PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Karl Salmon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Smoke the Fire. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Salmon
vs
Smith

174 cm
20
162 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

183 cm
21
156 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Karl Salmon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johnny Smith!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a combination. Salmon tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt
and Smith counters with a right hand to the body.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Smith lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smith.
Salmon misses with an uppercut
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Smith drives through and clinches with Salmon against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Smith.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Salmon misses with a left hand

and Smith moves into the clinch.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith misses with a double jab.
No luck for Smith with that takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salmon with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Salmon gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wanted to stand there but Salmon had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salmon pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Salmon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Salmon manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Salmon working for a guillotine from mount but Smith is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salmon looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Salmon.
Smith tries to buck Salmon off but Salmon takes his back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Salmon's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Smith just trying to survive but Salmon is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Smith has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
A lull in the action here.

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 is in bad spot here.
Smith trying to control but not successfully.
Salmon is trying to stick to Smith's back but Smith is turning into Salmon. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Salmon's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Smith.

Salmon is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Salmon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Salmon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith wants to stand but Salmon has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Smith unloads with some shots from mount but Salmon bucks and avoids them well.
Smith landing strikes, looking to finish!
Smith trying to control but Salmon is having none of it.
Salmon is wriggling around trying to escape.
Salmon squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Salmon is looking to escape.
Smith has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Salmon's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salmon is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Smith is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Salmon can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Salmon is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.

Smith swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Salmon is now in Smith's guard. A big mistake from Smith there, giving up the dominant position!
Smith wants to sweep here but Salmon controlling him for the moment.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two 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 looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Salmon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Smith pushes Salmon off and scrambles back to his feet.

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

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.
Smith tries to move to mount but Salmon blocks the move with his legs.
Salmon taking a bit of punishment here - Smith scoring with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Salmon struggling a bit here.
Smith trying to control the action but Salmon is working from the bottom.
Smith tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Smith stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Salmon throws a sloppy body shot

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith with a nice cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salmon gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Salmon throws a combination that misses

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.

Smith stands up and waves to Salmon to follow him.
Salmon with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.

Smith stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith stalks Salmon and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Salmon's face. Salmon staggers backwards, shaken.
Salmon misses with a takedown

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Johnny Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith trying to control but Salmon is working from the bottom.
Smith is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Salmon keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Salmon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Salmon throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Smith lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Smith works his way into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith punching from mount but Salmon doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Smith raining down shots from the mount!
Smith wants to control the pace but Salmon is squirming around nicely.
Smith unloading with bombs!
Smith throwing strikes here but Salmon is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Smith scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Salmon?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Salmon is now in Smith's guard. A big mistake from Smith there, giving up the dominant position!
Salmon is fighting to break Smith's control of his arms but Smith is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Salmon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Salmon pushes his legs off easily.
Salmon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnny Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Salmon is controlling him.
Salmon trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith has Salmon pulled in close to control his posture.
Smith 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Salmon tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karl Salmon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salmon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Karl Salmon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 26:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 26:30

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