PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Darin Smith (ranked 3734 p4p, 320 weight class) and Thommy Maxwell (ranked 4310 p4p, 355 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Smith
vs
Maxwell

170 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
24
149 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darin Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thommy Maxwell!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maxwell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Maxwell swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maxwell avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maxwell looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Smith wants to clinch.
Maxwell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith connects with a looping right hand.

It looks like Thommy Maxwell has been cut.
Maxwell throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Maxwell throws out a leg kick but Smith moves out of range and Maxwell only half commits.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith wants to clinch up but Maxwell keeps it at a distance.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Maxwell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maxwell misses with a double jab
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Smith is looking to clinch but Maxwell is avoiding it.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
No joy there for Maxwell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith lands a head shot.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Smith tries to clinch but Maxwell moves out of range.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith throws a right and a left that Maxwell avoids nicely.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Maxwell.
Maxwell misses with a two punch combination.
Darin Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Maxwell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sloppy strikes from Smith. Those never looked like landing.
Maxwell is looking for the big counter here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith wants to clinch up but Maxwell keeps it at a distance.
Maxwell is looking for the big counter here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maxwell. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith tries to counter with a takedown but Maxwell is quick to defend against it.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Maxwell circles away.
A punch combination from Maxwell misses.
Smith misses with the combination.
Smith avoids the head kick by Maxwell.
Smith wants to clinch.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maxwell scores with a one two! Smith had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Maxwell has his takedown stuffed
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tests Maxwell's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maxwell throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smith.
Smith getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A left and a right from Smith both land. Nice combination.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maxwell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No joy there for Maxwell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maxwell throws a body shot but no joy.
Maxwell throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch but Maxwell is having none of it.

Maxwell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Maxwell is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Smith misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maxwell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maxwell misses with a wild combination.
Maxwell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maxwell throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Maxwell takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Smith tries to land a front kick but Maxwell steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.

Smith rushes Maxwell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Darin Smith will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Thommy Maxwell'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.

Smith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Maxwell is looking to chop away at Smith's legs.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maxwell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maxwell looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Darin Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Maxwell throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Smith moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Maxwell is rocked!
Smith moves out of range as Maxwell strikes.
Smith changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Maxwell is still on wobbly legs! Can Smith finish him?
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith scores with a three punch combo!
Darin Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Maxwell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Smith moves out of range as Maxwell throws a body kick.
Maxwell misses with the combination.
Smith half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Smith tries to clinch but Maxwell moves out of range.
Maxwell seems to have recovered his senses.
Maxwell fails to land the takedown.
Smith throws a head kick but Maxwell moves out of range.
Maxwell now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Maxwell.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smith.
Maxwell is breathing heavily.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maxwell throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith tries to clinch but Maxwell is having none of it.
Maxwell tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smith.

That has opened up Thommy Maxwell's cut even more.
Smith throws out a powerful jab.
Maxwell throws a body kick that misses.
Maxwell avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maxwell dodges the punch combination from Smith.
Smith seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Maxwell avoids the head kick by Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch there but Maxwell circles away.

Maxwell gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Maxwell is trying to break free.
Maxwell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Smith misses with a punch on the inside.
Maxwell tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the cage.
Maxwell is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Maxwell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith tries to clinch but Maxwell is having none of it.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maxwell.
Smith stuffs the takedown.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Maxwell is looking to chop away at Smith's legs.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Maxwell pushes him off.
Smith lands a jab.
Maxwell displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Maxwell scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Smith lands with a straight right. Maxwell didn't see that one coming.
Maxwell misses with a double jab.
Smith tries to counter with a takedown but Maxwell is quick to defend against it.
Maxwell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good shot there by Smith.
Smith tries to clinch up but Maxwell circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith tries to clinch but Maxwell is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Maxwell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Darin Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thommy Maxwell.
Smith misses with a hook. Maxwell ducked under it nicely.
Maxwell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith attempts a counter takedown but Maxwell avoids it well and moves away.
Maxwell pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Smith scores with a push kick.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Maxwell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maxwell keeps the fight on the outside.
Maxwell misses with an attempted mid kick.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Maxwell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith moves in looking to clinch but Maxwell pushes him off.
Maxwell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maxwell throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Smith lands a nice shot that snaps Maxwell's head back.
Maxwell lands a nice hook to Smith's body. Smith takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Maxwell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Maxwell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith throws a series of punches but Maxwell moves out of range.
Maxwell misses with a double jab.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maxwell swinging wildly here.
Maxwell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith tries to counter by clinching up but Maxwell breaks away and moves out of range.
Smith swinging wildly here.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Maxwell lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Maxwell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maxwell doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maxwell.
Smith wants to clinch up but Maxwell keeps it at a distance.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Despite the aggression on Maxwell's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Maxwell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Maxwell misses with the combination.
Smith tries to clinch but Maxwell is having none of it.
Maxwell throws a low kick but Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith is looking to counter the offense by Maxwell and move into the clinch.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maxwell circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith lands a glancing blow to the side of Maxwell's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith wants to clinch.
Maxwell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maxwell is looking for the big counter here.
Smith moves out of range as Maxwell strikes.
Smith attempts a counter takedown but Maxwell avoids it well and moves away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Smith.
Maxwell throws out a powerful jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maxwell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Maxwell pushes him off.
Smith tries to clinch there but Maxwell circles away.
Maxwell shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Maxwell circles away.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maxwell swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Maxwell pushes him off.
Maxwell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith misses with an attempted mid kick.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Maxwell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maxwell throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maxwell tries a low kick but Smith avoids it.
Smith seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Maxwell takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith cracks Maxwell with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maxwell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Maxwell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Smith wants to clinch.
Maxwell misses with a wild combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maxwell looks to land a body kick but Smith moved away.
Smith changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Smith throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Maxwell makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Thommy Maxwell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darin Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Maxwell slips the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thommy Maxwell.
I think Smith 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Darin Smith!
Our winner, Darin Smith, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.