PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between BUMBA CLOT (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Raith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). CLOT's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, BANDELERO. The key to victory for BUMBA CLOT has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

CLOT
vs
Raith

181 cm
20
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
19
175 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Steve's Services - All of my services are free!

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, BUMBA CLOT!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thomas Raith!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
CLOT swinging wildly here.
A leg kick checked by Raith.
Raith avoids the head kick by CLOT.
A punch combination from CLOT misses.
CLOT looks to land a combination but Raith avoids it well.
CLOT throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Raith closes this distance looking for a takedown but CLOT circles away.
CLOT keeps the fight on the outside.
No joy there for CLOT, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
CLOT lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Raith circles away quickly and effectively.
CLOT misses with a series of wild punches.
CLOT fails to land with a series of punches.

Raith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
CLOT is refusing to be controlled, as Raith sits in half guard.
CLOT won't allow Raith to pass to mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
CLOT tries to kick Raith off but Raith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raith is looking for a kimura but CLOT is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Raith to get the leverage.
Raith stops CLOT from getting back to his feet.
Raith passes the guard and advances to mount!
CLOT is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Raith tries to control but CLOT wriggling away.

Raith stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
CLOT throws a body kick that misses.
Raith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts CLOT as he jumps to the side.
Raith throws a series of strikes that have CLOT backpedaling.
CLOT looks to land a combination but Raith avoids it well.
CLOT misses with a combination
and Raith counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
BUMBA CLOT is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
CLOT is breathing heavily.

Raith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raith pulls guard successfully.

CLOT stands up and waves to Raith to follow him.

Raith clinches.
CLOT gets underhooks to prevent Raith's takedown attempt.
BUMBA CLOT has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Raith.
CLOT tries a body shot but Raith blocks it.
Raith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. CLOT is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
CLOT prevents the takedown attempt.
CLOT wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raith has him pressed against the cage.
Raith drops down looking for an ankle pick but CLOT pulls his leg out and moves away.
CLOT looks for the body kick but Raith saw that one coming.
CLOT misses with a double jab.

Raith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
CLOT trying desperately to get to his feet.
Raith with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
CLOT is trying to stand up.

Raith has control of CLOT's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and CLOT regains control of the situation pretty easily.
CLOT wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Raith is working for a guillotine from mount but CLOT frees his head quite easily.
CLOT wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Raith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as CLOT is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Raith working for a guillotine from mount but CLOT is in no mood to give up.

CLOT somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
CLOT attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
CLOT lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Raith circles away quickly and effectively.
CLOT misses with a double jab.

Raith shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. CLOT is trying to defend but Raith finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Raith looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Raith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Raith dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

CLOT misses with a wild combination.
CLOT falls off balance throwing a combination

and Raith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
CLOT keeping moving, preventing Raith from controlling successfully.
CLOT wants to stand and escape but Raith is having none of it.
Raith slips nicely into half guard.

Raith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Raith prevents CLOT from standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Raith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but CLOT does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Raith prevents CLOT from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raith is trying to work for a kimura but CLOT is defending well.
Raith tries to pass the half guard into mount. CLOT knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

CLOT kicks Raith off and gets back to his feet.
CLOT closes the distance and lands a one-two.
CLOT walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Raith checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
CLOT falls off balance throwing a combination
and Raith counters with a series of strikes. CLOT will be more careful next time no doubt.

Raith closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
CLOT is not content to let Raith control the position.
CLOT is looking to escape.

Raith is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and CLOT defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
CLOT wants to get back to his feet.

Raith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Raith wants to lay and pray for a moment but CLOT keeps working.

Raith is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. CLOT doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Raith.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
CLOT throws a right and a left that Raith avoids nicely.
BUMBA CLOT seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
CLOT stuffs the takedown.
CLOT misses with a combination

and Raith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Raith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raith stops CLOT from standing up.
Raith throws a big right hand that misses.

Raith 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.
Raith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Raith trying to control the position from guard on top but CLOT is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
CLOT is looking to stand up but Raith isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Raith is trying hard to land a takedown here. CLOT sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
CLOT looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
CLOT slaps away a takedown attempt from Raith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
BUMBA CLOT has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Raith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A combination from CLOT does no damage.

Raith shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Raith was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Raith trying to control but he's not successful this time.
CLOT is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Raith cracks CLOT with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Raith with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Raith is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but CLOT is surviving well by controlling Raith's body position as best he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
CLOT is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Raith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

CLOT tries a head kick but it misses.
Raith wants to clinch up but CLOT keeps it at a distance.
CLOT tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Raith rushes CLOT and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Raith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Raith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Raith working a defensive guard here.

CLOT decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Raith, up you get!

Raith drives through with a takedown into guard.
Raith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
CLOT keeping moving, preventing Raith from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
CLOT is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Raith is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raith trying to control but CLOT is working from the bottom.
Raith tries to free his leg and advance position but CLOT is retaining full guard.

CLOT wriggles free and stands up.
CLOT throws a leg kick that misses.
CLOT throws a body punch but Raith moves out of range.
CLOT throws a left and a right that both miss

and Raith counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in CLOT's guard now.
Raith wants to control from the top but CLOT keeps moving.

Raith drops back looking for a leg! CLOT is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and CLOT manages to kick Raith off! Raith jumps back into CLOT's guard.
CLOT wants to stand but Raith is controlling the position.
BUMBA CLOT has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
CLOT keeping moving, preventing Raith from controlling successfully.

CLOT has his foot on Raith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Raith works his way back into a safe position though.
CLOT keeping moving, preventing Raith from controlling successfully.
Raith is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
CLOT is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Raith is controlling him.
Raith trying to control the position from guard on top but CLOT is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Raith stands and throws CLOT's legs to the side, diving into side control.
CLOT tries to escape but Raith is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raith wants to lay and pray for a moment but CLOT keeps working.

Raith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
CLOT is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Raith has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Raith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

CLOT bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
A shot to the body from CLOT misses

and Raith counters with a shoot takedown. CLOT fights it but they end up in guard.
Raith trying to control but CLOT is working from the bottom.

CLOT had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Raith defends it easily.
Raith tries to free his leg and advance position but CLOT is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Raith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Raith wants to control from the top but CLOT keeps moving.
CLOT striking from his own guard.
CLOT keeping moving, preventing Raith from controlling successfully.

CLOT is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
CLOT keeping moving, preventing Raith from controlling successfully.
Thomas Raith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Despite being in the dominant position, Thomas Raith just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
CLOT throws a left and a right that both miss

and Raith counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in CLOT's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

CLOT is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Raith defends well.
Raith sitting in guard here, content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Raith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Raith winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Raith!