PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maki Tantor (ranked 3578 p4p, 6819 weight class) and William Smyth (ranked 427 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tantor
vs
Smyth

182 cm
29
180
16 - 11 - 0

183 cm
25
180
3 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Maki Tantor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, William Smyth!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Steven Brown and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smyth slips a jab and a cross from Tantor.

Tantor moves into range and clinches up with Smyth.

Tantor manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Smyth throws a strike but Tantor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Tantor preventing the sweep.
Tantor is looking to advance position but Smyth has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Smyth goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Tantor turns into him and now he's in Smyth's guard.
Tantor postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smyth has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Tantor has passed into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smyth is letting Tantor control him for a moment.
Smyth is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smyth is trying to control Tantor's posture but Tantor avoids it.
Tantor staying calm.

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.
Smyth avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Tantor.
Tantor controlling from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor working away.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Smyth is trying to improve his position.
Tantor happy to just control the position for now.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Tantor has managed to clinch.

Tantor manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Tantor scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Tantor stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tantor rushes Smyth and presses him up against the cage.

Tantor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maki Tantor dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Tantor closes the distance and clinches up with Smyth, looking for a takedown. Tantor pushes Smyth against the cage but Smyth circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smyth looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Tantor drives through and clinches with Smyth against the cage.

Tantor drags the fight down to the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smyth accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smyth throwing strikes but missing.
Tantor is pulling down on Smyth's head to control his posture.

Tantor pushes Smyth off and gets back to his feet.
Maki Tantor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smyth throws a body punch but Tantor moves out of range.

Tantor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Tantor ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tantor no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Tantor controlling Smyth's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smyth scoring with some ground and pound.
Tantor seems keen to control Smyth's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smyth accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Smyth has gone for a leg lock! Tantor slips out almost immediately though and dives into Smyth's guard.

Tantor advances position into side control!

Tantor decides to stand up, so the ref orders Smyth to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Tantor does no damage.
Tantor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Tantor pushes Smyth up against the cage in a clinch.

Tantor pulls Smyth into guard.

Tantor wriggles free and stands up.

Tantor clinches.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tantor lands with a light punch inside.
Tantor lands a body shot.
Smyth prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smyth gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maki Tantor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smyth can't get the takedown.

Tantor jumps into guard, dragging Smyth to the mat.
Smyth trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smyth is looking to pass into half guard but Tantor pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Tantor is in guard.

Maki Tantor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tantor is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tantor won't allow Smyth to sweep him here.
Smyth trying to keep a closed guard but Tantor is proving a slippery customer.
Tantor scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smyth wants to sweep but no luck.
Tantor slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maki Tantor dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Tantor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smyth paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smyth unleashes a big counter combination but Tantor bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Smyth throws a leg kick
and Tantor counters with a series of strikes. Smyth will be more careful next time no doubt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tantor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smyth throws a counter combo.

Tantor closes the distance and clinches.

Tantor breaks from the clinch.
Smyth misses with a series of wild punches.
Maki Tantor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smyth tries to keep at a distance but Tantor has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smyth is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Smyth fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tantor is working Smyth over against the cage.

Tantor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smyth throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
An attempted straight right counter from Tantor misses the target.
Tantor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tantor wants to clinch.
Tantor tries to clinch up but Smyth circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tantor drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tantor is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Tantor stands up and waves to Smyth to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tantor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
William Smyth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Tantor breaks the clinch.

Tantor clinches up against the cage.
Tantor presses Smyth against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Tantor manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tantor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tantor seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Tantor pushes Smyth off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tantor drops Smyth with a beautiful combination! Smyth stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Tantor is looking for the KO!

Smyth is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tantor has Smyth up against the cage in a clinch.
Smyth is still on wobbly legs! Can Tantor finish him?

Tantor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smyth seems to have recovered his senses.
The fighters circle, before Tantor throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Smyth's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! Tantor lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Maki Tantor!