PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ralph O Briar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lawrence Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Briar kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Boys of the Old Brigade. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

O Briar
vs
Smith

176 cm
19
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Rivers Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 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 New York, Ralph O Briar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lawrence Smith!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by O Briar.
O Briar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
O Briar loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Smith with a body punch. A glancing blow.
O Briar throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
O Briar slips a jab from Smith.
Smith lands a slapping body shot.
Smith lands a two punch combo.
Smith takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
O Briar avoids the body shot from Smith.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but O Briar sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. O Briar does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Smith changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
O Briar showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
O Briar misses with a wild body shot.
Smith wants to clinch.
Nice shot by O Briar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
O Briar checks the leg kick.
Good exchange - Smith coming out on top.
O Briar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Smith checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
O Briar needs to keep his hands up - Smith had a free shot at his head there.
O Briar looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
O Briar takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
O Briar throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
O Briar throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
O Briar moves out of range of the body kick.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as O Briar throws out the jab.
Smith dodges the punch combination from O Briar.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from O Briar.
Smith scores with a nice head shot.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith misses the body punch

and O Briar counters by moving into the clinch.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.
O Briar lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Smith.
Smith taking a breather.
O Briar swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
O Briar scores with a nice hook to the head.
O Briar lands on the inside with an uppercut.
O Briar misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short left from O Briar.
O Briar stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Smith looks gassed!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
O Briar lands with a light punch inside.
Smith has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as O Briar controls the action.

O Briar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
O Briar works over Smith's head and body with a nice combination.
Smith throws an overhand right that lands on O Briar's shoulder, as O Briar tries to avoid the shot.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. O Briar sees it coming and avoids it easily.
O Briar catches Smith with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
O Briar misses with the combination.
O Briar fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Briar is looking to clinch.
O Briar tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A shot to de liver by Smith. Beautiful body shot.
O Briar on the wrong end of a nice hook.
O Briar swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from O Briar.
O Briar wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Smith lands the left hand.

O Briar drives through with a takedown into guard.
O Briar postures up.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
O Briar working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith is trying to keep O Briar in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
O Briar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith working for a triangle but O Briar defends it easily.
O Briar with a flurry of punches that miss.
O Briar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

O Briar closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

O Briar working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Smith struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph O Briar dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith lands a jab-cross combination.
Smith comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
O Briar scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Smith ducks right into an uppercut from O Briar.
O Briar misses with a combination
and Smith counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps O Briar thinking.
Smith lands a jab-cross combination.
O Briar avoids the body shot from Smith.
O Briar tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A shot to de liver by Smith. Beautiful body shot.
Smith looks to clinch
enabling O Briar to counter with a crisp jab.
Smith lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
O Briar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Lawrence Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
O Briar tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith tries to clinch
and O Briar counters with a left to the body.
Smith is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down O Briar rather than just go for the knockout.
Smith tries to land a front kick but O Briar steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
O Briar misses with a body kick.
O Briar takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
O Briar tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss

and O Briar decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
Smith looking to control.
O Briar won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Smith is trying to keep O Briar in close.
O Briar stands up over Smith, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
O Briar scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but O Briar is proving a slippery customer.
O Briar tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
O Briar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
O Briar dodges the punch combination from Smith.
The crowd cheers as Smith lands an impressive looking overhand right. O Briar doesn't seem phased though.
Smith is looking to clinch but O Briar is avoiding it.
O Briar tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.

O Briar darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but O Briar is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
O Briar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
O Briar throws a big right hand that misses.
O Briar scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith digs a good body shot into O Briar's ribs.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith works O Briar's body with a nice hook.
O Briar rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Smith as he connects with a hook.
Smith comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
O Briar drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from O Briar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a right hook to the body.
Smith lands a two punch combo.
O Briar misses with the combination.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
O Briar doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nice cross by Smith.
Smith throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
O Briar blocks a leg kick.
Smith swings for the body but O Briar moves out of range.
O Briar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith thows a body shot but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
O Briar doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
O Briar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
O Briar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lawrence Smith will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
O Briar misses with a low kick as Smith jumps back.
Smith takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
O Briar tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
O Briar swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Smith throws a body punch but O Briar moves out of range.
Smith dodges the punch combination from O Briar.
Smith slips a straight right by O Briar.
Smith lands a jab to the head.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by O Briar.
O Briar takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ralph O Briar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
A punch combination from Smith misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looks to throw the jab but O Briar is out of range.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
O Briar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from O Briar.
Smith gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Good work by O Briar as he checks the leg kick.
O Briar cracks Smith with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
O Briar throws a combination that misses
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
O Briar misses with a combination
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith works the jab nicely.
O Briar is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Smith punishes O Briar's body with a nice straight punch.
Smith scores with a punch to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Smith.
O Briar takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Smith throws a body punch but O Briar moves out of range.
Smith misses with a hook.
Smith jabs at O Briar's body.
Smith lands with a cross.
Smith tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Smith digs a good hook to O Briar's body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
O Briar fails to land with a series of punches.
O Briar throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
O Briar loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Smith scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. O Briar doesn't seem bothered though.
Smith smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
O Briar is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Smith looks to clinch
and O Briar counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Smith works over O Briar's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a low kick.
Smith's corner calls for a 1-2. Smith obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
O Briar with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Smith to score with a decent uppercut.
Smith scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A combination from O Briar does no damage.
O Briar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - O Briar circles away.
O Briar tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith stalks O Briar and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into O Briar's face. O Briar staggers backwards, shaken.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
O Briar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Smith lands a slapping body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Smith darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A punch lands to the side of O Briar 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but O Briar pushes him off.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from O Briar.
Smith scores with a sloppy right hand. O Briar should have avoided that one.
Smith sizes up O Briar with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
O Briar misses the shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Smith darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
O Briar avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
O Briar takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but O Briar was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.

Smith shoots in and bounces O Briar off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

O Briar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
O Briar is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lawrence Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

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