PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Noel Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nigel Beardwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Duality - Slipknot. Beardwood has chosen The Black Angels - Young Men Dead as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Beardwood

191 cm
21
210 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

174 cm
24
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

:: Happy Pills ::
PWNAGE $19.50 Clothing NY - Over 250 Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Noel Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nigel Beardwood!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jonathan Paton and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beardwood misses with a looping right.
Beardwood misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Beardwood throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Beardwood throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.
Beardwood keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Beardwood misses the jab.

Smith shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Beardwood napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Smith taking a break here but Beardwood is having none of it and regains half guard.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Beardwood defending well though.
Smith prevents Beardwood from standing back up.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Beardwood defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smith.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Beardwood sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Beardwood.
Beardwood keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Beardwood is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
An elbow from Smith crashes against the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Beardwood can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smith tries to move to mount but Beardwood blocks the move with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Beardwood dodges the ground and pound from Smith.
Smith in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Smith in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The referee asks Smith politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Smith prefers to stall for the moment though.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Beardwood is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beardwood tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Smith is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Beardwood covering up well and avoiding damage.
Beardwood is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Beardwood covering up well and avoiding damage.
Smith is looking to control Beardwood but Beardwood is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Smith lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Smith.
Smith misses with an elbow to the head.
Smith wants to control the position but Beardwood frees himself and scrambles - Smith manages to regain control in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noel Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Beardwood throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith stalks Beardwood and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Beardwood's face. Beardwood staggers backwards, shaken.
Beardwood falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.
Smith tries to bum rush Beardwood with a series of wild strikes but Beardwood uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Beardwood circles away.
Smith lands a jab to Beardwood's midsection.
Beardwood keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Smith scores with a body shot.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Beardwood.
Beardwood misses with a jab to the body

and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith lands an elbow just above Beardwood 's eye.

It looks like Nigel Beardwood has been cut.
Smith pushes off an throws an elbow but Beardwood leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Smith pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A hook to the body from Beardwood.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smith lands with a light punch inside.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
Beardwood wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith prevents Beardwood from breaking the clinch.
Beardwood trying to stall but Smith improves his position.
Beardwood dodges an elbow strike from Smith.
Smith lands a right hand.
Smith throws an elbow that misses.
Smith comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Beardwood avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith keeps control of Beardwood as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smith misses with the head strike.
Beardwood stalling against the cage.
Beardwood is trying to break the clinch but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Beardwood.
A left hand lands to the body for Beardwood.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith scores with a shot to the side of Beardwood's head.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from Smith.
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but Beardwood uses good head movement to avoid it.
Beardwood lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Smith or not.
Beardwood lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Smith or not.
Beardwood wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Beardwood is trying to break the clinch but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith misses with some punches.
Beardwood blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Beardwood.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beardwood is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith keeps control of Beardwood as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith keeps control of Beardwood as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Beardwood tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Beardwood blocking some punches.

Beardwood escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nigel Beardwood is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith lands a nice looking body shot.
Beardwood misses with a body shot
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Beardwood slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith looks for a takedown but Beardwood sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Noel Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Beardwood doesn't seem bothered though.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short uppercut from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Beardwood.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Beardwood gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Beardwood.
Smith goes for a takedown attempt but Beardwood pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Smith slips a straight right by Beardwood.
Beardwood throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
A jab from Beardwood misses.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A jab lands there for Beardwood.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Beardwood throws out the jab.
Beardwood swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nigel Beardwood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Beardwood takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Smith fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Beardwood on the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.
Beardwood misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Beardwood is controlling Smith's posture.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Beardwood is retaining full guard.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Smith wants to control from the top but Beardwood keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noel Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nigel Beardwood's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Smith lands a right hook to the body.
Smith staying out of range there.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Beardwood sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Beardwood throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Noel Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith scores with a nice strike.
Beardwood takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Beardwood was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Beardwood doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Beardwood misses with a combination
and Smith counters with a right hand to the body.
Jab by Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beardwood swings away with a body shot that misses
and Smith counters with a series of strikes. Beardwood will be more careful next time no doubt.
Beardwood ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Smith slips under a jab from Beardwood.
A shot to the liver by Smith. Beautiful body shot.
Beardwood takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Beardwood's guard.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Beardwood works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith wants to control from the top but Beardwood keeps moving.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Beardwood keeps working.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Beardwood's head.
Beardwood is trying to stand back up but Smith is controlling him
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Beardwood knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Smith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.
Smith works his foot free and advances to mount.
Smith unloads with some shots from mount but Beardwood bucks and avoids them well.
Beardwood avoids a series of strikes thrown by Smith.
Smith working Beardwood over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beardwood is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Beardwood manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Smith is trying to control. Beardwood wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Beardwood defending well though.
Smith seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Smith is pressing down on Beardwood's thigh, looking to free his foot. Beardwood is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noel Smith clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Nigel Beardwood's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Beardwood is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Beardwood walks into a straight right hand from Smith.
Smith slips a straight right by Beardwood.
Smith fails with the takedown.
Beardwood tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with a nice body shot.
The fighters circling - Beardwood throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith lands with a good body shot.
Beardwood tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with a one-two to the body.
Smith jabs Beardwood right on the nose. Beardwood blinks but takes it well.
Beardwood misses with a body punch
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Beardwood ducks right into an uppercut from Smith.
Beardwood misses with a jab to the body

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Beardwood didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Beardwood works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
Smith trying to control but Beardwood is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Beardwood blocks nicely.

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

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith stands and throws Beardwood's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Smith working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the ground and pound but Beardwood is defending the strikes.
Smith misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Smith throws an elbow but Beardwood slips to the side and avoids it well.
Noel Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Beardwood wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Smith misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Beardwood shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Beardwood sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Noel Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith connects with a looping right hand.
A left and a right from Smith both land. Nice combination.
Smith shoots in but Beardwood avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Beardwood misses the target.
Smith slips under a jab.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Beardwood.
Beardwood throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Beardwood listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Beardwood throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noel Smith had his way with Nigel Beardwood in that round.
The cut man is working on Nigel Beardwood's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Beardwood misses with a looping right.
Beardwood jabs at Smith's body.
Beardwood throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Beardwood.
Smith is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Smith works Beardwood's body with a nice hook.
Smith is looking to wear down Beardwood with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Beardwood throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Beardwood.
Beardwood misses with a hook.
Smith jabs at Beardwood's body.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!
Beardwood swings away with a body shot that misses
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith scores with a nice head shot.
Beardwood avoids the body shot from Smith.
Smith connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a combination. Beardwood tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Beardwood misses with a shot to the body
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Beardwood is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Beardwood misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Beardwood misses with a jab to the body
and Smith counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Beardwood throws a sloppy body shot
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Beardwood has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Smith scores with a nice strike.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Smith gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but Beardwood uses good head movement to avoid it.

Smith gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Beardwood blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
Beardwood blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
Nigel Beardwood has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Noel Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Beardwood is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Beardwood defending well though.
Smith working Beardwood over with strikes.
Beardwood blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Beardwood pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Beardwood's head.
Smith sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Smith trying to advance position but Beardwood counters by regaining guard.
Smith postures up in Beardwood's guard and throws a big left but Beardwood blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smith wants to control from the top but Beardwood keeps moving.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Beardwood blocks nicely.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Beardwood throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Beardwood saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Beardwood.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noel Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 50:45
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 50:45
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noel Smith!
Noel Smith retains his light heavyweight title!