PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Not John Smythe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Stein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Not John Smythe has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

John Smythe
vs
Stein

205 cm
23
275 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
270 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Not John Smythe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Stein!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Bruno Hogan and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stein jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smythe attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Stein ducks under a wild hook from Smythe.
Stein avoids the body shot from Smythe.
Smythe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smythe stuffs the takedown attempt from Stein. Stein gets slowly back to his feet.
Stein uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smythe.
Smythe throws a low kick but Stein avoids it.
Smythe throws a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stein throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smythe misses with a body shot.
Smythe fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Stein is out of range.
Smythe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stein was well out of range. Poor timing from Smythe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smythe just misses with a punch to the body.
Smythe scoring well with a low kick there.
Smythe wants to land a leg kick but Stein is out of range.
Smythe swings for the body but Stein moves out of range.
Smythe shoots in for a double leg but Stein sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Smythe, right into the meat.
Stein misses with a straight left.
Smythe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stein moves away.
Not John Smythe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smythe tries to score with a low kick but Stein moves his leg out of the way.
Smythe throws out a leg kick but Stein moves out of range and Smythe only half commits.
Smythe tries for a takedown but Stein circles away easily

and Stein counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Not John Smythe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stein postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smythe manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stein gets back to half guard.
Smythe trying to mount his opponent but Stein defends it.
Smythe slips a nice elbow through Stein's hands, connecting with Stein's forehead.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smythe throwing shots but Stein is blocking nicely.
Smythe trying to advance position but Stein counters by regaining guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stein striking from the bottom here.
Smythe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smythe passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smythe wants to free his trapped foot but Stein is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Smythe prevents Stein from improving his position.
Stein is looking to control Smythe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stein avoid being mounted?
Smythe scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stein has hold of Smythe's hands but Smythe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Stein has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smythe looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Stein keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smythe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smythe thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Stein to regain full guard.
Smythe stands up over Stein, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stein tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smythe throws a big right hand that misses.
Smythe looking to pass the guard.
Smythe landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stein throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Stein is trying to control the position but Smythe postures up.
Smythe works over Stein with some ground and pound from guard.
Stein looks gassed!
Smythe throwing strikes from guard but Stein blocks nicely.
Stein working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smythe.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smythe wants to control from the top but Stein keeps moving.
Smythe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stein keeping moving, preventing Smythe from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Not John Smythe dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smythe swinging wilding here.
Smythe misses the shot to the body.
Smythe misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Stein counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stein.
Smythe trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Smythe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stein's guard.
Not John Smythe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smythe wants to pass the guard but Stein is keeping the position.
Stein manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smythe manages to get himself to full guard.
Smythe striking off his back but it's not causing Stein any problems.
Smythe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smythe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smythe 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.

Smythe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stein can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stein throwing strikes from guard but Smythe blocks nicely.
Stein with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stein showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stein avoids the body shot from Smythe.
Smythe tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Stein is able to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stein stuffs the takedown attempt from Smythe. Smythe gets slowly back to his feet.
Smythe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smythe missing with a left hand there. Stein was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Smythe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stein moves away.
Smythe thows a body shot but no joy.
Smythe throws a hook to the side of Stein's head but Stein sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smythe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stein was well out of range. Poor timing from Smythe.
Smythe shoots in for a double leg but Stein sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smythe fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Not John Smythe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smythe swings for the body but Stein moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smythe just misses with a punch to the body.
Good work by Stein as he checks the leg kick.
Smythe swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Stein counters with a takedown into side control.
Stein content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Smythe tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smythe wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Smythe is looking to regain half guard here but Stein keeps moving and retains side control.
Stein trying to control the position but Smythe is working away.
Smythe on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smythe tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smythe gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Smythe manages to get to full guard.
Smythe looking to control.
Stein throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smythe looking for a sweep. Not yet Smythe, not yet.
Smythe has momentary wrist control but Stein slips an elbow through the middle.
Smythe looking for a sweep. Not yet Smythe, not yet.
Smythe is working hard here to advance position.
Smythe is looking to sweep but instead, Stein has passed into half guard.
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. Stein connects with a nice short shot to Smythe's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Stein showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Smythe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Smythe scoring well with a low kick there.
Smythe fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Stein checks it well.
Smythe is looking to wear down Stein with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Smythe throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Smythe finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Smythe misses the body punch
and Stein counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Smythe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stein was well out of range. Poor timing from Smythe.

Smythe scores with a takedown into Stein's guard.
Stein avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stein controls Smythe momentarily but Smythe frees himself.
Smythe looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smythe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stein keeping moving, preventing Smythe from controlling successfully.
Smythe has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smythe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stein throws a couple of heel strikes.

Stein is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stein takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smythe's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smythe throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smythe throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Smythe shoots in for a double leg but Stein sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smythe misses with a takedown attempt
and Stein counters with a straight right hand.
Smythe thows a body shot but no joy.
Smythe misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smythe will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Smythe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Not John Smythe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smythe has his takedown stuffed
and Stein counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smythe throws a sloppy head kick and Stein moves out of range easily.
Smythe moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Smythe with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Smythe misses the jab.
Smythe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stein moves away.
Smythe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stein stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Stein checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Smythe throws the kick towards the body but Stein avoids it.
Smythe misses with a leg kick.
Stein avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jab by Smythe.
Smythe throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smythe misses with the combination.

Smythe drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smythe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smythe is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Stein has momentary wrist control but Smythe slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smythe wants to pass the guard but Stein is keeping the position.
Stein is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smythe works his way to full guard. Good work.
Smythe doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Stein preventing the sweep.
Stein lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Stein won't allow Smythe to sweep him here.

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 Not John Smythe.
I think Smythe 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Not John Smythe!