PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tony Smiff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Thatcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Thatcher has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Tony Smiff's chin.

Smiff
vs
Thatcher

180 cm
21
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

177 cm
23
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Smiff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Thatcher!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thatcher looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smiff scores with a kick to the midsection.
Thatcher keeps the fight on the outside.
Thatcher misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smiff avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smiff lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Smiff misses with a wild combination.
Thatcher falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smiff counters with a nice leg kick.
Thatcher looks gassed!
Smiff fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A slapping body kick lands there for Smiff.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Smiff connects with a solid leg kick.
Thatcher gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Smiff counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Smiff throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smiff is looking to clinch but Thatcher is avoiding it.
Thatcher throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smiff counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Thatcher is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Smiff fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smiff tries to close the distance and clinch but Thatcher swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smiff throws a nice inside leg kick.
Thatcher swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smiff counters with a good low kick that Thatcher was not able to check.
Thatcher throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smiff counters with a three punch combo that has Thatcher backing up. Thatcher nods at Smiff to acknowledge the strikes.
Tony Smiff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smiff wants to clinch up but Thatcher keeps it at a distance.
Thatcher throws a lazy head kick
and Smiff makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Thatcher really felt that one!
Smiff looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smiff.
Smiff bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Smiff fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thatcher dips to his left and cracks Smiff with an uppercut!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smiff throws a leg kick but Thatcher sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Thatcher swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Smiff decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thatcher's guard.

Thatcher isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Smiff stacks Thatcher on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Smiff!
Thatcher wants to get back to his feet but Smiff drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smiff controls the position.
Thatcher is trying to improve his position.
Thatcher is trying to buck Smiff off.

Smiff decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Some wild striking there from Thatcher.
Thatcher misses with a combination
and Smiff counters with a left and a right that stings Thatcher.
Smiff showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thatcher.
Thatcher swinging wilding here.
Thatcher will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smiff slips a jab and a cross from Thatcher.
Thatcher swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smiff cracks the inside of Thatcher's front leg.

Smiff fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Thatcher, pushing him back against the cage.

Thatcher escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thatcher misses with a wild combination.
Smiff avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smiff tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thatcher will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smiff blocks a head kick by Thatcher.
Smiff dodges the punch combination from Thatcher.
Thatcher misses with an attempted mid kick.
Smiff tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thatcher with a nice cross.
Thatcher falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smiff counters with a three punch combo that has Thatcher backing up. Thatcher nods at Smiff to acknowledge the strikes.
Thatcher moves out of range as Smiff throws a body kick.
Thatcher throws a left and a right that both miss

and Smiff counters by moving into the clinch.
Thatcher wants to break free but Smiff has control.
Smiff tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatcher is looking to break free of the clinch but Smiff has double underhooks.
Thatcher is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Thatcher has had enough of the clinch but Smiff keeps him there for the moment.
Thatcher has a couple of punches blocked by Smiff.
Smiff tries to land a knee to the head but Thatcher blocks with his arms.

Smiff breaks the clinch.
Thatcher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smiff is looking to slow Thatcher down with leg kicks.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Smiff.
Smiff tries to clinch up.
Smiff moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Smiff misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Smiff dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smiff shoots in but Thatcher avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thatcher throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smiff counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thatcher's knee momentarily.
Smiff shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thatcher as he jumps to the side.
No joy there for Smiff, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smiff throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thatcher's waist but Thatcher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smiff off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Smiff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smiff wants to clinch up but Thatcher keeps it at a distance.
A head kick misses from Smiff.
Thatcher misses with a combination
and Smiff counters with a slapping leg kick.
Smiff thuds a left hand into Thatcher's body.
A combination from Thatcher does no damage.
Thatcher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smiff tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smiff slips a jab and a cross from Thatcher.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thatcher throws a sloppy head kick and Smiff moves out of range easily.
Thatcher connects with a good right hand that stumbles Smiff. Smiff circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Thatcher has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Smiff.
Thatcher throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smiff finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatcher scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Anthony Thatcher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thatcher will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smiff fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smiff connects with a high kick.
Smiff is looking to clinch but Thatcher is avoiding it.
Thatcher ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Smiff tries to clinch there but Thatcher circles away.

Smiff forces Thatcher back against the cage and clinches.
Thatcher tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smiff just stands there and leans against the cage.
Thatcher drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knees to the body from Smiff.
Smiff landing knees to the head.
Smiff misses with a knee to the head.

Smiff manages to break the clinch.
Thatcher swats away the attempt to clinch by Smiff.
Tony Smiff is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Smiff does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thatcher fails to land with a series of punches.
Smiff cracks Thatcher with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Smiff listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Thatcher will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smiff tries to clinch but Thatcher is having none of it.
Smiff throws a nice outside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thatcher throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smiff counters with a good low kick that Thatcher was not able to check.
Thatcher swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smiff counters with a thumping low kick.
Smiff doesn't manage to clinch there - Thatcher circles away.

Smiff rushes Thatcher and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thatcher.
Smiff tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Smiff manages to break the clinch.
Smiff tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thatcher paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smiff tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smiff lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thatcher misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smiff lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thatcher's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Thatcher fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thatcher throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smiff counters with a nice body kick.
Thatcher throws a right and a left that both miss.
A combination from Thatcher does no damage.
Thatcher jabs Smiff right on the nose. Smiff blinks but takes it well.
Smiff throws a nice inside leg kick.
Smiff throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smiff takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Thatcher swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smiff counters with a big head kick but Thatcher shrugs it off.
Thatcher swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smiff makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Thatcher really felt that one!
Smiff throws a combination that misses
and Thatcher counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Smiff closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smiff lands in his opponent's guard.
Smiff tries to stand but Thatcher is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smiff showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Thatcher looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Smiff passes into half guard.

Smiff stands up and beckons Thatcher to join him on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smiff tries to clinch up
and Thatcher counters with a head kick. That will keep Smiff thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Smiff throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Smiff dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Thatcher tries to land a body kick
and Smiff counters with a thumping low kick.
Smiff misses with a wild combination.
Thatcher throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smiff counters with a thumping low kick.
Smiff looks to clinch
and Thatcher counters with a nice uppercut.
Smiff closes the distance looking to clinch
and Thatcher counters with a stiff right hand.
Smiff shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thatcher but Thatcher pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thatcher throws a combination that misses
and Smiff counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thatcher's knee momentarily.
The fighters circling - Smiff throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smiff throws a sloppy body shot
and Thatcher counters with a straight right hand.
Thatcher misses with a wild combination.
Smiff drops Thatcher with a left right combo! Smiff follows him down to the ground into side control.

It looks like Anthony Thatcher has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smiff slows the pace down.

Smiff decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatcher circles away from the clinch attempt
and Thatcher counters with a huge uppercut, hook combination that drops Smiff! The ref has seen enough - he's dived in to stop the fight! Brutal strikes by Thatcher!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:07 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anthony Thatcher!