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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shepherd Bushiri (ranked 16313 p4p, 1675 weight class) and Elroy Clarks (ranked 324 p4p, 94 weight class). 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.
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| 172 cm
41
147
16 - 7 - 1 |
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163 cm
34
141
14 - 11 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class MT
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Shepherd Bushiri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elroy Clarks!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Skip Squint and Ben Hemmingworth.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Bushiri.
And Clarks responds with a good body kick, but Bushiri manages to step out the way in time.
Bushiri tries to clinch up but Clarks circles away and keeps his distance.
Bushiri rushes Clarks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Clarks scores with a nice hook to the head.
Clarks working aggressively here.
Bushiri 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.
Bushiri breaks the clinch.
Clarks throws out a leg kick but Bushiri moves out of range and Clarks only half commits.
Bushiri throws a head kick but Clarks moves out of range.
Clarks swats away the attempt to clinch by Bushiri.
A head kick misses from Clarks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clarks misses the jab.
Bushiri tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Clarks defends well and Bushiri ends up having to push Clarks into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Clarks jumps guard and drags Bushiri to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bushiri wants to control from the top but Clarks keeps moving.
Clarks keeping full guard, as Bushiri tries to pass.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarks looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bushiri passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bushiri misses with a head shot. Clarks uses the momentum to regain guard.
Bushiri wants to stand and escape but instead Clarks has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Clarks preventing the sweep.
Bushiri looking to control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bushiri is keeping the position for now.
Clarks with a nice head shot there.
Clarks is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bushiri avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Clarks trying to control the position from guard on top but Bushiri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bushiri not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bushiri keeping full guard, as Clarks tries to pass.
Clarks looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bushiri looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarks with a nice head shot there.
Clarks preventing the sweep.
Bushiri wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Clarks advances position into side control!
Bushiri takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Bushiri is trying to escape the position but Clarks is controlling the position.
Bushiri is looking to reverse the position.
Clarks connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bushiri some visible discomfort.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bushiri is trying to get back to his feet.
Bushiri wants to control but Clarks postures up.
Bushiri throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Clarks working the ground and pound but Bushiri is defending the strikes.
Bushiri is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Clarks has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bushiri is trying to improve his position.
Clarks misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Clarks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bushiri keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bushiri defending against the ground and pound.
Bushiri is looking to regain half guard here but Clarks keeps moving and retains side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Elroy Clarks dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Clarks closes the distance and clinches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Clarks creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bushiri tries to pull guard but Clarks holds him up against the cage and eventually Bushiri drops back down to his feet.
Bushiri has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Clarks after a bit of a struggle.
Clarks misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bushiri can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shepherd Bushiri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bushiri blocks an uppercut.
Bushiri blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clarks softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Clarks gets control of Bushiri's arms and successfully pulls guard. Clarks will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Bushiri chips away with some ground and pound.
Clarks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bushiri can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bushiri stays in close to Clarks's body and controls the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bushiri trying to control but Clarks is working from the bottom.
Clarks working a defensive guard but Bushiri passes into half guard.
Clarks wants to get back to full guard.
Clarks is looking to control Bushiri's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Clarks avoid being mounted?
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Clarks is pressing down on Bushiri's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bushiri trying to stand up but can't free himself from Clarks's guard.
Clarks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bushiri is one step ahead there.
Elroy Clarks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Clarks keeping moving, preventing Bushiri from controlling successfully.
Clarks trying to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bushiri trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bushiri uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clarks.
Good shot there by Clarks.
Bushiri moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Clarks dips to his left and cracks Bushiri with an uppercut!
Clarks just misses with a punch to the body.
Clarks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bushiri shoots in and drives through. Clarks sprawls well.
Clarks scores with a kick to the body.
Bushiri bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Clarks struggling a bit here.
Bushiri looks up at the clock and then as Clarks takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Bushiri smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clarks can't do much from the bottom here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarks sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Clarks scores with a few weak punches.
Clarks looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bushiri tries to stand and escape but Clarks is controlling the position.
Clarks wants to improve his position but Bushiri is controlling well.
Clarks felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Clarks keeps trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bushiri is thwarting Clarks's attempts to control the position.
And that is 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.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Bushiri throws a leg kick
and Clarks counters with a series of strikes. Bushiri will be more careful next time no doubt.
Bushiri takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Bushiri blocks a head kick by Clarks.
Clarks avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bushiri steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clarks.
Clarks lands a nice looking body shot.
Clarks lands a slapping body shot.
Bushiri has his takedown stuffed
and Clarks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bushiri takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bushiri gets tackled into the cage by Clarks. Clarks maintains the clinch.
Clarks prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bushiri tries to pull guard but Clarks won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shepherd Bushiri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bushiri fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bushiri escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Elroy Clarks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bushiri bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Clarks moves into range and connects with a jab.
Clarks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A low kick from Bushiri misses
and Clarks counters with a takedown into side control.
Clarks just content to control the position.
Clarks cracks Bushiri with a big elbow.
Clarks working the head and body with strikes.
Bushiri is looking for a sweep.
Bushiri struggling a bit here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarks wants to control but Bushiri is keeping him busy.
Clarks controls the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Clarks landing strikes.
Clarks lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Bushiri down.
Clarks tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Clarks wants to control but Bushiri is keeping him busy.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bushiri struggling a bit here.
Elroy Clarks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Clarks controlling the position from side mount.
Clarks is looking to take a break and control but Bushiri is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's four 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.
Clarks working away.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Clarks connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bushiri some visible discomfort.
Clarks working the ground and pound.
Bushiri struggling a bit here.
Clarks working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bushiri is not content to let Clarks control the position.
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 Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elroy Clarks!
Elroy Clarks thanked the fans post fight for their support.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
34% |
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