PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between William Smyth (ranked 24911 p4p, 24945 weight class) and William Roberts (ranked 681 p4p, 713 weight class). Roberts has chosen Phenomenal as his entrance music. William Roberts is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Smyth
vs
Roberts

183 cm
20
180
0 - 4 - 0

183 cm
19
180
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, William Smyth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, William Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberts checks the leg kick.
Roberts darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Smyth looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smyth swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've been hearing reports that Smyth has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Roberts wants to clinch.
Roberts cracks Smyth with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Roberts doesn't manage to clinch there - Smyth circles away.
Smyth swats away the attempt to clinch by Roberts.
Roberts circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roberts clinches up against the cage.

Smyth's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smyth shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Smyth swats away the attempt to clinch by Roberts.
Smyth fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roberts closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Roberts throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smyth.

Smyth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Roberts moves into the clinch.

Smyth manages to break the clinch.
Smyth scores with a leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Roberts tries to close the distance and clinch but Smyth swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Roberts throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
William Smyth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smyth throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Roberts tries to clinch there but Smyth circles away.
Roberts lands a glancing blow to the side of Smyth's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roberts stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Smyth fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smyth clinches.

Smyth pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Roberts is defended easily by Smyth.

Roberts has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smyth lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Roberts swings wildly with an uppercut but Smyth uses good head movement to avoid it.

Smyth breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roberts clinches.

Smyth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smyth rushes Roberts and presses him up against the cage.
Roberts lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smyth backwards.
Smyth on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Roberts breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Roberts checks the leg kick nicely there.
A little jabbing left from Roberts on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A punch combination from Roberts misses.
Smyth fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Roberts takes a swing at Smyth's ribcage but misses.
Smyth appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Roberts looks to clinch
and Smyth counters with a series of strikes. Roberts will be more careful next time no doubt.
Smyth throws out a leg kick but Roberts moves out of range and Smyth only half commits.

Smyth clinches.
We've been informed that Roberts has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Roberts breaks from the clinch.
Smyth looks to throw the jab but Roberts is out of range.
Smyth takes one to the side of the head.
Roberts tries to clinch there but Smyth circles away.
Roberts scores with a one two! Smyth had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Smyth takes the fight into the clinch.
Smyth on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Smyth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smyth swats away the attempt to clinch by Roberts.
Roberts stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smyth.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that William Smyth will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smyth throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Roberts counters with a three punch combo that has Smyth backing up. Smyth nods at Roberts to acknowledge the strikes.
Roberts blocks a head kick by Smyth.
Smyth goes for a double leg but Roberts avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Roberts continues to drive forward.
Roberts tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Smyth manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smyth scores with a push kick.
Roberts tries to close the distance and clinch but Smyth swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smyth tries to land a front kick but Roberts steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Roberts checks a low kick from Smyth.
Roberts keeps the fight on the outside.
Roberts tries to clinch up.
Roberts ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smyth misses with a leg kick
and Roberts counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smyth drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Roberts checks the leg kick nicely there.
Smyth lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smyth attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Roberts takes the fight into the clinch.
Roberts lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smyth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smyth throws a chopping leg kick but Roberts manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Roberts tries to clinch there but Smyth circles away.
Roberts fails in his attempt to clinch.
Roberts slips under a jab from Smyth.
A little jabbing left from Roberts on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Smyth throws a chopping leg kick but Roberts manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Roberts moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Roberts forces Smyth back against the cage and clinches.

Roberts breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smyth misses with a straight left.
Roberts throws out a counter right but Smyth avoids it with no problem.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Roberts tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smyth paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Roberts tries to clinch up but Smyth circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smyth throws a leg kick that misses.
Roberts looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Smyth takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice shot by Roberts.
Roberts has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Smyth.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smyth throws a low kick, looking for Roberts's leg but Roberts calmly moves out of range.
Roberts is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Roberts tries to clinch up but Smyth circles away and keeps his distance.
Smyth misses with a body kick.

Roberts closes the distance and pushes Smyth back into the cage.

Smyth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smyth swats away the attempt to clinch by Roberts.
Smyth does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Roberts fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roberts tries to clinch but Smyth is having none of it.

Roberts moves into the clinch.
Roberts slows down the pace here.
William Roberts seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smyth manages to break the clinch.
Smyth swats away the attempt to clinch by Roberts.

Roberts takes the fight into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Roberts scores with a nice short uppercut.

Smyth escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smyth shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Roberts as he avoids it easily.
Smyth jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Roberts tries to close the distance and clinch but Smyth swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smyth was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Roberts dodges the punch combination from Smyth.
Smyth on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Smyth throws a sloppy head kick and Roberts moves out of range easily.
Smyth throws a chopping leg kick but Roberts manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Roberts wants to clinch up but Smyth keeps it at a distance.
Smyth thinks about countering with a body kick.

Smyth closes the distance and clinches.
Roberts pushes Smyth back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Roberts.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smyth fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but William Roberts will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Roberts has closed the distance and engaged Smyth in a clinch.
Roberts is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smyth to keep the fight standing.

Smyth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smyth scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
William Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Roberts instigates a clinch.
Roberts taking a breather.
Roberts lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Smyth up against the cage.

Roberts jumps into guard, dragging Smyth to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roberts is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smyth defends well.
Smyth trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Roberts is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Smyth would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Smyth cracks Roberts with a solid left hand.
Roberts looking to control.

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.
Roberts pulls Smyth in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roberts is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smyth trying to control the position from guard on top but Roberts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smyth thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smyth trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smyth trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Roberts keeping moving, preventing Smyth from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Roberts tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Roberts fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smyth smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

It looks like William Roberts has been cut.
Roberts keeps the fight on the outside.
Smyth connects with an inside leg kick.
Roberts checks a leg kick.
Smyth rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Roberts counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smyth misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Roberts wants to clinch up but Smyth keeps it at a distance.
Smyth attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Smyth throws a leg kick which misses Roberts's front leg but catches the back leg as Roberts tries to avoid it.
Roberts tries to clinch but Smyth moves out of range.
Smyth throws a nice outside leg kick.

Roberts gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Roberts scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Smyth is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Roberts to keep the fight standing.
Roberts works on Smyth's body with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Roberts.

Smyth's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Roberts moves into range and clinches up with Smyth.
Smyth blocking some punches.
Smyth tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Roberts smiles and moves away.
Roberts blocks a head kick by Smyth.
Roberts let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smyth throws a head kick that misses.
Roberts is looking to clinch.
Smyth attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Smyth circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smyth chopping away at his opponent's legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to William Smyth.
I think Smyth 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!