PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Smith (ranked 4070 p4p, 25248 weight class) and RJ Britten (ranked 272 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Britten

180 cm
25
135
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
140
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, RJ Britten!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Britten shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Smith seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Britten fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Smith went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
No joy there for Britten, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith appears to be looking for a big counter.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Britten.
Britten looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
John Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of RJ Britten.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Britten is looking to clinch.
Britten wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Britten misses with a takedown attempt

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith prevents Britten from breaking the clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch.
John Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Britten fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Smith appears to be looking for a big counter.
Britten shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Britten backing up. Britten nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
RJ Britten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Britten is defended easily by Smith.
Smith went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Britten shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Britten fails with the takedown

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch.
Smith has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Britten is controlling him.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Britten jumps guard but Smith stands there with Britten around his waist. Britten gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Britten misses with a wild combination.
Britten tries to land a front kick but Smith steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Smith half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Britten shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Britten misses with a takedown
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.
Britten looks winded!
Britten swings widly with a right hand
and Smith counters with a left and a right that stings Britten.
A head kick by Britten misses

and Smith holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Britten shoots and misses

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch.
Smith working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Britten has him pressed against the cage.
Britten keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Britten is trying to break the clinch but Smith is controlling him.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Britten keeps him there for the moment.
Britten tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Britten keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Britten has double underhooks.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Britten has him pressed against the cage.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Britten has him pressed against the cage.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith gets underhooks to prevent Britten's takedown attempt.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Britten. Britten gets slowly back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.
As Britten looks to move away, Smith throws a big counter combo but Britten just gets out of the way.
Britten tries to clinch up.
Smith appears to be looking for a big counter.
Britten throws a head kick that misses.
As Britten looks to move away, Smith throws a big counter combo but Britten just gets out of the way.
Britten tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith feinted with a counter takedown.
Britten throws a lazy uppercut

and Smith moves into the clinch.

Britten's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Britten shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Smith drops down looking for a counter takedown but Britten sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Britten wants to clinch
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Britten dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Britten's head and hops out.
Smith appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
John Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of RJ Britten.
Britten shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Britten is breathing heavily.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Britten is controlling the position.
Britten jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smith walks away with a smile on his face. Britten gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Britten fails in his attempt to clinch.
Britten tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A low kick from Britten is predictable there

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.
Britten wants to break free but Smith has control.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to break free.
Smith blocks an elbow strike.
Smith has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Britten has him pressed against the cage.
Smith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Britten won't allow it.
Smith wants to break free but Britten has control.
Britten keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Britten tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
Smith avoids a wild elbow strike from Britten.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Britten fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Britten misses with a takedown attempt
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.
Britten shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.
Britten shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Britten fails with the takedown

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Britten is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Smith wants to break free but Britten has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Britten tries to clinch up

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Smith decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Britten has his takedown stuffed
and Smith counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Britten shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Britten keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Britten tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Britten backing up. Britten nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
John Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Britten shoots and misses

and Smith holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smith is trying to break free.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Britten misses with a left hand

and Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Britten has him pressed against the cage.
Britten looking to slow down the pace here.
Smith tries to break free but Britten pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A frustrated look appears on Britten's face as he tries to break the clinch.
John Smith has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Britten tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Britten is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smith to keep the fight standing.
Smith takes an elbow to the forehead.
Smith tries to circle away but Britten has him pinned against the cage.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Britten throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Britten off to one side.
Smith feinted with a counter takedown.
John Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of RJ Britten.
Britten wants to clinch
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.
Britten tries to clinch
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.
Britten is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
As Britten looks to move away, Smith throws a big counter combo but Britten just gets out of the way.
Britten misses with an uppercut

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith has Britten pressed against the cage, preventing Britten from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Smith is trying to break free.
Britten throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith tries to break free but Britten pushes him back against the cage.
Britten trying to control the position but instead, Smith has worked for underhooks and has pushed Britten into the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Smith has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Britten keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smith's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Britten keeps him there for the moment.
Britten is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Britten is trying to break the clinch but Smith is controlling him.
Smith is trying to push Britten away but Britten has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Britten has Smith pressed against the cage, preventing Smith from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Britten won't allow it.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Britten jumps guard but Smith stands there with Britten around his waist. Britten gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Britten is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
Britten takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Britten looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Britten has him pressed against the cage.
Britten tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Britten tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Britten misses with a takedown attempt

and Smith holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Britten keeps him there for the moment.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Britten has him pressed against the cage.
Smith wants to break free but Britten has control.
Britten is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smith is defending well for now.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Britten won't allow it.
Smith has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Britten has his takedown stuffed

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Smith!