PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Soul Crew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Smithers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Soul Crew has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Crew
vs
Smithers

180 cm
20
161 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

160 cm
23
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Soul Crew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nick Smithers!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smithers throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Crew's waist but Crew gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smithers off to one side.
Smithers 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.
Crew looks to score with a jab to the body but Smithers is just out of range.
Crew throws a body kick that misses.

Crew has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smithers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Crew has him pressed against the cage.

Crew has hold of one of Smithers's legs. Smithers is fighting the takedown attempt but Crew gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Crew won't allow Smithers to sweep him here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Crew gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A jab from Crew misses.
Crew explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Crew fails in his attempt to clinch.

Crew scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smithers wants to control but Crew is keeping busy.
Smithers gets full guard.
Smithers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smithers working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crew stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smithers swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Smithers is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smithers looks gassed!

Smithers had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Crew is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Smithers Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Crew's back instead.
Crew turns into Smithers and is now in his guard.
Crew wanted to stand there but Smithers had control of the position.
Smithers wants to get back to his feet but Crew is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Crew wants to stand but Smithers is controlling his posture from full guard.
Smithers working a defensive guard here.

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.
Crew sitting in guard here, content to control.
Crew will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Crew is in close to Smithers's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Crew makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Crew content to stall in guard here.

Crew is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smithers keeping busy on the bottom but Crew has passed one foot through into half guard.

Crew decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crew has his takedown stuffed

and Smithers counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smithers.
Smithers passes into half guard.
Smithers throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smithers is keen to just control but Crew is a slippery customer.

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

Crew pushes Smithers off and gets back to his feet.
Crew wants to clinch but Smithers slips to the side

and Smithers counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stalling in the clinch from Crew.
Smithers managing to block the knees to the body from Crew.

Crew tightens his grip and picks Smithers up, before dumping him to the ground. Smithers manages to land in guard.
Smithers striking off his back but it's not causing Crew any problems.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smithers keeping moving, preventing Crew from controlling successfully.

Smithers had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Crew is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Smithers Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Crew's back instead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smithers struggling to land strikes to the head as Crew covers up.
Crew trying to control the action but Smithers just sinks the hooks in.
A lull in the action here.
Crew tries to escape the position.

Crew is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smithers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Crew is fending him off so far but Smithers persists. Nope, Crew circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Crew has Smithers up against the cage in a clinch.
Crew drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smithers gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Crew drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smithers pulls his leg out and moves away.

Smithers closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Crew tries to roll over but Smithers keeps him under control.

Smithers is working for a kimura but Crew is defending it quite comfortably.
Smithers wants to control but Crew is keeping him busy.
Smithers is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crew is defending against the submission attempts here by Smithers.

Smithers is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Crew regains full guard. Nicely done.
Smithers trying to control the position from guard on top but Crew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smithers passes Crew's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smithers thows a huge punch but Crew dodges it nicely.
Crew is not content to let Smithers control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Smithers is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Crew has managed to free his arm - good work.

Smithers is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Crew defends it well.

Smithers stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Crew to get to his feet.

Crew has Smithers up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Smithers shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crew is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Crew is squirming around, avoiding Smithers's attempts to control the action.
Crew wants to hold on but Smithers pushes him away.
Crew is squirming around, avoiding Smithers's attempts to control the action.

Smithers goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Crew is on top in guard.
Crew postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Smithers looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Smithers throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smithers is trying to control the position but Crew postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smithers has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Crew doesn't defend quickly enough and Smithers has managed to lock this one up! Can Crew escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Smithers on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Nick Smithers!