PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Lad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blake Smith acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Lad
vs
Smith

184 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jack Lad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Blake Smith!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a front kick that sends Lad stumbling back into the cage.
Lad tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lad tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Lad fails to land the takedown.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

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

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Lad in a clinch.
Lad misses with a short punch on the inside.

Smith wants the takedown. Lad is fighting it off but Smith persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Lad's guard against the cage.
Lad utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Lad has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Smith off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section. Lad lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith working Lad over with knees to the body.
Lad is breathing heavily.
Lad throws a head punch that misses.
Smith scores with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lad tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nice body punch from Smith - that landed with a thud.
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section. Lad lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Smith lands a good knee to the midsection. Lad won't want to take too many of those.
Smith putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Lad in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Smith pressing his opponent against the cage.

Smith pulls guard successfully.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Smith holds on and takes a little breather.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Lad is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lad loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lad postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Smith pulls Lad in to control the position.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lad gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith is trying to keep Lad in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lad stops Smith from standing up.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lad.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith controls Lad momentarily but Lad frees himself.
Smith tries to strike from the bottom.
Smith wants to stand and escape but Lad is having none of it.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lad.
Lad loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lad throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lad wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith has his hands on Lad's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lad defends well.
Lad postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith is trying to control the position but Lad postures up.
Lad throws a big right hand that misses.
Lad loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith controls Lad momentarily but Lad frees himself.
Smith wants to stand up but Lad is controlling him.
Lad lands a couple of elbows.

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.
Lad postures up and lands a big shot to Smith's brow.
Lad landing some decent shots from guard.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Lad from controlling successfully.
Lad lands a couple of digs.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Lad from controlling successfully.
Lad throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Smith dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Jack Lad has been cut.
Smith throws a head kick but Lad moves out of range.
Blake Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lad avoids the head kick by Smith.
Lad looks to clinch
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Lad clinches but Smith breaks the clinch
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith cracks Lad with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Lad shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

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

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Lad tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Lad is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smith.
Smith blocks the body kick.

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

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A left lands for Smith.

Smith darts in and clinches Lad up against the cage.

Lad breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lad blocks a head kick by Smith.
Lad looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Lad persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.

Smith clinches up against the cage.
Smith slows down the pace here.
Lad is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Smith breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lad closes the distance but Smith moves to the side
and Smith counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Blake Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lad darts in trying to clinch
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lad pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lad throws a head kick that misses
and Smith counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Smith throws a lazy head kick
and Lad counters with a solid body kick.
Lad tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Lad is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Lad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lad fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lad jumps guard but Smith stands there with Lad around his waist. Lad gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lad doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Smith has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lad uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lad landing with the ground and pound.
Lad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Smith pushes Lad off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Smith drives through and clinches with Lad against the cage.
Lad tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lad shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Lad moves out of range easily.
Jack Lad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lad drops his hands momentarily and Smith takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Smith clinches with his opponent.
Lad wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Lad is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A left hand lands to the body for Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lad misses with a short punch on the inside.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith lands with a kick to the temple. Lad shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Lad wants to clinch

and Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith slows down the pace here.
Lad is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lad misses with the head strike.
Knees to the body from Smith.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith scores with a kick to the body.
Blake Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lad shoots in but no luck this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lad fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jack Lad's cut.
That's time! Lad's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lad drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Lad looks to clinch
and Smith counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Lad is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Smith wants to clinch up but Lad keeps it at a distance.

Lad closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lad tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lad in side control, throwing shots but Smith defends.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Lad lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lad.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith kicks off Lad and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lad fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Smith throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lad's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lad tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Smith makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Lad moves out of range easily.

Lad is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Smith's half guard.
Smith trying to hold on to Lad's head to control him but Lad postures up.
Ground and pound from Lad.
Lad wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Lad throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Smith manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Lad tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lad tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.
Smith goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Smith looks to throw a body kick

and Lad counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lad trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Lad throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Lad trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smith manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Smith displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Blake Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Lad gets a clinch.
Lad has Smith pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Smith manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Lad. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stalls.
Lad tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the cage.
Lad wants a takedown but no success here.
Blake Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith lands with a kick to the temple. Lad shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Smith throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lad's head.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick
and Lad counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Lad. Lad gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Smith drives through and clinches with Lad against the cage.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Lad has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Smith obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lad looking for a takedown.
Smith using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lad tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
Smith lands an elbow inside.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith thuds his right hand into Lad's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Lad tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Smith counters with a head kick. That will keep Lad thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Jack Lad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith lands a high kick!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lad takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Lad takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Smith forces Lad back against the cage and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 26:30

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