PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Clifton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ikki De Fenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De Fenix comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Killing Inside kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Craig Clifton is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Clifton
vs
De Fenix

179 cm
26
182 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

180 cm
26
175 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Solid chin

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 12 - 10 - 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 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ikki De Fenix!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clifton avoids the head kick by De Fenix.
Clifton appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
De Fenix pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Clifton shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches De Fenix napping and manages to drive through into side control!
De Fenix is working to avoid the ground and pound but Clifton connects with a decent elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clifton sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but De Fenix is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Clifton postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Clifton postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
De Fenix is not content to let Clifton control the position.

Clifton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
De Fenix really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Clifton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Clifton tries to move into full mount but can't pass De Fenix's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Fenix managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Clifton.
De Fenix is not content to let Clifton control the position.
Clifton is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because De Fenix is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Clifton tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Clifton scoring with punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
De Fenix wants to control but Clifton postures up.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Clifton postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Clifton is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but De Fenix is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
De Fenix is not content to let Clifton control the position.
Clifton lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Clifton controlling the position.
Clifton has knee on belly momentarily but De Fenix bucks him off and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clifton is looking for a kimura here.

Clifton seems to be looking for submissions.
Clifton throwing shots but De Fenix is blocking nicely.
Clifton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
De Fenix wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Clifton perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Clifton is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and De Fenix defends it well.

Clifton wants to work for an arm triangle but De Fenix is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Clifton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Clifton not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Clifton looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
De Fenix is pressing down on Clifton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Clifton dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

De Fenix stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and De Fenix wants it to stay on the feet.
Clifton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as De Fenix sprawls well. De Fenix wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Clifton gets slowly back to his feet.
De Fenix dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
De Fenix tries to clinch but Clifton is having none of it.
Clifton misses with a takedown attempt
and De Fenix counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Clifton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clifton shoots in and drives through. De Fenix sprawls well.
Clifton shoots and misses
and Clifton takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
De Fenix's coach down at was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on De Fenix's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Clifton shoots for a takedown but De Fenix saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Clifton with a lazy takedown attempt
and Clifton takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifton misses with a takedown
and De Fenix counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Craig Clifton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Clifton tries for a takedown but De Fenix circles away easily
and De Fenix cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
De Fenix swinging wildly here.
Clifton tries to counter with a takedown but De Fenix is quick to defend against it.
Clifton misses with a takedown attempt
and De Fenix counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Clifton thinking.
That kick from De Fenix tenderised Clifton's leg. Clifton is trying to keep his angry face on.

De Fenix darts in and clinches Clifton up against the cage.
De Fenix throws a punch but it's blocked by Clifton.
De Fenix tries to work over Clifton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
De Fenix prevents a takedown attempt there.
Clifton wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from De Fenix.
De Fenix misses with a hook to the ribs.

De Fenix's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Clifton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has De Fenix pinned against the cage. De Fenix gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Clifton tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but De Fenix defends well and Clifton ends up having to push De Fenix into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Clifton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around De Fenix's waist but De Fenix gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Clifton off to one side.
Ikki De Fenix seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Clifton shoots in looking for a takedown. De Fenix tries to sprawl out of it but Clifton keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. De Fenix manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A countering left hand to the body from De Fenix misses.
De Fenix tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifton tries to score a power double leg takedown but De Fenix sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Clifton somewhat.
De Fenix cracks Clifton with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
De Fenix wants to clinch.
Clifton feinted with a counter takedown.
Clifton misses with a takedown attempt - De Fenix sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
De Fenix throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
De Fenix lands with a nice combination. Clifton backs away looking to recover.
Clifton looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
De Fenix has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from De Fenix as Clifton shoots in.
De Fenix throws a fast counter high kick but Clifton manages to duck under it in time.
De Fenix slaps away a takedown attempt from Clifton, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Clifton is defended easily by De Fenix.
As Clifton backs off De Fenix throws a huge counter combo but Clifton manages to avoid it all.
Clifton misses with a takedown attempt - De Fenix sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Clifton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De Fenix connects with a leg kick. Clifton looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Clifton tries to score a power double leg takedown but De Fenix sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Clifton somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikki De Fenix showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

De Fenix moves into range and clinches up with Clifton.
De Fenix tries to work over Clifton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
De Fenix digs a right hand into Clifton's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Clifton's gas tank.
De Fenix lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Clifton jumps guard.
Clifton is trying to control the position but De Fenix postures up.
Clifton managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Fenix postures up.
Clifton wants to sweep here but De Fenix controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Fenix wants to stand but Clifton has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Clifton looking to control.

De Fenix avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Clifton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Clifton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as De Fenix controls the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Clifton with a lazy takedown attempt
and De Fenix makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Clifton shoots in for a takedown but De Fenix shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
De Fenix scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clifton.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Clifton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
De Fenix goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Clifton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? De Fenix is fending him off so far but Clifton persists. Nope, De Fenix circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clifton.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
De Fenix throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has De Fenix pinned against the cage. De Fenix gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Clifton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
De Fenix is trying to get back to half guard.
De Fenix is not content to let Clifton control the position.
De Fenix pushes Clifton away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Clifton gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Fenix defending against the ground and pound.
Clifton lands some shots froms side control.
Clifton wants to control but De Fenix is keeping him busy.
An elbow from Clifton crashes against the mat.
Craig Clifton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A lull in the action here.
De Fenix is looking to regain half guard here but Clifton keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clifton wants to lay and pray for a moment but De Fenix keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ikki De Fenix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think De Fenix has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:29

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