PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chael Claude (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richie Branton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chael Claude has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Claude
vs
Branton

180 cm
23
177 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chael Claude!
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, Richie Branton !
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branton tries to clinch but Claude moves away

and Claude moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Claude fails to land.
Branton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Branton goes for a takedown attempt but Claude pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Claude throws the kick towards the body but Branton avoids it.
Claude swinging wildly here.
Branton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Branton tries to clinch

and Claude counters with a single leg into guard. Branton didn't expect that.
Claude slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Claude just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branton can't do much from the bottom here.
Branton trying to remain calm as Claude controls from the top position.
Branton managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Claude.
Claude misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Claude is chipping away with strikes.
Claude in side control, throwing shots but Branton defends.
Claude creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Branton sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
An elbow from Claude crashes against the mat.
Claude remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branton is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Branton seems a little lost for a moment, as Claude dominates the positioning.
Claude misses with the ground and pound.

Claude has an Americana. Branton didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Claude is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Claude hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Chael Claude!