PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Timur Frunze (ranked 1266 p4p, 71 weight class) and Elroy Clarks (ranked 1527 p4p, 91 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Frunze
vs
Clarks

170 cm
33
134 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

163 cm
29
141 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Timur Frunze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elroy Clarks!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clarks lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Clarks instigates a clinch.

Clarks manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Frunze stopping the sweep attempt from Clarks.

Clarks is looking for a triangle but Frunze pushes his legs off easily.
Clarks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Clarks throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Frunze escapes and throws Clarks's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Clarks is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frunze advances nicely into full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarks keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Clarks wants to hold on but Frunze pushes him away.
Clarks is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Frunze is staying active.
Frunze trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Clarks gets back to half guard.
Frunze trying to pass the guard but Clarks defending well.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Clarks wants to control but Frunze is keeping busy.
Frunze has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clarks has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Frunze escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Frunze!
Clarks is not content to let Frunze control the position.
You can see the frustration on Clarks's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarks sneaks back into half guard.
Clarks trying to control but Frunze postures up.

Clarks looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Clarks looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Frunze works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarks tries to hold on but Frunze pushes him away.
Clarks is wriggling around trying to escape.
Clarks keeps trying to improve his position.
Frunze wants to take his opponent's back but instead Clarks manages to regain half guard.
Clarks punching from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Frunze wants to take a breather but Clarks is having none of it.

Clarks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Frunze pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Timur Frunze will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Clarks moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Clarks slaps away a takedown attempt from Frunze, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Frunze steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clarks.
Clarks connects with a looping right hand.
Clarks throws a front kick that sends Frunze stumbling back into the ropes.
Clarks will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Frunze takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clarks goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Clarks keeps the fight on the outside.
Frunze closes this distance looking for a takedown but Clarks circles away.
Clarks throws a body punch but Frunze moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarks dips to his left and cracks Frunze with an uppercut!
Frunze takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Clarks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Clarks misses with a looping right.
Clarks throws out a loose jab but Frunze uses good head movement to avoid it.
Clarks misses with a body kick.
Clarks stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timur Frunze. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Frunze closes this distance looking for a takedown but Clarks circles away.
Clarks looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Frunze is fending him off so far but Clarks persists. Nope, Frunze circles away and we're back to standing.
Elroy Clarks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Clarks throws a hook but Frunze blocks it.
Clarks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Frunze.
Clarks tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Clarks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Frunze moves away.
Clarks connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarks slaps away a takedown attempt from Frunze, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Frunze avoids the head kick by Clarks.
Clarks throws a head kick that misses.
As Clarks tries to get set, Frunze tries to push him back and clinch up but Clarks manages to avoid the attempt.
Frunze takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Clarks tries to clinch but Frunze is having none of it.
Frunze changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Frunze slips a jab from Clarks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Frunze fails with a takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Clarks. Those never looked like landing.
Frunze has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Clarks lands a high kick!
Frunze will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Frunze sets himself, and Clarks steps forward looking for the clinch! Frunze avoids it this time.
Frunze throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Clarks's waist but Clarks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Frunze off to one side.
Clarks shoots in but no luck this time.
Clarks has a takedown stuffed.
Frunze shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Clarks defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frunze slips under a jab from Clarks.

Frunze moves into the clinch.
Frunze trying to control the position but instead, Clarks has worked for underhooks and has pushed Frunze into the ropes.
Clarks lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Frunze backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Clarks.
Frunze stalling the fight.
Clarks tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Frunze is trying to maintain a safe position but Clarks gets an underhook and turns Frunze into the ropes.
Frunze drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Clarks gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Frunze stalling.

Clarks is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Frunze can't fight it off and eventually Clarks manages to take the fight to the floor. Frunze looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
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!
Clarks wants to control from the top but Frunze keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elroy Clarks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Frunze moves out of range of the body kick.
Elroy Clarks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clarks throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Frunze is trying hard to land a takedown here. Clarks sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Frunze tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Clarks defends well and Frunze ends up having to push Clarks into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Frunze looks for a takedown but Clarks sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timur Frunze. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slow jab from Clarks misses its intended target.
Frunze darts in looking for a takedown but Clarks gets double underhooks and turns Frunze into the ropes.
Nice takedown defense from Clarks. No joy for Frunze on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Frunze.
Frunze shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Clarks but Clarks pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Clarks stuffs the takedown attempt from Frunze. Frunze gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarks lands with a good body shot.
Clarks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Frunze shoots for a takedown but Clarks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Clarks tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Frunze goes for a double leg but Clarks avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Clarks continues to drive forward.
Frunze fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Frunze takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Clarks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Frunze avoids the head kick by Clarks.
Frunze half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarks doesn't manage to clinch there - Frunze circles away.
Frunze wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Clarks dives in and grabs Frunze's left leg, looking for a takedown. Frunze pushes down on Clarks's head and hops out.
Frunze ducks under a wild hook from Clarks.
Clarks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Frunze circles away.
Frunze takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Frunze goes for a double leg but Clarks avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Clarks continues to drive forward.
Frunze shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Clarks sprawls well. Clarks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Frunze gets slowly back to his feet.
Clarks drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Frunze defends it well.
Clarks lets loose with a powerful body kick. Frunze will feel that in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarks waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Frunze.
Clarks misses with a wild body shot.
Frunze doesn't manage to clinch there - Clarks circles away.
Frunze shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Clarks sprawls well. Clarks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Frunze gets slowly back to his feet.
Clarks lands a nice looking body kick.
Frunze shoots in but no luck this time.
Frunze on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frunze moves out of range of the strikes.
Frunze moves away from the strike by Clarks.
Clarks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Frunze.
Frunze shoots in but no luck this time.
Clarks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Frunze fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Clarks lands a front kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice defenses there by Frunze.
Clarks throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Frunze fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elroy Clarks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Clarks has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elroy Clarks!
A victorious Elroy Clarks thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.