PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kristofir Lytle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kristofir Lytle has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Lytle

171 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ben Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kristofir Lytle!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lytle but Lytle pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Lytle rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lytle works on Smith's body with a couple of short punches.
Smith tries to pull guard but Lytle holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Smith blocking some punches.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Lytle has double underhooks.

Lytle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lytle uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lytle tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Lytle scores with a kick to the midsection.
Smith is breathing heavily.

Lytle clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.

Lytle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lytle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Smith crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Lytle - the referee stops the clock and Smith gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Lytle. Smith manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lytle is defended easily by Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lytle gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lytle stalls.
Lytle drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smith gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Lytle decides to pull guard.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Lytle working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lytle wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.

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.
Lytle has his hands on Smith's head, controlling the position.
Let's hope that Lytle has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Lytle is keeping the position.
Lytle keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Lytle.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lytle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Lytle counters with a nice body kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lytle tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.

Lytle jumps guard.
Lytle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Lytle seems keen to control Smith's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lytle wants to sweep but no luck.

Lytle uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Lytle misses the shot to the body.
Lytle throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Lytle. Lytle gets slowly back to his feet.
Lytle dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Lytle's head and hops out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lytle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lytle gets slowly back to his feet.
Lytle just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kristofir Lytle dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lytle closes the distance and clinches.

Lytle successfully pulls guard.
Lytle is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Lytle wants to get back to his feet but Smith passes into half guard.

Lytle kicks off Smith and gets to his feet.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Lytle, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Lytle against the cage but Lytle circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lytle tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lytle somewhat.
Lytle fails to land the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Lytle. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lytle clinches up against the cage.

Lytle gets control of Smith's arms and successfully pulls guard. Lytle will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Smith is fighting to break Lytle's control of his arms but Lytle is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Lytle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lytle lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smith!
Lytle lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smith hang on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lytle sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smith can't escape the position.
Lytle lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smith hang on?
Lytle throws some wild stikes that Smith manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lytle looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lytle misses with a head shot.

Lytle moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Smith has worked his arm free - good work by Smith!
Lytle lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lytle tries to stand but Smith controls the position and pulls Lytle into his guard.
Lytle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Lytle is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lytle stands up over Smith, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kristofir Lytle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Smith scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Smith lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Lytle has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lytle and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lytle.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Lytle.
Lytle looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Lytle fails with a takedown attempt.
Ben Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kristofir Lytle.
Smith looks to clinch

and Lytle counters by clinching up.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.

Lytle jumps guard.
Lytle doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Smith wants to control from the top but Lytle keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lytle is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lytle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lytle really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Lytle looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smith won't allow Lytle to get back to his feet.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lytle moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Lytle tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Lytle throws an elbow that misses.
Smith is looking to control Lytle's arms but Lytle gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.

Lytle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ben Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lytle.
Horrible takedown by Lytle or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith which made him look bad.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lytle counters with a nice kick to the body.
Ben Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith stuffs the takedown.
Smith tries to clinch but Lytle moves away

and Lytle counters by clinching up.
Lytle has Smith pressed against the cage, preventing Smith from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lytle misses with the head strike.

Lytle ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lytle no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lytle swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith won't allow Lytle to sweep him here.
Lytle keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Lytle has his hands on Smith's head, controlling the position.

That's four 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 would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Smith won't allow Lytle to sweep him here.
Lytle wants to stand up but Smith is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lytle gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kristofir Lytle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Lytle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kristofir Lytle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lytle has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kristofir Lytle!