PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Luke Smith (ranked 2697 p4p, 2343 weight class) and Mick Taylor (ranked 182 p4p, 162 weight class). Taylor has chosen Better Get A Lawyer as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Taylor

171 cm
19
135
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
19
135
4 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Savage Fightwear
Conquer

The Pharmacy Phuket
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luke Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mick Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Franklyn Lucas and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taylor is defended easily by Smith.
Taylor staying out of range there.
Taylor feints the counter takedown.

Taylor scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Taylor content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Smith gets full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor controls from within his opponent's guard.
Taylor sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Smith's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Smith is staying active underneath Taylor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Taylor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Taylor performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Taylor passes to side control.

Taylor thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Taylor controls the position from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith stops Taylor from passing to mount.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Taylor working away.

Taylor is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smith tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Taylor staying calm.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Taylor tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Taylor controls the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Taylor is trying to get an arm triangle but Smith is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mick Taylor dominated that round.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taylor.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Smith connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taylor drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Smith defends it well.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Taylor moved out of range nicely.
And Taylor tries to counter it with a takedown but Smith pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Taylor gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Smith counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Taylor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Smith misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Smith misses.
Taylor throws a big shot that misses.

Taylor closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Smith's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taylor wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Taylor content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to sweep but instead, Taylor has passed into half guard.
Taylor is pressing down on Smith's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smith is holding on for now.
Smith definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Taylor is looking for a kimura here.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Taylor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Taylor sits in half guard.
Taylor trying to mount his opponent but Smith defends it.
Taylor is taking a breather. Smith says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Taylor is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smith defends it well.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taylor on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to improve his position.

Taylor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Taylor with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but Smith defending well.
Smith moves into full guard.

That's four 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.
Taylor trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Taylor passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Luke Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Taylor thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Taylor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taylor just content to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Luke Smith will probably get the nod.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Taylor tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith connects with a crisp jab.
Smith scores with the left hand. Taylor knows he should have avoided that one.
Taylor with a poor takedown
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taylor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Luke Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mick Taylor.
Taylor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a nice right hand that sends Taylor toppling to the canvas! Taylor scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Smith finish him?!

Taylor is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taylor fails with the takedown
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Taylor is still on wobbly legs! Can Smith finish him?
and Smith counters with a massive uppercut that badly hurts Taylor! He's just covering up as Smith starts to tee off till the referee steps in and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Luke Smith!
After winning the bout, Luke Smith thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.