PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Kempton (ranked 22860 p4p, 542 weight class) and John Smith (ranked 23234 p4p, 553 weight class). Jacob Kempton has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kempton
vs
Smith

172 cm
21
160 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

171 cm
23
160 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jacob Kempton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Smith!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kempton throws a hook but Smith avoids it easily.
Kempton misses with a few strikes there.
Smith shapes to counter with a head kick.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Kempton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Kempton lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like John Smith has been cut.
Kempton has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Star Studded Beef in the buildup to the fight.

Smith clinches up with Kempton and pushes him back against the cage.

Smith successfully pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kempton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kempton stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Kempton 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.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kempton manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kempton keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Kempton uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Kempton misses with a double jab.
Kempton tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kempton lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kempton wants the takedown. Smith is fighting it off but Kempton persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Smith's guard against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kempton throws a big right hand that misses.
Kempton stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Kempton not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kempton is aware though and is defending well.
Kempton controlling from the top position.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kempton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kempton preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kempton throws a combination that misses
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Some wild striking there from Kempton.
Kempton falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Kempton sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Jacob Kempton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Smith.

Kempton shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kempton is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kempton connects with a nice short shot to Smith's temple.
Kempton keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Kempton is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.
Kempton controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Kempton has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Kempton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Smith's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kempton manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Smith on his heels. He'll look to pass Smith's guard now, I'm sure.
Kempton is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kempton is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kempton sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kempton distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kempton throws a combination that misses
and Smith counters with a thumping low kick.
Kempton fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch up but Kempton circles away and keeps his distance.

Kempton has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kempton lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Smith is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kempton to keep the fight standing.
Smith tries to pull guard but Kempton won't allow it.
Jacob Kempton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Smith.
Smith trying to stall but Kempton improves his position.
Smith is trying to push Kempton away but Kempton has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kempton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kempton tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Kempton turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Smith putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kempton in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kempton obliges.
Kempton is pressed up against the cage. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kempton down to the mat. Kempton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Kempton clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Come on Kempton - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kempton wants to break the clinch but can't.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kempton misses with a double jab.
Smith is looking for the big counter here.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Kempton.
Smith lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kempton.
Kempton looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
Kempton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kempton drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Smith decides to pull guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kempton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Kempton dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Smith's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've been informed that Smith has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Kempton has him pressed against the cage.
Kempton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kempton gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kempton tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kempton wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Kempton stops a takedown attempt from Smith.
Kempton has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smith is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kempton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smith walks away with a smile on his face. Kempton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacob Kempton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Kempton throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Kempton 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kempton is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smith looking to control.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kempton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kempton won't allow Smith to sweep him here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith wants to clinch up but Kempton keeps it at a distance.
A jab from Kempton misses.

Kempton closes the distance and clinches.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith wants a takedown but no success here.
Kempton wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith won't allow it.
Kempton can't break the clinch.
Smith pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kempton can't break the clinch.
Kempton wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kempton is trying to break the clinch but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Kempton tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Kempton tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the cage.
Kempton tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.
Smith wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smith wants a takedown.
Smith avoiding damage.

Kempton jumps guard.
John Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Smith stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Kempton has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Smith manages to get his head free but now Kempton has transitioned to an armbar! Smith grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Kempton! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jacob Kempton!
Jacob Kempton thanked the fans post fight for their support.