PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Clifton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Sepulveda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sepulveda has chosen Bleed it out as his entrance music. Craig Clifton could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Justin Sepulveda 's chin.

Clifton
vs
Sepulveda

179 cm
20
176 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

188 cm
26
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Craig Clifton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin Sepulveda !
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sepulveda looks for a takedown but Clifton sprawls well.
Sepulveda shoots and misses

and Clifton counters with a single leg into guard. Sepulveda didn't expect that.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Clifton wants to control from the top but Sepulveda keeps moving.
Clifton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sepulveda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Clifton is one step ahead there.

Clifton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sepulveda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Clifton has managed to get both his arms back between Sepulveda 's legs - danger averted.
Sepulveda keeping moving, preventing Clifton from controlling successfully.
Clifton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sepulveda is keeping the position for now.

Sepulveda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sepulveda is looking for a triangle but Clifton pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifton forces his way into half guard.

Sepulveda looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sepulveda has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Clifton is looking for a kimura but Sepulveda is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Clifton to get the leverage.
Clifton trying to control the pace.
Sepulveda trying to hold on to Clifton's head to control him but Clifton postures up.

Clifton is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sepulveda sees it coming and defends easily.
Sepulveda wants to control the action here but instead Clifton manages to pass to full mount!
Clifton is looking to work his way around to Sepulveda 's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Clifton can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sepulveda is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sepulveda is desperately trying to improve his position but Clifton has a good base and remains in mount.
Sepulveda is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Clifton moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sepulveda has worked his arm free - good work by Sepulveda !

Clifton tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Clifton has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
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!
Sepulveda tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Clifton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Clifton wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sepulveda , who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sepulveda is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Clifton is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sepulveda is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sepulveda sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sepulveda is pressing down on Clifton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Clifton wants to control from the top but Sepulveda keeps moving.

Clifton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Clifton drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Clifton jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sepulveda is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Clifton is aware though and is defending well.
Clifton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sepulveda is keeping the position for now.
Sepulveda wants to sweep here but Clifton controlling him for the moment.

Sepulveda is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Clifton defends well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sepulveda looking for a guillotine here but Clifton defends easily.
Sepulveda keeping moving, preventing Clifton from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sepulveda escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Clifton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Justin Sepulveda will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Clifton manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sepulveda on his heels. He'll look to pass Sepulveda 's guard now, I'm sure.

Sepulveda is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Sepulveda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Clifton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Clifton wants to control from the top but Sepulveda keeps moving.

Sepulveda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sepulveda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Clifton wants to control from the top but Sepulveda keeps moving.
Clifton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sepulveda is keeping the position for now.

Clifton drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sepulveda looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sepulveda looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sepulveda !

Sepulveda tries for a kimura but Clifton is defending well.

Sepulveda thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sepulveda tries for a kimura but Clifton is defending well.
Sepulveda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Clifton keeps working.
Clifton gets back to half guard.
Clifton won't allow Sepulveda to pass to mount.

Clifton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Clifton gets full guard.

Clifton has his foot on Sepulveda 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sepulveda works his way back into a safe position though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sepulveda passes into half guard.
Clifton wants to control but Sepulveda is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sepulveda wants to work for an arm triangle but Clifton is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Sepulveda is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Clifton has managed to free his arm - good work.
Clifton is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at St Petersburg MMA Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Clifton wants to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sepulveda in particular looking to stall.

Sepulveda is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Clifton sees it coming and defends easily.
Sepulveda trying to control the action but Clifton is working from the bottom.

Clifton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sepulveda is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Clifton is looking for a sweep. Sepulveda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Clifton is trying to control but can't.
Clifton is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sepulveda is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Clifton sees it coming and defends easily.
Sepulveda trying to pass the guard but Clifton defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Justin Sepulveda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Sepulveda or perhaps it was just good defense by Clifton which made him look bad.
Clifton shoots in but Sepulveda avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Clifton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Clifton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Sepulveda looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Clifton is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sepulveda is just riding it out for now. Clifton eventually gives up the hold.
Clifton wants to free his trapped foot but Sepulveda is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sepulveda is looking to improve his position.
Sepulveda moves into full guard.
Clifton looking to sit in guard and control but Sepulveda gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Clifton is looking for a triangle but Sepulveda pushes his legs off easily.
Sepulveda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Clifton swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Clifton looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Sepulveda is defending well. Clifton quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Sepulveda has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Clifton celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Craig Clifton!
Craig Clifton decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.