PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gray Maynard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Smith has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Gray Maynard's chin.

Maynard
vs
Smith

173 cm
24
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

160 cm
20
153 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Gray Maynard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Smith!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Daniel Bishop and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maynard fails in his attempt to clinch.

Maynard closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Smith quickly recovers to half guard.
Maynard throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.
Maynard being controlled here momentarily.
Maynard wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Maynard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maynard throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith is adopting a defensive guard.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maynard defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith pulls Maynard in to control the position.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Maynard from controlling successfully.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maynard.
Maynard is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Gray Maynard.
Maynard doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Gray Maynard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maynard tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Maynard tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maynard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.

Maynard has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Maynard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Maynard is stalling here.

Maynard gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Maynard wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Maynard trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Maynard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Smith seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joe Smith hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Maynard misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Maynard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Maynard tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Maynard shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maynard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gray Maynard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Maynard.
Maynard wants to clinch.
Maynard moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Maynard with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Smith to score with a decent uppercut.

It looks like Gray Maynard has been cut.
Maynard tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Maynard tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith is looking to clinch but Maynard is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gray Maynard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gray Maynard's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maynard tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maynard slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Maynard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maynard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Gray Maynard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maynard.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maynard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maynard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maynard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Maynard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gray Maynard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maynard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Maynard gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maynard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.

Maynard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Maynard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.

Maynard stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.
Smith tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Maynard moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Maynard is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Maynard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Maynard slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maynard circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch

and Maynard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
Maynard throws a strike but Smith rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maynard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith pushes down on Maynard's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Maynard kicks off Smith and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Maynard persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Maynard misses with a combination
and Smith counters with a one-two to the body.
No luck for Maynard with that takedown attempt.
Smith lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maynard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maynard dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Maynard's head and hops out.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gray Maynard's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith wants to clinch up but Maynard keeps it at a distance.
Maynard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maynard looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith lands a nice looking body shot.
Maynard closes the distance but Smith moves to the side

and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Maynard won't allow it.
Smith wants to break free but Maynard has control.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Maynard tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maynard looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gray Maynard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a right hand that Maynard ducks under and follows up with a left that Maynard also avoids with ease.
Maynard is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Smith misses with a double jab.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.

Smith pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maynard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maynard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smith is proving hard to escape from.

Smith scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Maynard.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maynard is defended easily by Smith.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Donk. Smith catches Maynard right on the button with a cross.
Smith moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Smith lands with a right hand.

Gray Maynard's cut is getting worse.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Maynard.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Maynard counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.
Maynard stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Smith controlling Maynard's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Maynard!
Smith lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Maynard hang on?
Smith unloading with bombs!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Maynard looks a forlorn figure.

Maynard is rocked!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith looking to finish Maynard with some ground and pound. This is bad for Maynard!
Oh Maynard is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Maynard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

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