PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josh Forte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Clifford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Clifford looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Forte
vs
Clifford

170 cm
18
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
169 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Forte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Clifford!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clifford keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Clifford fails with an attempt to clinch.
Josh Forte seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Forte tries to clinch but Clifford moves away

and Clifford counters by moving into the clinch.
Clifford holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Clifford manages to break the clinch.
Clifford shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Forte as he jumps to the side.
Forte closes the distance but Clifford moves to the side
and Clifford counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Forte wants to clinch up but Clifford keeps it at a distance.
Forte misses with a body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Forte.
Forte keeps the fight on the outside.
Forte shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Clifford counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Clifford.
Clifford wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Clifford gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Forte.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Forte. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Forte looking to slow down the pace here.

Clifford has picked Forte up - he's going for a ride! Clifford dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forte wants to control but Clifford is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Forte tries to kick Clifford off but Clifford keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Forte might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Forte pushes Clifford off but Clifford dives into side control.

Clifford decides to stand back up.
Horrible takedown by Clifford or perhaps it was just good defense by Forte which made him look bad.
Clifford looks gassed!
Clifford moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Clifford misses with a kick to the body.
Clifford throws a nice head kick!
Forte wants to clinch up but Clifford keeps it at a distance.

Clifford looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Forte is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Clifford works his foot free and advances to mount.
Forte really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forte gets back to half guard.

Forte looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Clifford trying to control the pace.
Forte wants to control but Clifford is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Clifford controlling the action here.
Clifford is thwarting Forte's attempts to control the position.

Forte actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifford content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Clifford passes to side control.
Forte tries to buck Clifford off but Clifford is having none of it.
Clifford working away.
Forte tries to improve position but can't.
Forte can't do much from the bottom here.
Clifford working the head with strikes.
Forte is trying to get back to half guard.
Clifford controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clifford's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Forte manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Clifford keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Forte is looking to take a break and control but Clifford is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Forte thows a huge punch but Clifford dodges it nicely.
Forte is stalling here. Clifford is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Forte seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Clifford has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Forte is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Clifford asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Clifford dominated that round.
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.

Forte doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Clifford counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Clifford.
Clifford gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Forte.
Forte is trying to break free.

Clifford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Clifford scores with a decent looking hook.

Clifford clinches.
Clifford stalling the fight.
Forte missing with knees to the body.

Clifford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Forte tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Clifford counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Clifford stands up out of the half guard.
Forte wants to clinch

and Clifford counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Clifford takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Clifford is thwarting Forte's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifford not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Forte manages to get to full guard.
Forte is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Clifford seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Forte trying to control the position.
Forte wants to sweep but no luck.
Clifford pushes down on Forte's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Clifford passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Forte!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forte is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Forte can't escape the position.

Clifford looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Forte is in all sorts of trouble here.
Clifford landing shots from mount.
Forte tries to hold on but Clifford postures up.
Forte can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forte wants to hold on but Clifford pushes him away.
Clifford working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Clifford controlling the pace for now.

Clifford is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Forte can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Mark Clifford has got the better of the ground game so far.
Forte is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Clifford working for a guillotine from mount but Forte is in no mood to give up.
Clifford looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forte is wriggling around trying to escape.
Clifford content just to control the position here.
Forte wants to control but Clifford is having none of it.
Forte takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clifford connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Forte really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Clifford 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A head kick from Clifford lands but Forte takes it in his stride.
Forte tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Clifford counters with a nice body shot.
Clifford throws a sloppy head kick and Forte moves out of range easily.
Forte with a lazy takedown attempt

and Clifford counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Forte has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Clifford is working away from the top position though.
Forte is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Forte is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Forte looking for submissions off his back.
Clifford trying to control the action but Forte is working from the bottom.
Forte tries to roll over but Clifford keeps him under control.
Forte keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Clifford takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifford prevents Forte from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Forte looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Josh Forte is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Forte gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Clifford counters with a shoot takedown. Forte fights it but they end up in guard.

Forte working for a triangle but Clifford defends it easily.

Clifford gets to his feet - Forte follows without any prompting.
Clifford plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The fight stays on the outside here - Clifford looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Clifford keeps the fight on the outside.
Clifford throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Forte gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forte trying to control the action but Clifford is working from the bottom.

Forte tries for a kimura but Clifford is defending well.
Forte in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Clifford manages to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Forte prevents Clifford from improving his position.

Forte seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Forte is just content to waste time from the top position. Clifford takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Forte trying to control but Clifford is working from the bottom.
Clifford has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forte pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clifford is keeping the position for now.
Clifford manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Forte regains half guard.
Clifford working the head and body with strikes.
Clifford content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Clifford passes to side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forte manages to work his way to half guard, despite Clifford's best efforts.
Forte tries to get to full guard but Clifford has control of the leg.
Forte slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Forte tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Forte wants to stand and escape but Clifford is having none of it.
Clifford content to stall in guard here.
Forte tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clifford would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Josh Forte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Forte looking to hit a scissor sweep but Clifford is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Clifford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Clifford 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Clifford!