PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith has chosen Smoke the Fire as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

King
vs
Smith

175 cm
20
164 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

183 cm
36
163 lbs
16 - 29 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johnny Smith!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith moves away from the strike by King.
King shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but King keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
King ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.
King doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith counters with a one-two to the body.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
King looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
King misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith scores with a hook to the body. King takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
King tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten King somewhat.
Smith steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from King.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Smith tries to improve position but can't.
Smith trying his best to control but King has mounted him.
King trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Smith wants to control but King is having none of it.
Smith regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
King stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and King jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but King can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
King trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
King looking to pass the guard.
Smith looking to control.
King trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
King slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Good leg kick by Smith there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Smith manages to get an easy takedown there - catching King on his heels. He'll look to pass King's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith wants to pass the guard but King is keeping the position.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of King's head.
King keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
King looking for a sweep. Not yet King, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith stays in close to King's body and controls the position.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A thudding body kick lands there by Smith!
King dodges the punch combination from Smith.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith lands with an overhand left.

Smith is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in King's half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
King wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Smith dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smith looks to land a combination but King avoids it well.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into King's guard.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and King has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between King's legs - danger averted.
Smith trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is pushing down on King's leg trying to pass to half guard. King is fighting to maintain full guard but Smith has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for King!
Smith lands a couple of good shots and King has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
King is trying to break free.
Will Smith go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
King is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Smith looking for the choke from the back.
King just trying to survive but Smith is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
King rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith stands up from half guard.

Smith moves into the clinch.
King tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.

Smith has hold of one of King's legs. King is fighting the takedown attempt but Smith gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Smith throws a strike but King rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

This has been an exciting period of action!
King postures up.
King tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control King haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
King is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnny Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
King keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is looking to advance position but King has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

King is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Smith has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Smith!
Smith advances to half guard.
Smith slips a nice elbow through King's hands, connecting with King's forehead.
Smith throws a strike but King avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

King looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Smith passes into side control.

Smith stands up and beckons King to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

King misses with a lunging right hand
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
King fails with a takedown attempt.
King fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.

King shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Smith is trying to defend but King finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
King prevents Smith from standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith tries to get to full guard but King has control of the leg.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. King is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to roll over but King keeps him under control.
King is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.
Smith gets full guard.
King being controlled here momentarily.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. King is aware though and is defending well.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smith keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

King manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Smith on his heels. He'll look to pass Smith's guard now, I'm sure.
King advances position into side control!
Smith is trying to improve his position.
King wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Smith is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. King is working away from the top position though.
King wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnny Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
King pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. King defends it easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
King shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.
Despite the aggression on Smith's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but King persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from King.
King looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
King swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

King closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Smith did well to prevent King getting side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith tries to roll over but King keeps him under control.
Smith trying to hold on to King's head to control him but King postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben King showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29

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