PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris Masters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenneth Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Eminem - Go To Sleep kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Masters is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Masters
vs
Smith

178 cm
26
158 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
29
155 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Masters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kenneth Smith!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Reed Andrews and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a low kick but Masters avoids it.
Masters is breathing heavily.
Smith with a jab.
Smith throws a leg kick
and Masters counters with a good low kick that Smith was not able to check.
Masters throws the kick towards the body but Smith avoids it.
Smith connects with a body shot that sends Masters's belly button to the back.

Smith throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Masters was covering up waiting for the punch and Smith finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Smith seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masters keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Masters preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Masters is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kenneth Smith hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Masters gets caught napping as Smith dives in and scores a takedown. Masters manages to retain guard.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Smith pushing down on Masters's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Smith is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Masters defends it well.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Masters is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Masters has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smith lands strikes from half guard.
Smith trying to control the pace.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Masters's hands, connecting with Masters's forehead.
Masters has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Smith is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Masters is just riding it out for now. Smith eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith winds up and cracks Masters with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Smith is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Masters taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.

Smith is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Masters sees it coming and defends easily.
Smith looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Masters does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.

Smith seems to be working for a kimura but Masters defends the submission attempt.

Smith is looking for a kimura but Masters is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smith to get the leverage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Masters is defending against the submission attempts here by Smith.
Smith takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenneth Smith dominated that round.
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.

Smith moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Smith throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Smith punishes Masters's body with a nice straight punch.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Smith has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Masters defend it? Smith steps over the head and cranks it - Masters is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Smith!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kenneth Smith!