PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Norberto Hobbs (ranked 7215 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Smith (ranked 4794 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hobbs
vs
Smith

225 cm
19
214 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Norberto Hobbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Smith!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hobbs.
Hobbs lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hobbs takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That kick from Smith tenderised Hobbs's leg. Hobbs is trying to keep his angry face on.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hobbs landing a few short strikes.
Hobbs has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hobbs tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Hobbs trying to control but Smith postures up.
Hobbs blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
Hobbs is looking to improve his position.
Smith blocks the strikes from Hobbs.
Hobbs is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hobbs moves into full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hobbs holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two 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.
Hobbs has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Smith has passed into side control.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hobbs knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hobbs is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hobbs tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Hobbs is looking to improve his position.
Hobbs is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.
Hobbs is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hobbs is looking to improve his position.

Smith is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hobbs doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Smith.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hobbs tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.

Hobbs actively working from the bottom here.
Hobbs tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Smith passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hobbs!

That's four 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.
Hobbs tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Hobbs is working to get back to half guard.
Smith looking to control but Hobbs is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hobbs is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith controlling the pace for now.
Smith looking to finish with strikes here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Hobbs sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Hobbs's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hobbs really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hobbs misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Hobbs is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Smith is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hobbs can't fight it off and eventually Smith manages to take the fight to the floor. Hobbs looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hobbs throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Smith gets to his feet. Hobbs looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hobbs is out of range.
Hobbs throws a quick counter kick to the body but Smith avoids it.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hobbs trying his best to control but Smith has mounted him.
Hobbs is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Smith tries to control but Hobbs wriggling away.
Smith thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hobbs tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.
Hobbs bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hobbs stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Smith is looking to stand up but Hobbs isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hobbs stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As Smith tries to get set, Hobbs tries to push him back and clinch up but Smith manages to avoid the attempt.

Hobbs gets a clinch.

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

Smith closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hobbs did well to prevent Smith getting side control.
Hobbs pushes Smith off but Smith dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hobbs avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Smith.
Hobbs is looking for a sweep.
Hobbs is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smith off and has taken his back!

Smith showing good submission defense here.
Hobbs will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Smith just trying to survive but Hobbs is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hobbs tries to keep control of the position but Smith is staying busy.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Smith is trying to stand back up.
Hobbs trying to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Norberto Hobbs will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hobbs keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Hobbs has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Smith.
Hobbs moves out of range of the body kick from Smith.
Hobbs throws a counter high kick but Smith was just alert enough to avoid it.

Smith throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hobbs was covering up waiting for the punch and Smith finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Hobbs has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Smith has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith avoids a wild elbow strike from Hobbs.
Hobbs trying to control the position but instead, Smith has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hobbs into the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hobbs avoids the head kick by Smith.
Hobbs throws a quick counter head kick but Smith was just out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smith.
Smith throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hobbs on the side of the head.

Smith closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hobbs did well to prevent Smith getting side control.

Hobbs manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Smith keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Hobbs misses with an elbow strike.

Smith has clasped his hands together around Hobbs's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Hobbs throws Smith to one side and escapes!
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith moves to clinch but Hobbs breaks away

and Hobbs counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.

Smith is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hobbs drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hobbs goes for a takedown in the clinch but Smith prevents it.
Hobbs drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smith pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norberto Hobbs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith tries to bum rush Hobbs with a series of wild strikes but Hobbs uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith tries to clinch but Hobbs moves out of range.
It looked like Hobbs was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Smith throws a wild body kick that Hobbs sees coming a mile off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hobbs blocks a head kick by Smith.

Smith closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hobbs is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hobbs regains full guard. Nicely done.

Hobbs is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith wants to control from the top but Hobbs keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hobbs throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Smith passes into half guard.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hobbs keeps working.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hobbs won't allow Smith to pass to mount.
Hobbs works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hobbs pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Hobbs looking for a sweep. Not yet Hobbs, not yet.

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 Norberto Hobbs.
I think Hobbs has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!