PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gareth Newbanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greig Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gareth Newbanks has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Newbanks
vs
Smith

182 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Gareth Newbanks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Greig Smith!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Newbanks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Newbanks tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Newbanks wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Newbanks tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Newbanks fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Newbanks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith throws the kick towards the body but Newbanks avoids it.
Smith connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Newbanks's hands.
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gareth Newbanks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith throws a series of punches but Newbanks moves out of range.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Newbanks tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Newbanks is looking to clinch.
Newbanks blocks a head kick by Smith.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Newbanks doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Newbanks.
Newbanks tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith tries for a takedown but Newbanks sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gareth Newbanks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greig Smith.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Newbanks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Newbanks gets a takedown into half guard.
Smith tries to roll over but Newbanks keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith trying to control here.
Newbanks landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Newbanks working over Smith with some ground and pound. Smith looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith gets back to full guard.
Newbanks won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Smith is trying to control the position but Newbanks postures up.
Smith looks gassed!
Newbanks tries to stand but Smith is controlling from the bottom.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Smith avoids the attempt from Newbanks to control.
Newbanks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith prevents Newbanks from getting the reversal.
Smith misses with some ground and pound and Newbanks recovers position to half guard.
Newbanks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
Newbanks is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith is looking to stall here but Newbanks recovers full guard.
Smith slips nicely into half guard.
Newbanks looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smith passes the guard and advances to mount!
Smith wants to control but instead Newbanks manages to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control but Newbanks is keeping him busy.
Smith is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Newbanks is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Newbanks keeps working.

Newbanks kicks off Smith and gets to his feet.
Newbanks wants to clinch
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Newbanks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
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 Gareth Newbanks will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Newbanks looks to clinch
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Newbanks tries to clinch up
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Smith is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Newbanks.
Smith comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Newbanks shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Newbanks closes the distance but Smith moves to the side

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smith prevents Newbanks from getting back to his feet.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith trying to control the position but Newbanks is working away.

Smith stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Smith moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Smith pushes Newbanks up against the cage in a clinch.
Newbanks keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A knee to the head by Newbanks.
Smith stalling in the clinch but Newbanks improves position.
Newbanks tries a knee to the head but Smith blocks it.
Newbanks gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Newbanks with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Newbanks prevents a takedown attempt there.
Smith is looking to control Newbanks's arms but Newbanks gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newbanks looking to throw knees to the head but Smith is blocking nicely.
Newbanks prevents the takedown attempt.
Gareth Newbanks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greig Smith.
Newbanks prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Newbanks landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Newbanks landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Newbanks unloads a knee to the mid-section. Smith lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Newbanks with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith has Newbanks pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Newbanks manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Newbanks with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Newbanks lands a knee to the body.
Newbanks throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Smith fails to pull guard.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Newbanks won't allow it.
Newbanks landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Newbanks with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Newbanks gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Newbanks with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newbanks pushes off an fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Newbanks with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Newbanks prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Newbanks with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Newbanks wants to clinch but Smith slips to the side

and Smith counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Newbanks!
Smith looking to control but Newbanks is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Newbanks is looking to get to half guard.
BOOM! Smith connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Newbanks regains half guard.
Smith thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Newbanks to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newbanks keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Newbanks is keeping the position for now.
Newbanks wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Greig Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

Newbanks manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Newbanks keeps the fight on the outside.
Newbanks tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Newbanks tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Smith counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Newbanks clinches but Smith breaks the clinch
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greig Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Newbanks wants to clinch but Smith slips to the side
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Newbanks wants to clinch but Smith slips to the side
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith cracks Newbanks with a right hand to the side of the head.
Newbanks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Newbanks sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith throws a good cross that connects.
Newbanks wants to clinch

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
Smith moves into full mount!
Smith scoring with strikes but Newbanks is staying in there.

Smith has hold of Newbanks's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Newbanks manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Newbanks is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newbanks wants to get back to his feet.
Newbanks is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith raining down shots from the mount!

Smith is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Newbanks is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Newbanks flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Smith anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Newbanks and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Smith slips an arm under Newbanks chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Smith has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Smith is squeezing on Newbanks like an anaconda would it's prey. Newbanks fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Greig Smith!