PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steven Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Graham Polliver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the ring accompanied by Time to Pretend- MGMT. Steven Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Polliver

160 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Steven Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Graham Polliver!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Polliver as he jumps to the side.
Smith scores with a kick to the midsection.
Polliver lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Polliver throws a head kick that misses.
Polliver throws a leg kick but Smith moved away.
Polliver lands a with a good body shot.
Smith blocks a head kick by Polliver.
Polliver throws a head kick that misses.
Polliver fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Polliver swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Polliver throws a hook but Smith avoids it easily.
A lazy body kick from Polliver

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Polliver is trying to stand.
Polliver flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Smith decides to return to a standing position.
Smith staying out of range there.
Graham Polliver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Polliver misses with a double jab

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
Polliver sneaks back into half guard.
Polliver looks gassed!
Polliver gets full guard.

Smith drops back looking for a leg! Polliver is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Polliver manages to kick Smith off! Smith jumps back into Polliver's guard.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Polliver.
Polliver has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Polliver is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.
Smith pushes down on Polliver's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polliver gets full guard.

Polliver looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Smith trying to control but Polliver is working from the bottom.
Smith trying to move into half guard but instead Polliver has managed to sweep!
Smith has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Polliver has passed into side control.
Polliver looks up at the clock and then as Smith takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Polliver smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Polliver working away.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Polliver tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Smith manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith is trying to stand.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smith can't keep his opponent in guard - Polliver advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Polliver is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.
Polliver lands strikes from half guard.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.
Smith gets back to full guard.
Polliver pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.

Polliver stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Smith takes a jab right on the kisser.
Polliver throws the kick towards the body but Smith avoids it.
Polliver misses with a body shot

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Polliver actively working from the bottom here.
Polliver has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Polliver slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Polliver looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Polliver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith stops Polliver from standing up.

Polliver is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Polliver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Polliver stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Polliver throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Polliver.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Polliver fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Polliver throws a sloppy head kick

and Smith holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smith prevents Polliver from breaking the clinch.
Polliver wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith keeps control of Polliver as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Polliver wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith won't allow it.
Polliver on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Polliver wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the ropes.
Smith prevents a body shot from Polliver.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Polliver just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Polliver is trying to break free.
Smith stalling in the clinch but Polliver improves position.
Knees to the body from Smith.
Smith looking to slow down the pace here.
Polliver tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Polliver has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Polliver.
Polliver is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeps control of Polliver as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith lands an elbow that stopped Polliver in his tracks for a moment.
Smith is trying to stall.
Polliver prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith lands an uppercut.
Smith prevents Polliver from breaking the clinch.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smith controlling the action here for a moment.
Smith is trying to stall.
Polliver wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith lands a damaging elbow.
Smith is trying to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Steven Smith.
Polliver misses with a head kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.
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!
Smith tries to advance to mount but can't.

Smith tries for a kimura but Polliver is defending well.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Polliver sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Smith is working for a kimura but Polliver is defending it quite comfortably.
Polliver wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Polliver is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Polliver is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Smith is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Polliver is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Polliver is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Smith asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Smith working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Polliver can't do much from the bottom here.
Polliver gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Polliver gets back to full guard.
Smith slips nicely into half guard.
Polliver won't allow Smith to pass to mount.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Polliver tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Smith is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Smith tries to pass to full mount but Polliver defends it.
Polliver wants to get back to his feet.
Smith lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Polliver moves into full guard.

Polliver looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Polliver trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
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 Steven Smith will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Smith working away.
Polliver is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Polliver is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Smith is controlling him well.
Polliver throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Polliver is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Polliver wants to get back to his feet.
Polliver sneaks back into half guard.
Polliver is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smith's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smith's back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Polliver missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Steven Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Polliver gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.
Polliver throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Polliver throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Polliver misses with a head kick.

Smith changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Polliver looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Smith misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Polliver regains half guard.
Polliver is looking to improve his position.
Polliver misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Polliver is trying to get back to full guard.
Polliver controlling the position well.
Polliver looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith winds up and cracks Polliver with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Polliver knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Polliver kicks Smith off and gets back to his feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Polliver, as that shot connected.
Polliver scores with a head kick.
Jab from Polliver.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Polliver throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Polliver swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polliver swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Smith looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Steven Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Polliver misses with a body kick.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Polliver lands a jab to the nose.
Polliver lands a head kick. Smith smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Polliver misses with a straight left.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Polliver sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Polliver throws a lazy head kick

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch.
Smith blocks a body shot from Polliver.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Polliver misses with a looping right.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Polliver explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polliver misses with a wild combination.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A jab from Polliver does it's job there.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Polliver wants to get back to his feet.
Smith winds up and cracks Polliver with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Polliver is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Polliver wants to get back to full guard but Smith has passed into side control.
Polliver is looking to get to half guard.
Smith is landing with some decent strikes but Polliver is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Smith is working for a guillotine from mount but Polliver frees his head quite easily.
Smith thowing shots but they're missing.
Polliver keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smith avoids the attempt from Polliver to control.
Polliver is working to get back to half guard.
Polliver slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Polliver is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smith's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smith's back!
Polliver connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Smith to escape the position.
Smith is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Smith manages to reverse the position and now he's in Polliver's guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Polliver controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Polliver is proving hard to escape from.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Polliver is keeping the position.
Smith forces his way into half guard.
Smith trying to control the action but Polliver is working from the bottom.
Polliver is trying to control but can't.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Polliver is defending well.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Polliver is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Polliver trying to hold on to Smith's head to control him but Smith postures up.
Polliver regains full guard. Nicely done.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Smith tries for a kimura but Polliver is defending well.
Polliver manages to get back to half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Polliver is working away.
Polliver has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smith is working away from the top position though.
Polliver works his way to full guard. Good work.
Smith pushes down on Polliver's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smith frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Smith looking to finish Polliver with some ground and pound. This is bad for Polliver!
Polliver is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Polliver is trying desperately to improve position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Polliver gets back to half guard.
Polliver slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Polliver working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Polliver throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Polliver working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Polliver keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Polliver pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Polliver is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Graham Polliver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge James Glass scores the fight for Graham Polliver!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Graham Polliver!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Graham Polliver!

Graham Polliver wins by unanimous decision!