PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AJ Thindale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that AJ Thindale was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Smith
vs
Thindale

180 cm
22
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, AJ Thindale!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thindale throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Thindale cracks Smith with a good jab.

Thindale gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Smith drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Thindale manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Smith has Thindale in his guard.
Thindale being controlled here momentarily.
Thindale trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thindale pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Smith is controlling Thindale's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Smith has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Thindale has passed into side control.
Smith is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Thindale has control of the leg.
Smith gets full guard.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thindale!
Smith is breathing heavily.
Thindale keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Smith goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Thindale is on top in guard.
Thindale slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to sweep here but Thindale controlling him for the moment.
Thindale wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Thindale is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Smith Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Thindale's back instead.
Thindale trying to control the hands but Smith breaks the grip.

Smith is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Thindale is defending well though. Smith let's go of the attempt for now.
Thindale tries to escape but Smith has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Thindale defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Thindale turns into Smith and is now in his guard.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Smith jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Thindale is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Thindale and Smith has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Thindale knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smith postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Smith prevents Thindale from escaping the position.
The ground and pound from Smith seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thindale wants to get back to his feet but Smith is dominant here and he's now got Thindale's back!
Smith sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Smith is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Thindale can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Smith cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thindale avoids a series of strikes thrown by Smith.
Smith controlling his opponent.
Smith 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.
Smith punishing his opponent with strikes.

It looks like AJ Thindale has been cut.
Smith moves to take his opponent's back.
Thindale has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith is not going to allow Thindale to sit and survive in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on AJ Thindale's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Thindale wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Smith is now in half guard.
Thindale pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.
John Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Thindale tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Thindale looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Thindale is defending well.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thindale wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thindale throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Thindale.
Thindale ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Thindale lands a nice hook to Smith's body. Smith takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Some wild striking there from Thindale.
AJ Thindale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smith was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Smith wants to finish this one by submission but Thindale is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Smith.
Smith prevents Thindale from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoids the attempt from Thindale to control.
Thindale is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.
Thindale is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Thindale is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thindale is looking to escape.
Thindale trying desperately to get to his feet.
Smith looking to finish with strikes here!
Smith looking to ground and pound but Thindale is blocking nicely.
Thindale really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Thindale is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Thindale is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thindale sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is working for a kimura but Thindale is defending it quite comfortably.

Smith seems to be working for a kimura but Thindale defends the submission attempt.
Thindale wants to get back to full guard.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thindale keeps working.
Thindale throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Thindale wants to get back to full guard.
Thindale is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Smith jumps into side control!
Smith trying to control the position but Thindale is working away.
Thindale struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Thindale, as that shot connected.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
AJ Thindale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith tries for a takedown but Thindale sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thindale throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Smith's head.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Thindale sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thindale throws a head kick that misses.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Smith is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Thindale has escaped the position, nice work there.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on AJ Thindale's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Thindale is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
A head kick from Thindale lands but Smith takes it in his stride.

Smith is rocked!
Smith wants to clinch up but Thindale keeps it at a distance.
Oh Smith is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Thindale tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.
A head kick misses from Thindale.
Smith stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thindale.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Thindale saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Thindale sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jab by Thindale.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Smith staying out of range there.
Smith blocks a head kick by Thindale.
Thindale lands a high kick!
Smith avoids the body shot from Thindale.
Smith moves away from the strike by Thindale.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Thindale tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Thindale manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Smith scores a takedown into full mount!

Smith is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Thindale has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Thindale can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thindale is looking to escape.
Smith avoids the attempt from Thindale to control.
Thindale tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Smith wants to finish this one by submission but Thindale is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Smith.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thindale is looking to escape.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thindale tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Thindale looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Smith working for a choke but Thindale is defending well.

Smith working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Thindale preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Smith.

Smith is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Thindale is defending well though. Smith let's go of the attempt for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith keeps control of the position as Thindale tries to break free.
AJ Thindale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Thindale is in real trouble here. Smith gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Thindale is tapping out! Smith wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). John Smith!