PBP Commentary

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

Chivers
vs
Smith

169 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Stevie Chivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Smith!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chivers walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Chivers scores with a takedown into Smith's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Smith pushes Chivers off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Chivers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Chivers uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.
Chivers 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 Chivers off to one side.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Chivers, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stevie Chivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Smith clinches up with Chivers and pushes him back against the cage.
Chivers looking for a takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Chivers has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chivers dodges an elbow strike from Smith.
Chivers tries for a takedown. No joy.
Chivers can't get the takedown.
Smith lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Chivers backwards.
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but Chivers uses good head movement to avoid it.

Chivers has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Smith is trying to keep an underhook but Chivers manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Chivers stops Smith from getting back to his feet.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Chivers is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chivers wants to work for an arm triangle but Smith is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Chivers wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Chivers working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Chivers is stalling in the full guard.

Chivers drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Chivers jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with a nice shot.
Chivers trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Chivers is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Chivers from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Chivers's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Chivers is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Chivers from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stevie Chivers just wasn't active enough.
Smith misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Chivers walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Chivers shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Chivers.
Chivers tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
No luck for Chivers with that takedown attempt.
Sam Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chivers is breathing heavily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smith.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Chivers takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Smith swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Chivers.

Smith forces Chivers back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Smith dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Chivers shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith throws a right and a left that Chivers avoids nicely.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Chivers.
Chivers closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Chivers pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smith lands with a cross.
Smith takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Chivers avoids a punch combination nicely.
Chivers fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stevie Chivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smith.
Smith with a hook.
Sam Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Chivers takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith clinches with his opponent.

Smith turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Chivers is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Chivers can't do much from the bottom here.
Chivers tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chivers is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Smith wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Chivers uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Smith is looking to stand up but Chivers won't let him.

Chivers is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.

Smith has gone for a leg lock! Chivers slips out almost immediately though and dives into Smith's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chivers is in close to Smith's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chivers postures up.
Chivers trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Chivers won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Chivers controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Chivers from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Chivers steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Smith might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Chivers shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chivers tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chivers somewhat.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Smith.
Smith avoiding damage.
Smith trying to stall but Chivers improves his position.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Chivers is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Chivers.
Chivers has Smith pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Smith manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Smith stalling in the clinch but Chivers improves position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 darts in and clinches Chivers up against the cage.
Chivers can't get the takedown.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Smith.
Still in the clinch, Smith scores with a nice short uppercut.
Smith is working for takedown but Chivers is calmly controlling the position for now.
Chivers prevents the takedown attempt.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Chivers ducks right into an uppercut from Smith.

Chivers fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Smith to the ground. Chivers is now in Smith's guard.
Chivers with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith keeping moving, preventing Chivers from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith controls Chivers momentarily but Chivers frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chivers won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Chivers with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Chivers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Chivers throwing strikes but missing.

Chivers drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Chivers jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Chivers from controlling successfully.
Stevie Chivers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith controls Chivers momentarily but Chivers frees himself.
Smith wants to sweep here but Chivers controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chivers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Chivers from controlling successfully.

Smith has his feet on Chivers's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Smith rushes Chivers and presses him up against the cage.
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but Chivers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Chivers blocks with his arms.
Chivers prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stevie Chivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chivers has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Chivers takes a knee to the side of the body.
Chivers drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smith gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Chivers blocking some punches.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Chivers tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Chivers slips a straight right by Smith.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Chivers.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with a hook.
Sam Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Chivers dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Chivers's head and hops out.
Chivers is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Smith.
Chivers shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Smith looks to throw the jab but Chivers is out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith throws a good cross that connects.
Chivers closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Chivers pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Chivers uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.
Smith throws a right and a left that Chivers avoids nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Chivers looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam 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 James Ackerman scores the fight for Sam Smith!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Sam Smith!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Sam Smith!

Sam Smith wins by unanimous decision!