PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kristofir Lytle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lytle
vs
Smith

175 cm
18
146 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

171 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kristofir Lytle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ben Smith!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a right and a left that Lytle avoids nicely.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lytle circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lytle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Lytle moves out of range easily.
Smith looks to land a combination but Lytle avoids it well.

Smith changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lytle looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lytle tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Smith stands up.

Lytle closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lytle drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smith gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Smith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lytle walks away with a smile on his face. Smith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Lytle rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lytle slows down the pace here.

Smith gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to advance position but Lytle won't allow it.
Smith prevents Lytle from standing back up.

Smith is looking for a kimura but Lytle is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smith to get the leverage.
Lytle on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lytle tries to get out of the position.
Lytle is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.
Lytle is trying is best to control the position here.
Lytle trying to control but Smith postures up.

Lytle actively working from the bottom here.
Lytle knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
Lytle is concentrating on defense, preventing Smith from advancing position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lytle slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
Smith closes the distance but Lytle moves to the side

and Lytle counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith tries to pull guard but Lytle holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Kristofir Lytle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Smith.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lytle.
Smith jumps guard but Lytle stands there with Smith around his waist. Smith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Smith jumps guard but Lytle stands there with Smith around his waist. Smith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Lytle breaks from the clinch.
Lytle showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lytle.
Smith tries for a takedown but Lytle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Lytle rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Lytle breaks the clinch.

Lytle rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Come on Lytle - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Smith jumps guard but Lytle stands there with Smith around his waist. Smith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Lytle drags the fight down to the ground.
Lytle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith is looking to stand up but Lytle won't let him.
Lytle is trying to keep Smith in close.

Smith drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lytle dives on top into guard.
Smith looks gassed!
Lytle wanted to stand there but Smith had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Lytle drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smith manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lytle has Smith in his guard.
Lytle pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lytle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
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 Kristofir Lytle will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lytle 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 Lytle off to one side.
Smith closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lytle throws out the jab.
Smith throws a right hand that Lytle ducks under and follows up with a left that Lytle also avoids with ease.
Lytle 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 Lytle off to one side.
Smith throws a right and a left that Lytle avoids nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lytle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kristofir Lytle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith darts in trying to clinch

and Lytle moves into the clinch.

Lytle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A leg kick checked by Lytle.
Smith misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lytle, right into the meat.
Smith slips under a jab.
No luck for Lytle with that takedown attempt.

Lytle closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Lytle pulls guard successfully.
Lytle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lytle has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Smith is looking to stand up but Lytle won't let him.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Lytle wants to stand up but Smith is controlling him.
Lytle wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lytle bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.
Smith trying to control the position.
Lytle content to stall in guard here.
Lytle looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lytle trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lytle content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lytle trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lytle showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kristofir Lytle.

Lytle closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith taking a breather.
Smith tries for a takedown but Lytle manages to get underhooks.
Lytle misses with a punch to the body.
Smith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kristofir Lytle dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Horrible takedown by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Lytle which made him look bad.

Lytle closes the distance and clinches.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.

Lytle manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Lytle is pulling down on Smith's head to control his posture.
Lytle is trying to keep Smith in close.
Lytle has control of Smith's left arm, preventing Smith from doing any damage.
Lytle trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Lytle pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.

Lytle is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lytle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lytle is controlling Smith's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kristofir Lytle.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Lytle throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Lytle shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Lytle lands a nice shot to the body.
Lytle misses with a kick to the body.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lytle shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Smith blocks a head kick by Lytle.

Lytle instigates a clinch.
Lytle fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kristofir Lytle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Smith tries to stall but Lytle uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Lytle jumps guard and drags Smith to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ben Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lytle wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Smith is looking to stand up but Lytle won't let him.
Lytle is controlling Smith's posture.
Smith advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lytle wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Smith is looking to advance position but Lytle won't allow it.

Smith gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Lytle clinches up against the cage.

Lytle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smith tries to keep at a distance but Lytle has taken the fight into the clinch.

Lytle gets control of Smith's arms and successfully pulls guard. Lytle will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Lytle wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.
Lytle seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Lytle is keeping the position.
Lytle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lytle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith wants to get up but he can't break Lytle's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.

Smith drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lytle dives on top into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kristofir Lytle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lytle 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

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