PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cassius Clayborne (ranked 5588 p4p, 528 weight class) and Michael Kant (ranked 5289 p4p, 519 weight class). Cassius Clayborne has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Clayborne
vs
Kant

183 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cassius Clayborne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Kant!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Chad Campbell and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kant stuffs the takedown.
Kant wants to counter the offense by Clayborne and move into the clinch position.
Clayborne moves in looking to clinch but Kant pushes him off.
Kant looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Clayborne ducks under a wild hook from Kant.
A jab from Kant misses.
Clayborne thinks about countering with a head kick.
A head kick by Clayborne misses
letting Kant counter with a right hand.
Clayborne bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Clayborne is looking for a counter combo.
Clayborne misses with a double jab
and Clayborne takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kant throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clayborne tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kant defends well and Clayborne ends up having to push Kant into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kant! But no joy.
Clayborne doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kant counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cassius Clayborne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clayborne walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Clayborne looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kant looks to land a right hand but Clayborne moved out of range.
Clayborne seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kant darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kant lands a two punch combo.
Kant stuffs the takedown.
Kant misses with a body shot.
Clayborne throws a lazy body kick
enabling Kant to counter with a crisp jab.
Kant is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kant slaps away a takedown attempt from Clayborne, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Clayborne tries for a takedown but Kant circles away easily
and Clayborne takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne tries to clinch there but Kant circles away.
Clayborne doesn't manage to clinch there - Kant circles away.
Clayborne shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Clayborne is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kant sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Clayborne is looking to clinch but Kant is avoiding it.
Cassius Clayborne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clayborne throws out a loose jab but Kant uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Clayborne shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kant as he jumps to the side.
Clayborne throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kant's waist but Kant gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Clayborne off to one side.
Clayborne tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kant has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kant slaps away a takedown attempt from Clayborne, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Clayborne wants to clinch up but Kant keeps it at a distance.
Clayborne misses with a takedown
and Kant cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kant takes a swing at Clayborne's ribcage but misses.
Decent striking displayed by Kant there.
Kant displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Clayborne.
Kant misses the jab.
Clayborne tries to clinch there but Kant circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Clayborne there as he acknowledges the shot.
Clayborne fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kant avoids it really well and circles away.
Kant is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Clayborne had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Clayborne is looking to clinch but Kant is avoiding it.
Clayborne showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kant.
Kant looks winded!
Clayborne looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Clayborne tries to clinch up.
Kant stuffs the takedown.
Kant steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Clayborne.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kant dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Clayborne walks into a straight right hand from Kant.
Clayborne throws a head kick but Kant moves out of range.
Kant missing with a left hand there. Clayborne was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Clayborne moves to clinch but Kant breaks away
enabling Kant to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice defenses there by Kant.
A countering left hand to the body from Kant misses.
Kant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kant rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Clayborne moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clayborne gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kant counters with a nice uppercut.
Some wild striking there from Kant.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayborne tries to clinch there but Kant circles away.
Clayborne motions for Kant to come forward. Clayborne throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kant throws a right and a left that Clayborne avoids nicely.
Kant is breathing heavily.
Kant tries to bum rush Clayborne with a series of wild strikes but Clayborne uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Clayborne tries to clinch but Kant is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clayborne.
A head kick misses from Clayborne.
Kant looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kant just misses with a punch to the body.
Clayborne shoots in for a takedown but Kant shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cassius Clayborne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kant circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kant swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kant manages to avoid it.
Clayborne throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kant keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Michael Kant is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A leg kick checked by Kant.
Kant misses with a looping right.
Clayborne doesn't manage to clinch there - Kant circles away.
Michael Kant seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Clayborne throws a head kick that misses.
Clayborne is looking to clinch but Kant is avoiding it.
Kant is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Clayborne throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Michael Kant has been cut.
Kant stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Clayborne tries to keep at a distance but Kant has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kant tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kant keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Clayborne's efforts to push away.
Kant has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kant misses with a body punch.
Kant misses with a hook from the clinch.
Clayborne fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Clayborne is trying to drag Kant to the mat but Kant just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne is trying to push Kant away but Kant has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Clayborne wants to break the clinch but can't.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kant.
Kant can't break the clinch.
Clayborne blocking some punches.
Kant swings wildly with an uppercut but Clayborne uses good head movement to avoid it.
Clayborne is looking for a takedown.
Kant lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Clayborne backwards.
Clayborne looking to slow down the pace here.
Kant misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clayborne tries to break free but Kant pushes him back against the cage.
Clayborne drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kant gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Clayborne tries to circle away but Kant has him pinned against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Kant'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. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Clayborne.
Clayborne misses with a hook
and Kant counters with a series of strikes. Clayborne will be more careful next time no doubt.
Clayborne has a takedown stuffed.
Kant might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Kant swats away the attempt to clinch by Clayborne.
Kant looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clayborne tries to clinch but Kant is having none of it.
Cassius Clayborne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kant tries to keep at a distance but Clayborne has taken the fight into the clinch.
Clayborne blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kant lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Clayborne working hard to break the clinch.
Clayborne is trying to pull guard but Kant turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cassius Clayborne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kant misses with some punches.
Kant misses with some punches.
Clayborne tries to pull guard but Kant forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kant softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Come on Kant - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kant takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Clayborne wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kant has him pressed against the cage.
Kant misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kant swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kant softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Clayborne throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne has Kant pressed against the cage, preventing Kant from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Clayborne wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kant has him pressed against the cage.
Clayborne tries to stall but Kant uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kant misses with the head strike.
Clayborne fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kant content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Kant.
Kant fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Clayborne is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Kant.
Kant lands a body shot.
Kant has Clayborne pressed against the cage.
Clayborne tries to circle away but Kant has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kant is trying to break the clinch but Clayborne is controlling him.
Kant blocks the elbow strike.
Kant lands with a light punch inside.
Clayborne is trying to pull guard but Kant turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kant has a couple of punches blocked by Clayborne.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Clayborne is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kant is defending well.
Kant prevents a takedown attempt there.
Clayborne changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kant fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Kant has closed the distance and engaged Clayborne in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne can't find room to land a body shot as Kant controls the action.

Clayborne pulls guard effortlessly.
Clayborne is trying to keep Kant in close.
Kant must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Clayborne manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kant manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kant has a closed guard, preventing Clayborne from standing up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clayborne trying to control the position from guard on top but Kant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Kant comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kant winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 26:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 26:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Kant!