PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bill Billards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clayton Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bill Billards could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Clayton Smith's chin.

Billards
vs
Smith

175 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

164 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bill Billards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Clayton Smith!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Billards looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smith regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Billards.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Billards is one step ahead there.

Billards is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Smith is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Smith has escaped and now he's on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Billards is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Billards's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Billards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Smith gets to his feet. Billards looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Billards paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Billards shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Smith manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Smith 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.
Billards trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billards looking to pass the guard.
Smith should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Billards can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Billards in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Billards will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Billards wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

Billards drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Billards off! Billards jumps back into Smith's guard.
Smith pulls Billards in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith pushes Billards off and scrambles back to his feet.
Billards throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Billards off to one side.

Billards gets a clinch.

Billards breaks from the clinch.
Billards fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Billards, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Billards, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Billards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Billards is breathing heavily.

Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Billards keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Billards trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Billards is striking off his back. Smith thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Billards tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clayton Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Billards shoots and misses

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
Billards is not content to let Smith control the position.
Billards is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Smith has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Smith stands up and beckons Billards to his feet.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Billards to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Billards looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Smith!
Smith tries to hold on but Billards postures up.
Smith is in all sorts of trouble here.
Smith bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Clayton Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Billards swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Smith passes Billards's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billards is trying to control but can't.

Billards actively working from the bottom here.

Smith stands up and beckons Billards to join him on the feet.

Smith feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Billards throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Billards had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Billards can't keep his opponent in guard - Smith advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith slows the pace down in half guard.

Smith escapes and gets back to his feet.

Billards shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Smith is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Billards has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Smith's face.
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Smith that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Billards swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Smith is now in Billards's guard. A big mistake from Billards there, giving up the dominant position!
Smith controlling from the top position.
Smith stands up over Billards, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smith decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Smith with a poor takedown

and Billards counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Billards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clayton Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Billards has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Billards can't get the takedown.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Billards fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smith misses with a combination

so Billards counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Billards postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Smith is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Billards, into his guard.
Billards looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billards being controlled here, momentarily.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Smith controlling the position from side mount.

Smith has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Smith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Billards manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Billards is trying to improve his position.
Smith trying to control the action but Billards is working from the bottom.
Smith working the ground and pound.
Billards is letting Smith control him for a moment.
Smith trying to control the position but Billards is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billards tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smith working away.
Billards is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Billards circles away from the clinch attempt

and Billards counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smith's guard now.
Smith pulls Billards in to control the position.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billards postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Billards scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Billards is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Billards decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!
Bill Billards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clayton Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Billards closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Smith did well to prevent Billards getting side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bill Billards showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clayton Smith!