PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kukulcan Tonga (ranked 2071 p4p, 245 weight class) and Raoul Clavette (ranked 2839 p4p, 320 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tonga
vs
Clavette

181 cm
35
162 lbs
26 - 16 - 1

179 cm
33
150 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Kukulcan Tonga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raoul Clavette!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jonathan Paton and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clavette throws a shot from downtown. Tonga moves away and avoids it.
Tonga leaves Clavette with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tonga dives in for a single leg takedown but Clavette sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Clavette's corner calls for a 1-2. Clavette obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Clavette leaves Tonga with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Clavette has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tonga finds it's way round the side to connect with Clavette's head.

Tonga feints and as Clavette raises his hands in defense, Tonga changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Clavette is looking for a triangle but Tonga pushes his legs off easily.
Tonga postures up in Clavette's guard and throws a big left but Clavette blocks it.
Clavette utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Clavette works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tonga wants to control from the top but Clavette keeps moving.
Tonga throws an elbow that misses. Clavette uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tonga's guard. Nice move by Clavette!

Tonga not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Clavette trying to control the position from guard on top but Tonga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tonga working for a triangle but Clavette defends it easily.

Tonga has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Clavette can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Clavette advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clavette working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tonga tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Tonga slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Clavette is trying to work for a kimura but Tonga is defending well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Clavette is looking to take a break and control but Tonga is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonga tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Clavette connects with a nice short shot to Tonga's temple.

Tonga actively working from the bottom here.
Clavette prevents Tonga from improving his position.
Tonga flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Clavette trying to control from half guard but Tonga is working away.
Tonga is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Tonga looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tonga is refusing to be controlled, as Clavette sits in half guard.
Clavette sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tonga defending well though.

Tonga has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Clavette escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Clavette!
Tonga struggling a bit here.
Clavette working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tonga tries to buck Clavette off but Clavette is having none of it.
Clavette controlling the position from side mount.
Tonga struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tonga looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Clavette!
Clavette is not content to let Tonga control the position.
Tonga wants to take a breather but Clavette manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Tonga.

Clavette is looking for a triangle but Tonga pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clavette utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kukulcan Tonga overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Clavette keeping moving, preventing Tonga from controlling successfully.
Tonga is working Clavette over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clavette looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Clavette utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Tonga has gone for a leg lock! Clavette slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tonga's guard.

Clavette wants to control from the top but Tonga keeps moving.

Tonga working for submissions but it's allowed Clavette to get to half guard.
Clavette wants to pass the guard but Tonga is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonga throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Tonga trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Tonga looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Clavette lands a shot to the body.
Tonga is trying to break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Clavette is looking for a choke. Tonga gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Tonga manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Tonga trying to control but Clavette is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clavette looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tonga passes into side control.
Tonga postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Clavette tries to buck Tonga off but Tonga is having none of it.
Clavette struggling a bit here.
Clavette manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tonga's best efforts.

Clavette makes his way to full guard, as Tonga worked for a kimura.

Tonga has gone for a leg lock! Clavette slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tonga's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clavette won't allow Tonga to sweep him here.

Tonga throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Clavette escapes and throws Tonga's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Clavette scoring with punches from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tonga is not content to let Clavette control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raoul Clavette showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tonga shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Clavette but Clavette pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A little jabbing left from Clavette on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tonga shoots and misses
and Clavette counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A big left from Tonga misses.
Tonga dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Clavette lands a jab.
Clavette stuffs the takedown.
Clavette throws out a counter right but Tonga avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kukulcan Tonga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Clavette. No joy for Tonga on that attempt.
Tonga doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Clavette counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tonga has his takedown stuffed
and Clavette counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Clavette.
Tonga throws a leg kick but Clavette sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonga takes one on the button.

Tonga is rocked!
Tonga's corner calls for a 1-2. Tonga obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Oh Tonga is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Clavette keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tonga seems to have got his legs back now.
Tonga shoots in for a takedown but Clavette shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Clavette looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tonga shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Clavette counters with a stiff right hand.
Tonga moves away from the strike by Clavette.
Tonga is looking to counter punch.
Clavette slaps away a takedown attempt from Tonga, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Clavette throws out a counter right but Tonga avoids it with no problem.
Raoul Clavette seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Clavette takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kukulcan Tonga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clavette jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tonga lands a jab.
Tonga ducks right into an uppercut from Clavette.
Tonga with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tonga dives in and scores a takedown into Clavette's guard.
Clavette looking for a sweep. Not yet Clavette, not yet.
Tonga throwing strikes but missing.

Clavette is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tonga defends well.
Clavette wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clavette escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tonga gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Clavette keeping moving, preventing Tonga from controlling successfully.
Tonga content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tonga scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tonga trying to control but Clavette is working from the bottom.
Tonga lands a couple of digs.

Clavette had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tonga defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Clavette working for a triangle but Tonga defends it easily.
Tonga pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clavette is keeping the position for now.
Clavette working a defensive guard here.
Clavette 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.
Tonga throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raoul Clavette comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Clavette has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raoul Clavette!