PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carlton Smithers (ranked 3677 p4p, 2883 weight class) and Ricky Rawse (ranked 447 p4p, 372 weight class). Carlton Smithers could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ricky Rawse's chin.

Smithers
vs
Rawse

195 cm
30
265
3 - 3 - 0

193 cm
36
269
20 - 21 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Carlton Smithers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricky Rawse!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Ben Hemmingworth and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smithers misses with a double jab.
Smithers has been working on his boxing with his coaches at WildBoar's Private Pig Pen in the buildup to the fight.
Smithers fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rawse looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Smithers lands a slapping body shot.
Smithers ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Rawse closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Smithers tries to bench press Rawse off him but Rawse keeps the position.
Smithers is being controlled here.

Smithers throws Rawse to one side and escapes!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rawse takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Smithers scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rawse doesn't seem bothered though.
Smithers sizes up Rawse with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Smithers connects with a crisp jab.
Smithers swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smithers punishes Rawse's body with a nice straight punch.
Smithers avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rawse slips a jab and a cross from Smithers.

Rawse looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Smithers!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smithers is being controlled here.
Smithers is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smithers is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rawse has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Smithers tries to improve position but can't.
Smithers wants to get back to his feet.
Smithers manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Smithers not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rawse is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smithers's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smithers's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rawse has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Smithers's body.
Smithers trying to get back to his feet but Rawse is in full control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Rawse doesn't have the hooks in and Smithers manages to turn into his guard.
Rawse controlling the position.
Rawse wants to sweep here but Smithers controlling him for the moment.
Smithers is looking to work some ground and pound but Rawse has wrist control.
Smithers wants to stand but Rawse is controlling his posture from full guard.
Smithers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smithers throwing strikes from guard but Rawse blocks nicely.
Rawse looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rawse bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smithers's guard.

Rawse got a little sloppy there for a moment and Smithers has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rawse has managed to get both his arms back between Smithers's legs - danger averted.
Rawse is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Smithers working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rawse doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rawse manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rawse slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rawse controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smithers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Smithers looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rawse passes into half guard.
Rawse is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rawse is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smithers wants to hold on but Rawse pushes him away.
Rawse trying to control but Smithers is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smithers on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rawse is looking to clinch.
Rawse takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rawse tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smithers swivels and escapes.
Rawse misses with an uppercut
enabling Smithers to counter with a crisp jab.
Smithers misses with a straight left.
Nice shot lands for Smithers.
Rawse throws a body punch but Smithers moves out of range.
Smithers misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rawse uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smithers.
Some wild striking there from Smithers.
Smithers misses with a low kick.
Rawse throws a right and a left that Smithers avoids nicely.
Smithers swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawse fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smithers manages to avoid it.
Smithers throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Smithers lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rawse keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rawse throws a lazy uppercut
and Smithers counters with a right hand to the body.
Jab by Smithers.
Rawse's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Smithers connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rawse scrambles back to his feet.
Smithers throws an overhand right that lands on Rawse's shoulder, as Rawse tries to avoid the shot.
A left and a right from Smithers both land. Nice combination.
Rawse takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Rawse is rocked!
Carlton Smithers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smithers uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rawse.
Smithers throws a body shot but no joy.
Smithers misses with a jab to the body
and Rawse counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smithers.
Rawse uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smithers.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smithers keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rawse.
Carlton Smithers is winning the standup battle so far.
Rawse lands a head shot.
Rawse throws a lazy right hand but Smithers sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smithers throwing a counter right hand but Rawse manages to avoid it.
Rawse changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smithers tries to avoid it but Rawse manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smithers to the ground. Smithers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rawse tries to clinch but Smithers moves away
and Smithers cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smithers bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rawse's head.
Smithers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rawse can do to turn this around?
Rawse misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Carlton Smithers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Rawse.
Smithers lands with a good body shot.
Rawse is breathing heavily.
Smithers swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Smithers lands a big right hand that sends Rawse crashing to the mat! Smithers stays standing though and waves Rawse back to his feet!
Smithers lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rawse is still on wobbly legs! Can Smithers finish him?
Smithers throws out a loose jab but Rawse uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rawse doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Rawse seems to have recovered his senses.

Rawse instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawse keeps control of Smithers as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rawse blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rawse wants a takedown but no success here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smithers.
Smithers lands a nice uppercut.
Smithers tries to break free but Rawse pushes him back against the cage.
Rawse prevents a body shot from Smithers.
Smithers doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smithers softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Smithers has had enough of the clinch but Rawse keeps him there for the moment.
Rawse wants a takedown.

Rawse gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rawse prevents Smithers from improving his position.
Smithers moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smithers has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rawse can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rawse engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Smithers is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rawse is aware though and is defending well.

Smithers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Smithers has an active guard here but Rawse has managed to pass into half guard.
Smithers looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Carlton Smithers 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A slow jab from Rawse misses its intended target.
Rawse throws a big shot that misses.
Smithers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rawse moves away.
A left lands for Rawse.
Smithers pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rawse.
Rawse changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smithers tries to avoid it but Rawse manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smithers to the ground. Smithers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rawse takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Smithers lands with a nice body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rawse misses with a shot to the body
and Smithers counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smithers throws a good cross that connects.
Rawse takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smithers uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rawse has time to react.
Smithers lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rawse at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smithers connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smithers lands with an uppercut that bounces Rawse off the cage and back into range.
Rawse doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Smithers lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Smithers slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Smithers lands a nice looking body shot.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Smithers! Rawse is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Carlton Smithers!
After winning the bout, Carlton Smithers thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.