PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clay Mathews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Smith
vs
Mathews

225 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
19
235 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Clay Mathews!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathews takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mathews as he avoids it easily.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mathews defends it nicely.
Mathews connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like Sam Smith has been cut.
Mathews is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mathews doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Smith closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mathews did well to prevent Smith getting side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Smith trying to control the action but Mathews is working from the bottom.
Mathews moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.

Mathews looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mathews not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith thows a big elbow that misses.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith distracts Mathews with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mathews is proving hard to escape from.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mathews preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith wants to control from the top but Mathews keeps moving.
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.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mathews throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith lands a couple of digs.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mathews will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Smith trying to control but Mathews is working from the bottom.

Mathews is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Mathews controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith postures up in Mathews's guard and throws a big left but Mathews blocks it.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.
Smith wants to control from the top but Mathews keeps moving.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Mathews gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mathews postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mathews is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.

Smith uses the ropes to get back to his feet.
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 Sam Smith will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sam Smith's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mathews defends it nicely.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
Mathews shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mathews but Mathews pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathews checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mathews.

Smith shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the action but Mathews is working from the bottom.
Smith is nestled in close to Mathews, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mathews keeps working.
Smith looks to land a strike but Mathews avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Mathews had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mathews looking to control.

Mathews is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Smith rolls with it to try and escape but Mathews cranks on the arm and Smith is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Clay Mathews!