PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Draven (ranked 1567 p4p, 2501 weight class) and Matt Smith (ranked 217 p4p, 335 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Draven
vs
Smith

182 cm
26
179
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
175
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

Goblin Fight Wear
HARDCORE Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Samuel Draven!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Smith!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Chad Campbell and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Draven.
Smith gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Draven.
Draven throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.

Smith decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith throws a strike but Draven avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Draven pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Draven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Draven utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.
Draven pulls Smith in close to his closed guard and prevents Smith from doing any damage or advancing position.
Draven definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith works over Draven with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Draven's head.
Draven is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.
Draven can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
Draven trying to control the position here.
Draven wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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 stops Draven from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Draven dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Draven getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Draven lands an overhand right.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Draven sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Draven misses with a hook.
Draven attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draven uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Draven misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Draven pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Draven prevents a takedown attempt there.
Samuel Draven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Smith.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Draven tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith has Draven pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Draven manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Draven gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Draven gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith goes for a takedown in the clinch but Draven prevents it.
Draven is trying to maintain a safe position but Smith gets an underhook and turns Draven into the cage.
Draven working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Draven trying to stall but Smith improves his position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Smith is looking for a takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Draven to counter with a crisp jab.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Samuel Draven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Draven waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Draven connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Smith keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Draven swivels and escapes.
Samuel Draven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Smith.
Smith tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Draven defends well and Smith ends up having to push Draven into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith misses with a takedown
and Draven counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Smith is rocked!
I'm just looking down at my notes here and I see that.... oh! Draven has cracked Smith with a big right, followed by a left! He's out on his feet! Draven lands another huge swinging hook and Smith tumbles to the canvas! The ref dives in to save Smith, before Draven can land any more shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Samuel Draven!
Samuel Draven retains his welterweight title!
After winning the bout, Samuel Draven thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.