PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jack Clark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Zol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clark kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Rent a Wreck. 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.

Clark
vs
Zol

168 cm
35
148 lbs
32 - 23 - 1

170 cm
33
148 lbs
17 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 32 - 23 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jack Clark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jay Zol!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clark looks to score with a jab to the body but Zol is just out of range.
Zol takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Clark misses with an uppercut.
Zol drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Clark defends it well.
Clark lands with a shot to the body.
Clark lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Zol is rocked!

It looks like Jay Zol has been cut.
Zol dives in for a single leg takedown but Clark sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Clark swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Clark walks into a stiff left hand from Zol.
Clark misses with a straight left.

Zol scores with a takedown into Clark's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zol trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zol postures up in Clark's guard and throws a big left but Clark blocks it.
Zol throwing strikes from guard but Clark blocks nicely.
Zol working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zol trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zol in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zol stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Clark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zol loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Zol closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Clark to the mat! Clark manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zol throws a big right hand that misses.
Zol throwing strikes but missing.
Zol won't allow Clark to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clark working a defensive guard here.
Zol throwing strikes but missing.
Zol passes Clark's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Zol misses with a head shot. Clark uses the momentum to regain guard.
Zol throws a big right hand that misses.
Zol postures up in Clark's guard and throws a big left but Clark blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zol throws a strike but Clark rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Zol wants to stand up but Clark is controlling him.
Zol is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Clark has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Clark engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Clark gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Clark scores with a sloppy right hand. Zol should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zol fails with a takedown attempt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Clark.
Zol changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Clark tries to avoid it but Zol manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Clark to the ground. Clark escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jack Clark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Zol.
Zol misses with a series of wild punches.
Jay Zol seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zol shoots for a takedown but Clark saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Clark throws a looping overhand right but Zol ducks down to avoid it.
Clark misses with a body shot.
Clark misses with a two punch combination.
Clark feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zols jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Clark misses with a straight left.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Clark thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zol tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Clark throws the left hand but Zol avoids the punch easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Clark dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jay Zol's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Clark connects with a crisp jab.

Zol scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zol not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zol thows a huge punch but Clark dodges it nicely.
Clark manages to get to full guard.
Zol postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zol missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Clark is controlling Zol's posture.
Clark is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zol can do to turn this around?
Zol throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Clark works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zol throws an elbow that misses. Clark uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zol's guard. Nice move by Clark!

Clark showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zol is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Clark is controlling him.
Clark wants to control from the top but Zol keeps moving.
Zol wants to stand and escape but Clark is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
Clark lands with a cross.

Zol drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Zol has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zol is trying to ground and pound but Clark uses the momentary lack of control by Zol to regain half guard.
Clark is trying is best to control the position here.
Zol missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zol throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Clark to regain full guard.
Zol throwing strikes but missing.
Zol lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clark looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zol is one step ahead there.
Zol throws a strike but Clark rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Zol wants to get back to his feet but Clark is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Clark trying to control but Zol is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zol wants to get back to his feet but Clark is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Clark engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Zol keeping moving, preventing Clark from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Clark walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jay Zol will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jay Zol's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zol ducks under a wild hook from Clark.
Zol looks for a takedown but Clark sprawls well.
Zol has a takedown stuffed.
Clark swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zol shoots in for a double leg but Clark sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jack Clark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Zol.
Clark loads up on a big right hand but Zol slips the punch.
Zol fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Clark misses.
Zol closes the distance and clinches up with Clark, looking for a takedown. Zol pushes Clark against the cage but Clark circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Clark is looking to counter punch.
Clark looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jay Zol is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zol shoots in for a takedown but Clark shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Clark takes a swing at Zol's ribcage but misses.
Clark looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
No luck for Zol with that takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Clark on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zol takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A swing and a miss from Clark.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clark throws a series of punches but Zol moves out of range.
Clark leaves Zol with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A jab from Clark misses.
Clark waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zol.
Zol shoots in and drives through. Clark sprawls well.
Zol has a takedown stuffed.
Clark connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zol. Zol circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Clark throws a series of punches but Zol avoids them all with ease.
Zol feints the counter takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zol.
Clark looks to land a combination but Zol avoids it well.
Clark misses with a hook. Zol ducked under it nicely.
And Zol tries to counter it with a takedown but Clark pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Clark misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clark misses with a wild body shot.
Zol tries to score a power double leg takedown but Clark sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zol somewhat.
Zol cracks Clark with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Zol dives in and scores a takedown into Clark's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zol missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zol working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Clark's head.
Zol throws a strike but Clark rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Clark trying to control but Zol is working from the bottom.

Zol uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zol throws a big shot that misses.
Zol fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A combination from Clark does no damage.
Clark avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice body punch from Clark.
Zol has a takedown stuffed.
Some wild striking there from Clark.
Zol goes for a double leg but Clark avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Clark continues to drive forward.
Jack Clark is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Zol closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Clark quickly recovers to half guard.
Zol lands with a punch from half guard.
Jay Zol has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clark wants to improve his position but Zol is controlling well.
Clark keeping hold of Zol's head, controlling as best he can.
Clark on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zol drops an elbow to the side of Clark's head.
Clark wants to control but Zol is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zol throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Clark smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Clark showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Clark 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Clark!
A relieved looking Jack Clark thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.