PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Bothian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mateusz Szmidt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mateusz Szmidt has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Kenny Bothian's chin.

Bothian
vs
Szmidt

189 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Heavy handed

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 New York, Kenny Bothian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mateusz Szmidt!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Kavanagh and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bothian tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Szmidt paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Szmidt gets a clinch.
Szmidt gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bothian.

Szmidt gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Bothian striking from half guard on the bottom.
Bothian is trying to maintain the position but Szmidt is very close to passing his half guard.
Bothian is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Szmidt controlling the action here.
Bothian knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Szmidt on the ground.
Bothian has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Szmidt is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bothian wants to stand back up but Szmidt manages to pass into side control.

Szmidt is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bothian has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bothian can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Szmidt decides to stand back up. Szmidt steps back and let's Bothian get back to his feet.
Bothian misses with a series of wild punches.
Bothian moves in looking to clinch but Szmidt pushes him off.
Szmidt shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bothian defends it nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Szmidt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bothian struggling a bit here.

Szmidt stands up and beckons Bothian to his feet.

Bothian gets a takedown into half guard.
Bothian is stalling here. Szmidt is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Bothian seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Szmidt has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bothian is looking to regain half guard here but Szmidt keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Szmidt stands up.
A slapping body kick lands there for Szmidt.
Bothian shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Szmidt counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bothian trying to control but Szmidt postures up.

Szmidt decides to stand and escape the position.
Szmidt looks gassed!
Bothian wants to clinch up but Szmidt keeps it at a distance.

Bothian shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Szmidt napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Bothian in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bothian trying to control the action but Szmidt is working from the bottom.
Szmidt struggling a bit here.
Szmidt takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bothian is looking to take a break and control but Szmidt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bothian wants to stand but Szmidt is controlling his arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateusz Szmidt dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Szmidt shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bothian counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Szmidt's guard now.
Szmidt keeping moving, preventing Bothian from controlling successfully.
Bothian showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bothian wants to control from the top but Szmidt keeps moving.
Szmidt keeping full guard, as Bothian tries to pass.
Bothian trying to control the position from guard on top but Szmidt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bothian works over Szmidt with some ground and pound from guard.
Bothian throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bothian trying to control but Szmidt is working from the bottom.
Szmidt is breathing heavily.
Bothian tries to stand but Szmidt is controlling from the bottom.
Szmidt trying to keep a closed guard but Bothian is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Szmidt has his takedown stuffed

and Bothian counters with a takedown into side control.
Bothian tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Bothian wants to control but Szmidt is keeping him busy.

Bothian is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Szmidt is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bothian wants to stand but Szmidt is controlling his arm.
Bothian tries to get to his feet but Szmidt is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Bothian in his guard.
Bothian stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Szmidt swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bothian looking to sit in guard and control but Szmidt gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Szmidt postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Szmidt misses with a takedown attempt

and Bothian counters with a single leg into guard. Szmidt didn't expect that.
Kenny Bothian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mateusz Szmidt.
Bothian with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bothian sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bothian's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bothian lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Szmidt keeping moving, preventing Bothian from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Bothian dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bothian.
Szmidt gets back to half guard.
Bothian trying to control the action but Szmidt is working from the bottom.
Szmidt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bothian missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bothian is stalling here. Szmidt is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Bothian seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Szmidt has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Szmidt tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on Bothian's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bothian is looking to regain half guard here but Szmidt keeps moving and retains side control.
Bothian is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Szmidt asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bothian tries to bench press Szmidt off him but Szmidt keeps the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Bothian closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Szmidt did well to prevent Bothian getting side control.
Bothian tries to stand but can't do so whilst Szmidt controls his leg.
Bothian is keen to just control but Szmidt is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bothian missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Szmidt is staying active underneath Bothian, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Szmidt missing with punches from the bottom.
Bothian is looking to take a break and control but Szmidt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bothian wants to free his trapped foot but Szmidt is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Szmidt trying to hold on to Bothian's head to control him but Bothian postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Szmidt shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bothian counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bothian is trying to control. Szmidt wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bothian throwing shots but Szmidt is blocking nicely.
Bothian thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bothian throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Still in half guard, Bothian seems content to control.
Bothian missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenny Bothian showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bothian 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenny Bothian!