PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sparky Anderson (ranked 713 p4p, 1097 weight class) and Andrew Clay (ranked 97 p4p, 151 weight class). Anderson comes into the arena with Pick up man blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Anderson
vs
Clay

190 cm
28
180
24 - 14 - 0

181 cm
30
185
13 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sparky Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andrew Clay!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Phil Schofield and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clay ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Anderson moves away.
Anderson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Anderson darts in looking for a takedown but Clay gets double underhooks and turns Anderson into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Clay fails to land.
Clay tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Anderson's elbow.
We've been hearing reports that Anderson has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Anderson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Clay lands an uppercut.
Anderson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Clay struggles to land a body shot inside as Anderson controls his hands.

Anderson drags the fight down to the ground.
Anderson pulls Clay in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Anderson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Clay defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson pulls Clay in to control the position.
Clay postures up.
Clay won't allow Anderson to sweep him here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Anderson holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Anderson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Clay counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Anderson darts in and clinches Clay up against the cage.
Clay stalling the fight.
Anderson leaning against his opponent.
Clay lands a body punch in the clinch.
Clay lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Clay pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Clay rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Anderson counters with a one-two to the body.

Anderson gets a clinch.
Clay misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Anderson blocking some punches.
Anderson stalling in the clinch.

Anderson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Clay has his hands clasped together around Anderson's back. He's all about the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay tries to get to full guard but Anderson has control of the leg.
Anderson not doing much here.
Clay is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Clay keeping hold of Anderson's head, controlling as best he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Anderson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Anderson connects with a nice looking jab.

Anderson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Clay did well to prevent Anderson getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clay has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Anderson is working away from the top position though.
Anderson controlling the action here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sparky Anderson dominated that 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.

Anderson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Clay as he avoids it easily.
It seemed like Clay was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Anderson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Clay's head backwards.
Clay throws a lazy uppercut
and Anderson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Anderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sparky Anderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Anderson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nice takedown defense from Clay. No joy for Anderson on that attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Clay is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Clay lands a hook that snaps the head of Anderson backwards.
Clay tries to throw a body punch but Anderson avoids it by throwing Clay back against the cage.
Anderson blocks an uppercut.
Clay tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Anderson lands a nice uppercut.
Anderson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Anderson is working for takedown but Clay is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sparky Anderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A frustrated look appears on Clay's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Clay stalls.
Anderson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Anderson blocking some punches.
Clay trying to stall but Anderson improves his position.
Anderson tries to pull guard but Clay won't allow it.
Clay misses with a hook to the ribs.
Clay stalling.
Anderson blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson stalling in the clinch.
Anderson pressing his opponent against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Anderson for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Anderson seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Clay letting Anderson take a breather here.
Clay tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Anderson.
Anderson leaning against his opponent.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sparky Anderson.
Clay misses with a looping left.
Anderson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Anderson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Anderson finds it's way round the side to connect with Clay's head.
Anderson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Clay's hands.

It looks like Andrew Clay has been cut.

Anderson closes the distance and pushes Clay back into the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Anderson.
Clay doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Clay is trying to break the clinch but Anderson is controlling him.

Clay breaks the clinch.
Sparky Anderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clay throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Anderson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Anderson looks to clinch
and Clay counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Anderson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Clay.
Clay missing with a left hand there. Anderson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Anderson tries to clinch but Clay moves away

and Clay counters with a crisp right hand that drops Anderson! Clay lets Anderson back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Anderson is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clay misses the jab.
Anderson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Clay.
Oh Anderson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Andrew Clay is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Clay throws out a counter right but Anderson avoids it with no problem.
Clay drops his hands momentarily and Anderson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A punch lands to the side of Clay 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Anderson seems to have got his legs back now.
Some bone on bone action there as Clay checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Clay is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Anderson with a poor takedown
and Clay counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Anderson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Clay manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Clay throws a hook but Anderson blocks it.
Clay throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Anderson on the side of the head.
Clay misses with a straight left.
Clay steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Anderson.
Clay let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Clay throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Anderson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Anderson tries to clinch up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andrew Clay will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Andrew Clay'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. This is the final round!

Anderson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sparky Anderson is winning the standup battle so far.
Clay's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Clay duly obliges.
Clay avoids the body shot from Anderson.
Clay looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Anderson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Clay tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Anderson is in Clay's guard.
Anderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clay is keeping the position for now.
Anderson content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay is trying to hold Anderson in close to prevent damage but Anderson has managed to pass into half guard.
Anderson working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Clay's thigh. Clay counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Clay keeping full guard, as Anderson tries to pass.
Anderson looking to sit in guard and control but Clay gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson controlling Clay's posture.
Anderson wants to improve his position but instead Clay has moved into half guard.
Clay controlling the pace.
Anderson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Clay is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Sparky Anderson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Anderson is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Anderson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Clay circles away.
A bone on bone clash there as Clay blocks the leg kick.
Anderson goes for a double leg but Clay avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Clay continues to drive forward.

Anderson pulls Clay into guard.
Anderson keeping full guard, as Clay tries to pass.
Anderson is pulling down on Clay's head. It's preventing any offense from Clay, at least for the moment.
Clay showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Clay comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Clay 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Clay!
After the fight, Andrew Clay was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.