PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Desmond Claymore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azerth Shadow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Claymore
vs
Shadow

175 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Desmond Claymore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Azerth Shadow!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Claymore stuffs the takedown.
No luck for Shadow with that takedown attempt.
Claymore tries for a takedown but Shadow sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Claymore fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shadow stuffs the takedown attempt from Claymore. Claymore gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Desmond Claymore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shadow keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shadow wants to clinch up but Claymore keeps it at a distance.
Claymore tries for a takedown but Shadow sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Claymore moves into the clinch.
Shadow is looking to control Claymore's arms but Claymore gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shadow has his back to the cage.
Claymore can't get the takedown.
Claymore fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shadow fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Claymore wants a takedown but no success here.
Claymore changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shadow fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claymore shoots in for a takedown but Shadow shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Shadow misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Shadow tries to close the distance and clinch up but Claymore swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Claymore tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shadow swivels and escapes.
Shadow shoots in for a takedown but Claymore shows good takedown defense.
Claymore fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Claymore is breathing heavily.
Shadow throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shadow tries to close the distance and clinch but Claymore swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Claymore shoots in but Shadow avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Claymore shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shadow as he avoids it easily.
Shadow misses with a kick to the body.
Shadow throws a head kick that half lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Claymore shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Shadow napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Claymore prevents Shadow from escaping the position.
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!
Shadow is looking to reverse the position.

Claymore looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Claymore postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Shadow is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Claymore is trying to get an arm triangle but Shadow is defending well.

Claymore tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Claymore has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shadow tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The strikes coming from Claymore are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Claymore wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shadow keeps working.

Claymore goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Shadow has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Claymore but great work by Shadow.
Claymore prevents Shadow from improving position.
Shadow tries to stand but Claymore controls the position and pulls Shadow into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shadow looking to sit in guard and control but Claymore gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Claymore stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shadow swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Claymore advances position into side control!
Claymore trying to control the position but Shadow is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Desmond Claymore will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shadow stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shadow wants it to stay on the feet.

Claymore drives through with a takedown into guard.
Claymore wants to pass the guard but Shadow is keeping the position.

Claymore stands up from Shadow's guard - Claymore perhaps looking for a knockout.
Shadow defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Claymore.
Shadow tries to clinch there but Claymore circles away.
Desmond Claymore seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Claymore tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shadow sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Claymore somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Desmond Claymore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Claymore shoots for a takedown but Shadow saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Horrible takedown by Shadow or perhaps it was just good defense by Claymore which made him look bad.
Shadow fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shadow fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Claymore avoids it really well and circles away.

Claymore shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shadow's guard.

Claymore drops back, looking for a kneebar! Shadow looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Shadow looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Shadow!
Sloppy strikes there by Shadow.
Shadow tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claymore is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Shadow is thwarting Claymore's attempts to control the position.

Claymore actively working from the bottom here.
Shadow is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shadow stalling away here and it's allowed Claymore to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Shadow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Claymore is keeping the position for now.
Claymore trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

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.
Claymore looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shadow is one step ahead there.
Shadow wants to stand and escape but instead Claymore has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Claymore tries to free his leg and advance position but Shadow is retaining full guard.
Claymore passes Shadow's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Shadow is defending against the submission attempts here by Claymore.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desmond Claymore 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!

Shadow shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Claymore but Claymore pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shadow shoots in for a takedown but Claymore shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Claymore shoots in for a double leg but Shadow sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Shadow gets a clinch.
Shadow drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Claymore gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Desmond Claymore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Azerth Shadow.

Claymore pulls guard successfully.
Claymore manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shadow manages to get himself to full guard.
Shadow working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shadow wants to get back to his feet but Claymore is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Shadow takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Claymore working some strikes from top position.
Shadow controls Claymore momentarily but Claymore frees himself.
Claymore slips nicely into half guard.
Claymore trying to control from half guard but Shadow is working away.
Claymore passes the guard and advances to mount!
Claymore is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Shadow is in real trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Claymore working for the choke.
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!
I really don't envy Shadow right now.

Claymore is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Shadow has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Claymore has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Shadow has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Claymore looking to break Shadow's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Shadow remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Claymore will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shadow defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Claymore's arms.

Claymore looking for the RNC.

Shadow defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Claymore working for a choke but Shadow is defending well.
Shadow is really stuck here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Claymore patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Shadow defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Claymore's arms.
Claymore is trying to stick to Shadow's back but Shadow is turning into Claymore. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Claymore's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Shadow.
Shadow is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shadow wants to stand but Claymore has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Desmond Claymore showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Claymore, 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Desmond Claymore!