PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Draco Klay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuel Etherton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samuel Etherton will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Klay
vs
Etherton

168 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

165 cm
21
135 lbs
1 - 13 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Zipp Zapp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Draco Klay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Samuel Etherton!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Etherton shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Klay makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Klay looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Etherton stuffs the takedown.
Etherton pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Etherton gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Klay to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Etherton looking to control.
Klay stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Etherton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Klay cracks Etherton with a solid left hand.
Klay wants to pass the guard but Etherton is keeping the position.
Klay throwing strikes but missing.
Klay postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klay throws an elbow that misses. Etherton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Klay's guard. Nice move by Etherton!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Etherton trying to control the position from guard on top but Klay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Etherton preventing the sweep.
Klay managing to control the position.
Klay has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Etherton is looking to work some ground and pound but Klay has wrist control.
Klay 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Etherton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Etherton trying to control but Klay is working from the bottom.
Etherton preventing the sweep.
Klay is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Klay seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Etherton does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Etherton avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Klay.
Klay trying to control from half guard but Etherton is working away.
Etherton trying to control but Klay postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klay performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Draco Klay wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Klay throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Klay shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Etherton manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Etherton throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Klay missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Klay throws an elbow that misses. Etherton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Klay's guard. Nice move by Etherton!
Klay 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.
Etherton wants to stand but Klay is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Klay is on top in guard.

Etherton has his feet on Klay's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Klay shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Klay showed some decent athleticism there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Klay lands a nice short elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Klay not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Etherton trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Draco Klay dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Etherton throws a body punch but Klay moves out of range.
Klay blocks a head kick by Etherton.
A head kick from Etherton lands but Klay takes it in his stride.
Klay shoots in for a takedown but Etherton shows good takedown defense.
Etherton misses with a head kick.
Etherton throws a head kick but Klay moves out of range.
Crunch! Klay slams his shin into Etherton's torso.
Etherton goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Etherton misses with a kick to the body.
Etherton avoids the head kick by Klay.
Klay moves out of range of the body kick.
Etherton throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Klay shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Etherton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Klay.
Etherton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Klay passes into half guard.
Klay is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Etherton manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Etherton is breathing heavily.
Klay drops an elbow to the side of Etherton's head.
Klay is taking a breather. Etherton says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Klay thows a huge punch but Etherton dodges it nicely.
Klay looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Etherton with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Klay working Etherton over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klay content to control rather than advance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Klay is keen to just control but Etherton is a slippery customer.
Klay is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Etherton moves into full guard.
Etherton has momentary wrist control but Klay slips an elbow through the middle.
Etherton wants to sweep but no luck.
Klay trying to control the position from guard on top but Etherton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Klay passes Etherton's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Klay looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Klay there.
Klay is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Klay working the head and body with strikes.
Etherton is trying to control but can't.
Etherton is not content to let Klay control the position.
Klay is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Etherton is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Klay working Etherton over with strikes.
Etherton on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Klay throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klay throwing shots but Etherton is blocking nicely.
Klay is stalling here. Etherton is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Klay seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Etherton has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Klay tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Etherton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Klay wants to control but Etherton postures up.
The strikes coming from Etherton are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Etherton in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Klay tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Etherton tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Klay tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Draco Klay dominated that second round.
That's time! Klay's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Klay blocks a head kick by Etherton.
Etherton is looking to land body kicks.

Klay shoots in and bounces Etherton off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Etherton throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Klay throws a big elbow that misses.
Etherton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Etherton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Klay trying to control the position from guard on top but Etherton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Etherton striking off his back but it's not causing Klay any problems.
Klay connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Etherton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Etherton wants to sweep but no luck.
Etherton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Klay sitting in guard here, content to control.
Etherton trying to keep a closed guard but Klay is proving a slippery customer.
Klay throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Klay throws a big right hand that misses.
Klay has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Klay advances to half guard.
Etherton wants to get back to full guard.
Klay looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Etherton with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Klay landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Klay passes to side control.
Klay controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klay landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Klay trying to control the position but Etherton is working away.
Klay tries to move to mount but Etherton blocks the move with his legs.
Klay in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Klay working away.
Check out the look on Klay's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Etherton takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Klay tries to advance to mount but Etherton denies him.
Klay wants to lay and pray for a moment but Etherton keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klay working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Klay lands an elbow.

Etherton is rocked!
Klay landing strikes.
Etherton is still in real trouble! Can Klay finish him?
Klay lands a strong strike to the head of Etherton. That's dazed him! Klay looking to finish here. Etherton is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Klay lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Draco Klay!