PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bernard Joosten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Big Max Clark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Big Max Clark will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Joosten
vs
Max Clark

190 cm
23
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
196 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

5th Round

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bernard Joosten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Big Max Clark!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Alan Glass and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joosten closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Joosten lands in his opponent's guard.

Joosten drops back looking for a leg! Clark is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Clark manages to kick Joosten off! Joosten jumps back into Clark's guard.
Clark working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Joosten.
Joosten trying to control but Clark is working from the bottom.
Clark wants to stand but Joosten is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Joosten drops back looking for a leg! Clark is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Clark manages to kick Joosten off! Joosten jumps back into Clark's guard.

Joosten is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Clark is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Clark has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joosten throwing short punches from the bottom.
Joosten wants to sweep but no luck.
Joosten keeping moving, preventing Clark from controlling successfully.

Joosten is looking for a triangle but Clark pushes his legs off easily.
Clark trying to control the position from guard on top but Joosten is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Joosten throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Joosten bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Clark's guard.
Clark really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Joosten. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Joosten lands a couple of digs.
Joosten working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Joosten has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Clark keeping moving, preventing Joosten from controlling successfully.
Joosten showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Clark wants to stand but Joosten is controlling the position.
Joosten wants to control from the top but Clark keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joosten working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joosten accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Joosten wants to control from the top but Clark keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Joosten dives in and grabs Clark's left leg, looking for a takedown. Clark pushes down on Joosten's head and hops out.
Clark misses with a jab, cross combination.
Joosten has a takedown stuffed.
Joosten ducks under a wild hook from Clark.
Clark fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four 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.
Joosten shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Clark defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bernard Joosten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice defenses there by Joosten.
Clark thuds his right hand into Joosten's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Joosten shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Clark tries to land a front kick but Joosten steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Clark tries to bum rush Joosten with a series of wild strikes but Joosten uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Joosten looks for a takedown but Clark sprawls well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clark throws a right and a left that both miss.
Joosten swats away the attempt to clinch by Clark.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernard Joosten dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Joosten shoots in but Clark avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Clark looks to score with a jab to the body but Joosten is just out of range.
Clark dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Clark tries to clinch up.
Clark tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Joosten paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Clark fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Clark fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Joosten checks it well.
Big Max Clark is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Clark fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Joosten has his takedown stuffed
and Clark counters with a two punch combo.
Clark gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Joosten counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Clark is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joosten postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Joosten wants to control from the top but Clark keeps moving.

Joosten is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Clark keeping moving, preventing Joosten from controlling successfully.
Joosten is in close to Clark's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Clark keeping moving, preventing Joosten from controlling successfully.
Joosten tries to free his leg and advance position but Clark is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Joosten sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Clark's guard.
Clark is not content to let Joosten control the position.
Clark wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joosten throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Joosten missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Joosten throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Clark was covering up waiting for the punch and Joosten finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Joosten with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joosten slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Clark can do anything to dispel that myth.

Joosten thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Joosten wants to lay and pray for a moment but Clark keeps working.
Clark is pushing Joosten's head away, looking to escape. Joosten manages to hold on to the position though.
Joosten cracks Clark with a big elbow.
Joosten in side control, throwing shots but Clark defends.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joosten is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Clark is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Joosten wants to control but Clark is keeping him busy.
Joosten lands some shots froms side control.
Joosten landing strikes.
Clark tries to bench press Joosten off him but Joosten keeps the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joosten creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Joosten is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Clark is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Joosten scores with a couple of short elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernard Joosten dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Clark scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Joosten doesn't seem bothered though.
Clark circles away from the clinch attempt.
Clark throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Joosten counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Joosten with a flurry of punches that miss.
Joosten trying to control the position from guard on top but Clark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bernard Joosten overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joosten throwing strikes but missing.
Joosten cracks Clark with a solid left hand.
Clark takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Joosten landing some decent shots from guard.

Joosten stands and steps away. Clark gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clark moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Clark shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Joosten counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Joosten looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Clark is trying to control but can't.
Joosten takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Clark is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Joosten is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Clark!

Joosten is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Clark can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joosten controlling from the full mount.
Joosten landing strikes, looking to finish!
Joosten punishing his opponent with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Joosten goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Clark is on top in guard.
Joosten 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joosten looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Clark postures up in Joosten's guard and throws a big left but Joosten blocks it.
Clark wants to get up but he can't break Joosten's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Joosten bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Clark's guard.
Joosten looking to pass the guard.
Joosten trying to control but Clark is working from the bottom.
Joosten is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joosten wants to control from the top but Clark keeps moving.
Joosten throwing strikes but missing.
Big Max Clark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joosten postures up in Clark's guard and throws a big left but Clark blocks it.

Joosten thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Joosten with a nice head shot there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joosten pushing down on Clark's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bernard Joosten is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Joosten is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernard Joosten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Joosten, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernard Joosten!