PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guy Owen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Owen is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Owen

180 cm
21
144 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

168 cm
23
150 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Johnny Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Guy Owen!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Owen is working an open guard so Smith takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Owen throws a hook but Smith avoids it easily.
Owen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Owen circles away.
Smith slips under a jab.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smith enables Owen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smith manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Smith has his hands on Owen's head, controlling the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Owen drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Owen off! Owen jumps back into Smith's guard.
Smith controls Owen momentarily but Owen frees himself.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Owen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Owen from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Johnny Smith wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Owen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Owen.
Owen throws a big shot that misses.
Smith looks for a takedown but Owen sprawls well.
Smith slips under a jab from Owen.

Owen feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Owen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Owen trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Owen preventing the sweep.

Owen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Owen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owen passes Smith's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
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!
Owen trying to pass the guard but Smith defending well.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Smith is looking to escape.
Owen is nestled in close to Smith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Owen is very close to passing his half guard.
Smith controlling the position well.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Owen is very close to passing his half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Owen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owen thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Smith wants to improve his position but Owen is controlling well.

Owen is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Smith is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Owen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Owen's back!
Owen rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Smith stands up out of the half guard.
Smith keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Owen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Owen.
Owen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Owen sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Owen works his foot free and advances to mount.
Smith wants to hold on but Owen pushes him away.

Owen is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Smith to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Smith shrugs it off.
Owen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Smith is defending against the submission attempts here by Owen.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Owen prevents Smith from standing back up.
Owen working Smith over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith pushes Owen up against the cage in a clinch.

Owen drags the fight down to the ground.
Smith stands and throws Owen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Owen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smith off and has taken his back!

Smith defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Owen's arms.
Owen lands with a hammerfist to the side of Smith's head.
Smith wants to control his opponent's hands but Owen gets his hands free.
Owen has the hooks in. Smith is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Owen lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Owen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith wants to control his opponent's hands but Owen gets his hands free.
Smith tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Owen working for a submission but Smith is keeping him at bay.

Owen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Smith can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is in all sorts of trouble here.
Smith tries to lock up and control but Owen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Owen is working for a guillotine from mount but Smith frees his head quite easily.
Owen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Owen has hold of Smith's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Smith manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Owen avoids the attempt from Smith to control.

Owen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Smith is in all sorts of trouble here.
Smith tries to hold on but Owen postures up.
Smith regains half guard.
Smith trying to control here.
Smith is looking to escape.
Smith is positioning himself well to prevent Owen advancing to mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Owen drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith has hold of Owen's hands but Owen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Owen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Guy Owen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Owen wants to work for an arm triangle but Smith is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owen slips a nice elbow through Smith's hands, connecting with Smith's forehead.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Well, if Owen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Smith is pressing down on Owen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Owen wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Owen wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Smith holds on and takes a little breather.

Smith has his feet on Owen's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
No joy there for Owen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoids the body shot from Owen.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Owen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Guy Owen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Owen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smith sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Owen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Smith.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Owen.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Owen misses with a series of wild punches.

Smith drives through with a takedown into Owen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Owen's head.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Owen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Guy Owen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Owen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smith's guard.
Smith is trying to keep Owen in close.
Owen prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
Owen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Owen tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Smith trying to strike off his back.

Owen drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Owen off! Owen jumps back into Smith's guard.
Owen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Owen's guard.

Owen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Owen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith postures up in Owen's guard and throws a big left but Owen blocks it.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith prevents Owen from getting back to his feet.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.

Owen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smith trying to control but Owen is working from the bottom.

Owen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Owen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owen being controlled here, momentarily.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Owen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Owen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
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!
Owen keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Smith trying to control but Owen is working from the bottom.
Owen is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owen has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
Owen wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Owen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Owen working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Owen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith won't allow Owen to get back to his feet.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Owen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Owen wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Smith manages to pass to side control.
Owen wants to get back to full guard.
Owen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Owen has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith throwing shots but Owen is blocking nicely.
Smith wants to control but Owen is keeping him busy.
Johnny Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Johnny Smith.
I think Owen 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Guy Owen!
Our winner, Guy Owen, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.