arm trapped.
Clinton is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oyalade passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Clinton!
Clinton avoids a series of strikes thrown by Oyalade.
Clinton wants to hold on but Oyalade pushes him away.
Oyalade thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Oyalade has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Clinton is looking to improve his position but Oyalade isn't that keen on the idea.
Oyalade postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Clinton looks a forlorn figure.

Oyalade has control of Clinton's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Clinton regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oyalade tries to control but Clinton wriggling away.
Clinton tries to reverse the position but Oyalade maintains control.
Clinton is squirming around, avoiding Oyalade's attempts to control the action.
Clinton sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clinton is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Clinton is trying to get back to full guard.
Clinton trying to control but Oyalade postures up.
Oyalade is trying to control the action in half guard but Clinton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Well, if Oyalade is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Clinton is staying active underneath Oyalade, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Oyalade shoots in but Clinton avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Clinton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Oyalade's waist but Oyalade gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Clinton off to one side.
Clinton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Oyalade as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Clinton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clinton is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Oyalade fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Oyalade wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Oyalade dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Justin Clinton's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Oyalade looks to clinch

and Clinton counters with a single leg into guard. Oyalade didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clinton is pushing down on Oyalade's leg trying to pass to half guard. Oyalade is fighting to maintain full guard but Clinton has managed to sneak the leg through.
Oyalade gets full guard.
Oyalade looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Oyalade looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Clinton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Oyalade is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Clinton is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oyalade controlling the position.

Oyalade working for submissions but it's allowed Clinton to get to half guard.
Oyalade gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oyalade escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Clinton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Oyalade wants to stand up but Clinton is controlling him.
Oyalade has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Clinton trying to control the position from guard on top but Oyalade is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Clinton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Oyalade working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Clinton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Clinton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Oyalade wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Clinton is now in half guard.
Clinton not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stephen Oyalade has got the better of the ground game so far.
Clinton trying to control from half guard but Oyalade is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oyalade has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Clinton is working away from the top position though.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Clinton wants to take a breather but Oyalade is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Oyalade shoots and misses

and Clinton counters by clinching up.
Knees to the body from Clinton.
Clinton wants to take the fight to the mat but Oyalade manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Clinton content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Clinton gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Oyalade.
Clinton will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Oyalade up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clinton tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Clinton looking to throw knees to the head but Oyalade is blocking nicely.
Oyalade has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Clinton after a bit of a struggle.
Justin Clinton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Oyalade.
Clinton is looking to take this one to the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Clinton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Oyalade walks away with a smile on his face. Clinton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Clinton shoots in for a double leg but Oyalade sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Justin Clinton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Oyalade goes for a double leg but Clinton avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Clinton continues to drive forward.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Oyalade tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Clinton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Oyalade slaps away a takedown attempt from Clinton, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Oyalade drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Clinton defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Clinton dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Justin Clinton'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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Clinton looks to score with a jab to the body but Oyalade is just out of range.
Oyalade scores with a three punch combo!
Horrible takedown attempt by Clinton or perhaps it was just good defense by Oyalade, which made it look bad.
Oyalade tries to clinch there but Clinton circles away.
Oyalade tries a head kick but it misses.
Oyalade misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Oyalade shoots in looking for a takedown. Clinton tries to sprawl out of it but Oyalade keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Clinton manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oyalade scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clinton closes the distance and clinches.
Clinton gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Oyalade.
Oyalade avoids a wild elbow strike from Clinton.
Clinton's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Clinton dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Clinton breaks the clinch.
No luck for Clinton with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oyalade throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
As Oyalade tries to get set, Clinton tries to push him back and clinch up but Oyalade manages to avoid the attempt.
Clinton takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Oyalade shoots in for a takedown but Clinton shows good takedown defense.
Clinton half committed to a counter leg kick.
Justin Clinton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Oyalade.

Clinton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Clinton tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Oyalade sneaks back into half guard.

Clinton is looking for a kimura but Oyalade is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Clinton to get the leverage.
Oyalade is looking to control Clinton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Oyalade avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oyalade is looking for a sweep. Clinton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Oyalade has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Clinton is working away from the top position though.
Oyalade desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Oyalade moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Clinton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Oyalade has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Clinton has managed to get both his arms back between Oyalade's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Clinton trying to control but Oyalade is working from the bottom.

Clinton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Oyalade looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clinton wants to control from the top but Oyalade keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Oyalade comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Oyalade 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Oyalade!