PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Travon Clayton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takashi Kang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Clayton
vs
Kang

190 cm
19
210 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Travon Clayton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Takashi Kang!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clayton shoots in but Kang avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Kang gets the takedown into side control.
Clayton is looking to regain half guard here but Kang keeps moving and retains side control.

Kang tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kang works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Kang tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Clayton gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayton trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kang missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kang wants to control but Clayton is keeping him busy.

Kang wants to work for an arm triangle but Clayton is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Clayton avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kang.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kang has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Clayton holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kang tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Kang is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Clayton to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Clayton shrugs it off.
Kang throws some wild stikes that Clayton manages to avoid easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Clayton blocking the ground and pound.

Kang swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Clayton is now in Kang's guard. A big mistake from Kang there, giving up the dominant position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kang being controlled here, momentarily.
Kang bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Clayton's guard.
Kang in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kang throws an elbow that misses. Clayton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kang's guard. Nice move by Clayton!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kang is trying to keep Clayton in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clayton trying to control the position from guard on top but Kang is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clayton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kang swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Clayton looking to sit in guard and control but Kang gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kang drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Clayton dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takashi Kang dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Clayton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Kang's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kang might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Clayton kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Clayton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kang keeps working.
Kang struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kang stops Clayton from passing to mount.
Takashi Kang has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Takashi Kang.
Kang lands a nice leg kick that just misses Clayton's sensitive parts.
Kang fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Clayton manages to avoid it.
A right-left combo lands from Kang.
Clayton stuffs the takedown attempt from Kang. Kang gets slowly back to his feet.
Kang lands an overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kang throws out a loose jab but Clayton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kang tries a low kick but Clayton avoids it.
Clayton lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Travon Clayton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Clayton throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kang tries a head kick but it misses.
Kang throws a nice looking combination but Clayton bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Clayton drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kang is breathing heavily.
Clayton looking to pass the guard.
Clayton is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kang 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.
Kang managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Travon Clayton wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kang throws a leg kick
and Clayton counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kang throws a jab when Clayton was well out of range.
Clayton has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kang.
Clayton shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kang defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kang tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clayton was well out of range. Poor timing from Kang.

Clayton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kang, pushing him back against the cage.
Kang wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Clayton goes for a takedown attempt but Kang pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kang throws a head kick but Clayton moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kang stuffs the takedown attempt from Clayton. Clayton gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Travon Clayton will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kang misses with a body kick.
Kang throws a lazy right hand but Clayton sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Clayton's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Clayton duly obliges.

Clayton lands a left and a right that send Kang crashing to the mat, dazed. Clayton thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Kang is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kang scores with a kick to the midsection.
Clayton ducks under a wild hook from Kang.
Clayton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kang scores with a decent looking hook.
Clayton shoots in looking for a takedown but Kang manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Clayton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang misses with a kick to the body.
Clayton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kang tries to bum rush Clayton with a series of wild strikes but Clayton uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jab by Kang.
Kang throws a push kick but Clayton slaps the foot to one side.
A swing and a miss from Kang.
Kang shoots in but no luck this time.
Kang swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kang blocks a head kick by Clayton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kang showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Clayton.

Clayton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kang manages to get back to half guard.
Clayton controlling the pace.
Clayton is just content to waste time from the top position. Kang takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kang wants to stand but Clayton is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kang is controlling Clayton's posture.

Clayton stands and steps away. Kang gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A punch combination from Kang misses.
Kang dives in and grabs Clayton's left leg, looking for a takedown. Clayton pushes down on Kang's head and hops out.
Clayton moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clayton fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travon Clayton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No joy there for Clayton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Clayton shoots in for a takedown but Kang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kang looks to score with a jab to the body but Clayton is just out of range.
Takashi Kang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kang changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kang pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Clayton jabs at Kang's body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travon Clayton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Clayton has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Travon Clayton!
Our winner, Travon Clayton, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.