PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rusty Clapper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phrayaa Phichai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phichai has chosen Ram Muay as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Clapper
vs
Phichai

175 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
159 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rusty Clapper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phrayaa Phichai!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phichai throws the kick towards the body but Clapper avoids it.

Clapper drives through with a takedown into guard.
Phichai controls Clapper momentarily but Clapper frees himself.
Clapper thows a big elbow that misses.
Clapper slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Clapper missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Clapper drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Phichai dives on top into guard.
Phichai wants to get up but he can't break Clapper's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Clapper has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Phichai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clapper wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Phichai wants to stand but Clapper has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Clapper trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Phichai trying to control but Clapper is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Phichai wants to pass the guard but Clapper is keeping the position.
Clapper looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Phichai must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Phichai misses with a low kick as Clapper jumps back.

Phichai lands a big head kick that sends Clapper tumbling to the mat! Phichai takes a step backwards and waves Clapper back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Clapper is rocked!

It looks like Rusty Clapper has been cut.
Clapper checks a low kick from Phichai.
Oh Clapper is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clapper drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Clapper seems to have got his legs back now.
Phichai is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Clapper is controlling him.
Clapper throwing strikes but missing.

Clapper 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.
Clapper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Clapper is breathing heavily.
Phichai looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Clapper controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Clapper's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phichai trying to keep a closed guard but Clapper is proving a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Phichai is looking to chop away at Clapper's legs.
Phichai stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Phichai wants it to stay on the feet.
Phrayaa Phichai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Clapper avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Clapper blocks a leg kick.

Clapper scores with a takedown into Phichai's guard.
Clapper controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Phrayaa Phichai will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rusty Clapper's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Phichai will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Phichai wants to land a leg kick but Clapper is out of range.
Phichai tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Phichai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Clapper closes the distance and clinches up with Phichai, looking for a takedown. Clapper pushes Phichai against the cage but Phichai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Clapper darts in and clinches Phichai up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phichai lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Clapper fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Clapper goes for a takedown in the clinch but Phichai prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rusty Clapper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phichai tries to circle away but Clapper has him pinned against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Phichai misses with a short punch on the inside.

Clapper pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clapper is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Phichai defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phichai has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Clapper is proving hard to escape from.
Phichai trying to control but Clapper is working from the bottom.

Clapper pushes Phichai off and scrambles back to his feet.

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.
Phichai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Clapper. That did some damage!
Both fighters circling a little - Phichai finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Phichai will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Phichai will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Phichai lands a head kick!
Phichai looks for the body kick but Clapper saw that one coming.
Phichai throws a leg kick but Clapper moved away.
A head kick misses from Phichai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Phichai does no damage.
Phichai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Clapper's sensitive parts.
Phichai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phichai lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Phichai throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Phichai fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Clapper.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Phichai, right into the meat.
Clapper tries for a takedown but Phichai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Phichai connects with a solid leg kick.
Rusty Clapper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Clapper keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Phichai scoring well with a low kick there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clapper stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Phichai.
A decent looking cross lands there for Phichai.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Phichai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A good leg kick by Phichai.
Phichai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Phichai throws a sloppy head kick and Clapper moves out of range easily.
Phichai throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Clapper avoids the head kick by Phichai.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Phichai throws a solid leg kick but Clapper takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Phichai.
Clapper blocks a low kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phrayaa Phichai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rusty Clapper's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Phichai misses with a head kick.
Clapper throws a leg kick but Phichai checks it.
Some bone on bone action there as Phichai checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Phichai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phichai stuffs the takedown.
Clapper blocks a low kick nicely.
Clapper checks the leg kick.
Phichai goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phichai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Clapper changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Phichai tries to avoid it but Clapper manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Phichai to the ground. Phichai escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Phichai scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phichai misses with a low kick.
Phichai throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Phichai throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Phichai throws a leg kick which misses Clapper's front leg but catches the back leg as Clapper tries to avoid it.
Phichai throws a low kick, looking for Clapper's leg but Clapper calmly moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Phichai.
Phichai does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Clapper is trying hard to land a takedown here. Phichai sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rusty Clapper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phichai throws a quick inside leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Clapper.
Phichai bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phichai throws a leg kick

and Clapper counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Clapper stalling away here and it's allowed Phichai to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Clapper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phichai is keeping the position for now.
Phichai trying to control the position.
Clapper postures up in Phichai's guard and throws a big left but Phichai blocks it.
Phichai 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.
Clapper trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Phichai controls Clapper momentarily but Clapper frees himself.
Phichai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Clapper is one step ahead there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Clapper checks a leg kick.
A low kick from Phichai misses

and Clapper counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Phichai's guard now.
Phichai wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phichai looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clapper postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Phrayaa Phichai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Clapper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Phichai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Clapper stays in close to Phichai's body and controls the position.
Clapper trying to control the position from guard on top but Phichai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clapper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Phichai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Clapper.
Rusty Clapper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Phichai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Phichai lands with a kick to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rusty Clapper.
I think Phichai 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phrayaa Phichai!