PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivar Kvick (ranked 3778 p4p, 4670 weight class) and Paul Smith (ranked 493 p4p, 554 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kvick
vs
Smith

181 cm
25
180
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
190
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivar Kvick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Smith!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to clinch
and Kvick counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice defenses there by Smith.
Kvick dodges the punch combination from Smith.
Smith falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kvick moves into the clinch.
Kvick is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Kvick misses with a hook to the ribs.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a right hand that Kvick ducks under and follows up with a left that Kvick also avoids with ease.
Smith tries to clinch up but Kvick circles away and keeps his distance.

Kvick throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Smith tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kvick is in Smith's guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Kvick from controlling successfully.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kvick is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smith can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kvick wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kvick. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kvick preventing the sweep.
Kvick sitting in guard here, content to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kvick throws an elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kvick's guard. Nice move by Smith!

Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Kvick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two 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.
Kvick keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith trying to control but Kvick is working from the bottom.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kvick manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Smith keeping moving, preventing Kvick from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kvick content to stall in guard here.
Kvick with a nice head shot there.
We've been informed that Smith has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Smith 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.
Kvick controlling from the top position.
Kvick postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kvick trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kvick tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Kvick from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kvick's corner calls for a 1-2. Kvick obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
Smith lands with a hook. Kvick tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Smith takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kvick lands with a shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kvick takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Smith tries to clinch but Kvick moves out of range.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Kvick fails to land with a series of punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivar Kvick dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kvick ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kvick works Smith's body with a nice hook.
Nice straight punches there by Smith. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Smith.
Kvick throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smith stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Paul Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith tries to clinch but Kvick is having none of it.
Kvick changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Smith rushes Kvick and presses him up against the cage.
Kvick blocking some punches.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kvick - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kvick - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kvick can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kvick pressing his opponent against the cage.
Smith dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Smith misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Smith lands a shoulder strike.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Kvick has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kvick keeps the fight on the outside.
Kvick was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

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.
Kvick misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith lands with a right hand.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Smith lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kvick throws a shot to the body.
Ivar Kvick is winning the standup battle so far.

Kvick gets tackled into the cage by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Kvick thuds his right hand into Smith's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Smith throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kvick counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smith thinking.
Paul Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kvick scores with a jab to the body.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Kvick appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Smith throws a shot from downtown. Kvick moves away and avoids it.
Kvick is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoids the body shot from Kvick.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Kvick pushes him off.
It looked like Kvick wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Smith misses with a hook.
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kvick feinted with a counter takedown.
Kvick takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice uppercut there from Kvick.
Kvick scores with the left hand. Smith knows he should have avoided that one.
Kvick shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Kvick's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivar Kvick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kvick.
Kvick throws out a powerful jab.

Smith pushes Kvick up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kvick breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith tries to bum rush Kvick with a series of wild strikes but Kvick uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith throws a combination that misses
and Kvick counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Kvick pushes him off.
Smith shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kvick eats them both and turns towards Smith to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Smith misses with a straight right.
Kvick was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kvick.
Kvick throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.
Kvick throws an overhand right that lands on Smith's shoulder, as Smith tries to avoid the shot.
Smith tries to clinch but Kvick is having none of it.
Kvick throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kvick shoots in looking for a takedown but Smith manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kvick's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A countering left hand to the body from Smith misses.
Smith tries to clinch but Kvick moves out of range.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Kvick circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Kvick.
Kvick avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith scores with a shot to the body.
Kvick takes one to the chin there.

Kvick feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Smith is looking to stand back up but Kvick counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Smith.

Kvick is nestled in close to Smith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Kvick sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Kvick 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kvick is working away from the top position though.
Smith is holding on to half guard well.
Kvick is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Smith on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kvick wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith is trying to control but can't.
Smith is staying active underneath Kvick, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kvick missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kvick changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Smith missing with a left hand there. Kvick was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kvick shoots in and bounces Smith off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kvick throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kvick stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kvick.
Kvick trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Kvick controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kvick with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kvick works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kvick controlling the pace.
Kvick is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kvick keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kvick throws a hook but Smith blocks it.
Smith throws a hook but Kvick avoids it easily.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith digs a good body shot into Kvick's ribs.

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 Ivar Kvick.
I think Kvick 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivar Kvick!
A very excited looking Ivar Kvick rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.