PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benson Smooth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomasz Franusik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tomasz Franusik is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Smooth
vs
Franusik

175 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

184 cm
19
169 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Benson Smooth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Tomasz Franusik!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Donald Grub and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franusik moves in looking to clinch but Smooth pushes him off.
A combination from Franusik does no damage.
Franusik throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smooth shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Franusik sprawls well. Franusik wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smooth gets slowly back to his feet.
Smooth keeps the fight on the outside.
Franusik misses with a double jab.
Franusik wants to clinch

and Smooth counters with a takedown into side control.
Smooth scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Franusik to see if he's OK.
Franusik takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Smooth connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Franusik some visible discomfort.

Smooth decides to stand back up. Smooth steps back and let's Franusik get back to his feet.

Smooth shoots in and gets a takedown into Franusik's guard.
Smooth wants to pass the guard but Franusik is keeping the position.
Smooth is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smooth throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franusik wants to stand and escape but Smooth is having none of it.
Franusik looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smooth wants to pass the guard but Franusik is keeping the position.
Smooth has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Franusik is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smooth is controlling him.
Smooth postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smooth in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smooth lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Franusik keeping moving, preventing Smooth from controlling successfully.
Franusik preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smooth wants to stand but Franusik has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Smooth chips away with some ground and pound.
Smooth landing some decent shots from guard.
Franusik is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Smooth with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smooth cracks Franusik with a solid left hand.
Smooth scoring with some ground and pound.
Smooth postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Franusik has momentary wrist control but Smooth slips an elbow through the middle.
Smooth knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Franusik on the ground.
Franusik is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smooth is controlling him.
Smooth cracks Franusik with a solid left hand.

Smooth gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Franusik tries to clinch there but Smooth circles away.
Franusik wants to clinch.

Smooth scores with a takedown into Franusik's guard.
Smooth is in close to Franusik's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Franusik pushes Smooth off and scrambles back to his feet.
Smooth blocks a head kick by Franusik.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smooth uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Franusik.

Smooth shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Franusik is trying to defend but Smooth finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Smooth seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smooth not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Franusik avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smooth.
Smooth prevents Franusik from standing back up.
Smooth wants to control but Franusik is keeping him busy.
Franusik wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franusik on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Franusik pushes Smooth off looking to stand but Smooth dives back in and keeps control.
Franusik has hold of Smooth's hands but Smooth slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smooth prevents Franusik from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smooth working Franusik over with strikes.
Smooth slips a nice elbow through Franusik's hands, connecting with Franusik's forehead.
Smooth working the head and body with strikes.
Smooth is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Smooth thows a huge punch but Franusik dodges it nicely.
Smooth throwing shots but Franusik is blocking nicely.
Smooth stops Franusik from getting back to his feet.
Smooth working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Smooth lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Smooth thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Franusik's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Smooth dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Franusik throws a head kick that misses.
Smooth shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Benson Smooth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smooth tries to close the distance and clinch but Franusik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smooth shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Franusik defends it nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Franusik.

It looks like Benson Smooth has been cut.
Franusik throws the left hand but Smooth avoids the punch easily.

Smooth shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smooth showed some decent athleticism there.
Smooth lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smooth is trying to control. Franusik wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Franusik is trying to stand back up but Smooth is controlling him
Smooth not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smooth lands a nice short elbow.

Franusik pushes Smooth off and gets back to his feet.
Smooth shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benson Smooth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smooth shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smooth keeps the fight on the outside.
Franusik misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Smooth closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Franusik quickly recovers to half guard.
Smooth working the head and body with strikes.
Smooth not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smooth scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Franusik looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smooth working over Franusik with some ground and pound. Franusik looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Smooth prevents Franusik from standing back up.
Smooth lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franusik pushes Smooth off and gets back to his feet.
Franusik throws a head kick that misses.
Franusik throws a lazy right hand but Smooth sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Franusik gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smooth to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Smooth trying to control the position from guard on top but Franusik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smooth is working Franusik over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smooth is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Benson Smooth overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smooth trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smooth trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Franusik kicks Smooth off and gets to his feet.

Smooth scores a takedown into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franusik is bucking up trying to escape but Smooth cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Franusik taking shots to the head.
Smooth putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Smooth lands with some strikes.
Smooth thowing shots but they're missing.
Franusik is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Smooth scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Smooth scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Franusik is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Franusik is squirming around, avoiding Smooth's attempts to control the action.
Smooth lands a nice shot to the head.

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.
Franusik really wants to buck Smooth off and get back to his feet.
Smooth postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Franusik looks a forlorn figure.

Franusik bucks Smooth off and manages to get back to his feet!
Franusik scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Smooth keeps the fight on the outside.
Franusik throws a series of punches but Smooth avoids them all with ease.
Smooth fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smooth blocks a head kick by Franusik.
Franusik throws a nice head kick!
Smooth takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Smooth shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Franusik pinned against the cage. Franusik gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franusik tries to clinch but Smooth moves away

and Smooth counters with a shoot takedown. Franusik fights it but they end up in guard.
Franusik wants to stand and escape but Smooth is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Smooth dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Benson Smooth's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Franusik throws an overhand right that lands on Smooth's shoulder, as Smooth tries to avoid the shot.
Smooth tries to close the distance and clinch but Franusik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Franusik. Those never looked like landing.

Smooth looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Franusik!
Franusik wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Smooth tries to control but Franusik wriggling away.
Franusik is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Franusik is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Franusik takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Smooth landing shots from mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franusik is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smooth postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Franusik looks a forlorn figure.
Smooth landing strikes from the mount.
Smooth lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Smooth is landing with some decent strikes but Franusik is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Franusik wants to try and get back to his feet.
Smooth working the ground and pound effectively.
Franusik wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Smooth scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Franusik is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Franusik somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
A head kick misses from Franusik.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smooth ducks under a wild hook from Franusik.
Franusik tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smooth fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Smooth feints and as Franusik raises his hands in defense, Smooth changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smooth prevents Franusik from getting back to his feet.
Smooth scoring with punches to the head and body.

Franusik is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Franusik breaks from the clinch.
Smooth slips under a jab.
Franusik loads up on a big right hand but Smooth slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smooth fails to land the takedown.
Smooth doesn't manage to clinch there - Franusik circles away.
Franusik misses with a head kick.
Franusik tries to clinch but Smooth is having none of it.
Franusik throws a head kick that misses.
Tomasz Franusik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franusik tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smooth swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Smooth moves into the clinch.
Benson Smooth is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Franusik gets underhooks to prevent Smooth's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benson Smooth. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Franusik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smooth avoids the head kick by Franusik.
Franusik darts in trying to clinch

and Smooth counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Franusik keeping moving, preventing Smooth from controlling successfully.
Franusik is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smooth controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smooth stands up over Franusik, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Franusik scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Smooth tries to clinch but Franusik moves out of range.

Smooth closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Franusik is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Smooth is controlling him well.
Franusik takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Smooth works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Franusik is trying to get back to his feet.
Check out the look on Smooth's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Franusik is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Smooth has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Tomasz Franusik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smooth taking a breather here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benson Smooth showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smooth, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benson Smooth!