PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Smith John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Newton Mubiru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

John
vs
Mubiru

180 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Smith John!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Newton Mubiru!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mubiru lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Smith John has been cut.
Mubiru misses with a takedown attempt - John sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
John lands with a slapping head kick.

John manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Mubiru on his heels. He'll look to pass Mubiru's guard now, I'm sure.
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!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
John keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mubiru's head.
John stays in close to Mubiru's body and controls the position.

John stands and steps away. Mubiru gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mubiru shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as John sprawls well. John wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mubiru gets slowly back to his feet.

John drives through with a takedown into Mubiru's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
John is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mubiru for as long as he can get away with.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

John avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
John working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
John trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Smith John has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Mubiru shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has John pinned against the cage. John gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smith John has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Newton Mubiru.
Mubiru tries to clinch but John moves out of range.

John drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
John advances nicely into full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mubiru tries to get back to half guard but can't.
John tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
John cracks Mubiru with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
John controlling from the full mount.
John punching from mount but Mubiru doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
John takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
John throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mubiru is trying desperately to improve position.

John stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

John looking to score a takedown here. Mubiru is defending well but John drives through and ends up in Mubiru's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

John drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and John jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
John is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Smith John dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Smith John's cut.
That's time! John's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mubiru tries to clinch but John is having none of it.
John stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mubiru or perhaps it was just good defense by John, which made it look bad.
Mubiru misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

John closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

John tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no John has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
John working away.
John remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John working the ground and pound but Mubiru is defending the strikes.
John in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Mubiru sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
John is taking a breather. Mubiru says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

John is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mubiru is just riding it out for now. John eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John works his way into side control.
John slows the pace down.
John works to advance to full mount. Mubiru defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

John has hold of Mubiru's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Mubiru manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
John throws some wild stikes that Mubiru manages to avoid easily.
Mubiru holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as John tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Mubiru is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
John controlling from the full mount.
John thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
John 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.
Poor strikes thrown by John there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mubiru is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mubiru blocking the ground and pound.
John raining down hammerfists from mount.
John controlling the pace for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
John's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Smith John dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Smith John's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mubiru changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. John tries to avoid it but Mubiru manages to keep hold of a leg and drag John to the ground. John escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mubiru tries to clinch but John moves out of range.

John fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mubiru sprawls well initially but John persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
John is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

John is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mubiru has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mubiru avoiding damage under a succession of punches from John.
John takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

John decides to return to a standing position.

John fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mubiru to the ground. John is now in Mubiru's guard.
John showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John stopping the sweep attempt from Mubiru.
John not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Mubiru working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. John doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. John manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
John throwing strikes from guard but Mubiru blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
John content to stall in guard here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

John decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mubiru, up you get!
Mubiru misses with a takedown attempt - John sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
John throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mubiru takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mubiru looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith John has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Newton Mubiru.

John fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mubiru, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

John jumps guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now John is on top in guard.
Mubiru wants to sweep here but John controlling him for the moment.
John cracks Mubiru with a solid left hand.

John gets to his feet - Mubiru follows without any prompting.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mubiru doesn't succeed with the takedown

and John decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mubiru's guard.
Newton Mubiru has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith John is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
John content to stall in guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Smith John showed his dominance in that final round.
Well John has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

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