PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cadoc Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Smith might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Crazy - Gnarls Barkley. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Smith
vs
Calzaghe

180 cm
23
175 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

182 cm
25
178 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Punishment Nutrition
•‡• LION Clothing •‡•

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Benjamin Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Cadoc Calzaghe!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith lands an overhand right.
Calzaghe looks to land a combination. Smith sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Calzaghe slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Calzaghe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
A lazy left from Calzaghe finds it's target.
A swing and a miss from Calzaghe.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Calzaghe moves away.
Smith falls off balance throwing a combination
and Calzaghe counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Calzaghe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Calzaghe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Calzaghe.
Smith is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith lands a head shot.
Calzaghe throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Calzaghe checks a leg kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Calzaghe circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Calzaghe.

Calzaghe lands a left and a right that send Smith crashing to the mat, dazed. Calzaghe thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Smith is rocked!
Calzaghe dodges the punch combination from Smith.

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Calzaghe keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smith's efforts to push away.
Calzaghe being controlled against the ropes.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to stall.

Calzaghe breaks from the clinch.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Calzaghe listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A combination from Calzaghe does no damage.
Calzaghe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith.
Calzaghe misses with a wild combination.
Calzaghe slips a straight right by Smith.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe lunges at Smith with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Smith's hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Calzaghe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Cadoc Calzaghe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left and a right from Smith both land. Nice combination.
Smith lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smith stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Calzaghe might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Smith is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Calzaghe.
A lazy left from Calzaghe finds it's target.
Smith looks to land a combination but Calzaghe avoids it well.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Calzaghe circles away.
Smith is looking to clinch but Calzaghe is avoiding it.
Calzaghe misses with a straight left.
Calzaghe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Calzaghe's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Calzaghe duly obliges.
Oh Smith is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cadoc Calzaghe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Calzaghe.
Smith moves out of range as Calzaghe strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith staying out of range there.
Calzaghe is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Calzaghe misses with a wild body shot.
Calzaghe misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Calzaghe stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
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!
Calzaghe misses with a looping left.
Smith bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Calzaghe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Calzaghe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Smith to counter with a crisp jab.
Calzaghe looks gassed!
Calzaghe misses with a combination
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A swing and a miss from Calzaghe.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cadoc Calzaghe dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith throws a series of punches but Calzaghe avoids them all with ease.
Smith throws a head kick but Calzaghe moves out of range.
Smith tries to clinch there but Calzaghe circles away.
Calzaghe misses with an uppercut.
Smith tries to clinch but Calzaghe moves out of range.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Calzaghe circles away quickly and effectively.
Jab by Calzaghe.
Smith's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Smith duly obliges.
Calzaghe takes one to the chin there.
Calzaghe throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
Calzaghe comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.
A cross from Calzaghe lands.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Smith gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Calzaghe.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Calzaghe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Calzaghe drops Smith with a beautiful combination! Smith stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Calzaghe is looking for the KO!
Smith bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Calzaghe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Calzaghe throws a big shot that misses.
Calzaghe misses with a double jab.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Calzaghe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Calzaghe paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Calzaghe wants to break free but Smith has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe is trying to force a seperation but Smith has the dominant position.
Calzaghe leaning against his opponent.
Calzaghe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Smith pulls guard successfully.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Calzaghe has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smith is proving hard to escape from.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Calzaghe is breathing heavily.
You get the feeling that Calzaghe really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Smith looking to finish with strikes here!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working Calzaghe over with strikes here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Calzaghe manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Calzaghe, under a barage of strikes from Smith.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Calzaghe defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Calzaghe is looking to escape.
Smith tries to pass to full mount but Calzaghe defends it.
Smith has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Smith has hold of Calzaghe's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Calzaghe manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith trying to control but Calzaghe is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cadoc Calzaghe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith drives through and clinches with Calzaghe against the ropes.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Calzaghe is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Calzaghe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Smith has Calzaghe pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Smith pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Calzaghe tumbling to the mat - Smith dives into Calzaghe's guard.
Smith trying to control but Calzaghe is working from the bottom.
Calzaghe keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Calzaghe manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Calzaghe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Calzaghe counter with a right hand.
Smith moves out of range as Calzaghe strikes.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Calzaghe misses with a combination
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe misses with a double jab.
Calzaghe misses with a straight right.
Smith slips a jab from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe thows a body shot but no joy.
Benjamin Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Calzaghe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith works over Calzaghe's head and body with a nice combination.
Cadoc Calzaghe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith wants to clinch up but Calzaghe keeps it at a distance.
Calzaghe keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Calzaghe.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Calzaghe throws out the jab.
Calzaghe throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.

Smith darts in and clinches Calzaghe up against the ropes.
Calzaghe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smith drops down looking for an ankle pick but Calzaghe pulls his leg out and moves away.
Calzaghe throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a combination
and Calzaghe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Calzaghe paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Smith jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Calzaghe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cadoc Calzaghe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Calzaghe misses with a double jab
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Calzaghe on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Calzaghe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A big right from Calzaghe misses.
Smith tries to clinch there but Calzaghe circles away.
Smith looks for a takedown but Calzaghe sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benjamin Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed right hand from Calzaghe misses the target.
Smith throws and low kick but Calzaghe moves out of range easily.
Calzaghe misses with a few strikes there.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benjamin Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Calzaghe has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cadoc Calzaghe!