PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Travis International (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

International
vs
Smith

186 cm
25
169 lbs
8 - 11 - 1

160 cm
27
153 lbs
10 - 6 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

BioLuvoil

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 8 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, Travis International!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Smith!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
International wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
International scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from International lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Smith has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Smith and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Smith moves away from the strike by International.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but International moves away.
International closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith throws a lazy uppercut
and International counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

International clinches.
International crunches a lovely knee into Smith's ribcage.
International scores with a shot to the side of Smith's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
International tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
International tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
International misses with a knee to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from International.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
International tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
International has Smith pressed against the cage.
Smith cracks International with a nice body shot.
International swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
International keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smith's efforts to push away.
International misses with a punch to the body.
Smith stalls.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Smith prevents a body shot from International.
International lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to break the clinch but International is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
International working aggressively here.
International just leaning against Smith, taking a breather.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with International's elbow.
International misses with a punch to the body.
Good body shot from Smith.
Smith blocking some punches.
Smith tries to break the clinch but International is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
International has Smith pushed against the cage.
International with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with International's elbow.
International tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Smith prevents a body shot from International.
International swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
International is trying to maintain a safe position but Smith gets an underhook and turns International into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
International with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis International dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

International connects with a body shot that sends Smith's belly button to the back.
International throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
International tries to clinch
and Smith counters with a right hand to the body.

International clinches.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but International won't allow it.
International displaying some good clinch control by pressing Smith up against the cage.
Smith is trying to break free.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
International has a couple of punches blocked by Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
International leaning his opponent against the cage.
International lands a good knee to the midsection. Smith won't want to take too many of those.
Travis International has scored more points in the clinch so far.
International blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.
International keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
International works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Smith is trying to force a seperation but International has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
International trying to land knees to the body.
A bit of stalling here from International.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from International.
International stalling the fight.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but International won't allow it.
International has Smith pushed against the cage.
International tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
International misses with a punch to the body.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from International.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
International tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
International tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
International swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by International.
International tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
International tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
International swinging wildly here.
International lands a glancing blow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith thows a body shot but no joy.
Smith lands a nice shot that snaps International's head back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
International fails with an attempt to clinch.
International throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smith sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but International moves away.
International is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
International wants to clinch
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis International dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

International throws a poor cross that misses
and Smith counters with a left to the body.

It looks like Travis International has been cut.
International misses with a straight right.
Smith takes one to the chin there.
Smith scores with a hook.

International is rocked!
Nice body punch from International.
Oh International is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
International throws a solid leg kick but Smith takes the impact on his shin and smiles at International.
International throws a leg kick that misses.
Smith throws a body punch but International moves out of range.
International connects with a looping right hand.
International seems to have got his legs back now.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith avoids the body shot from International.
International misses with a few strikes there.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from International.
International throws a good cross that connects.
International staying out of range there.
International takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
International keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
International slips under a jab from Smith.
International is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Smith scores with a decent looking hook.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. International sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Steve Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes a swing at International's ribcage but misses.
Smith lands a straight punch to the body, keeping International at a distance.
International wants to clinch.
International misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
International throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
International works the jab nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smith cracks International with an uppercut from hell and International crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Smith's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Smith wants to control from the top but International keeps moving.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
International working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
International avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
International working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
International keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith wants to control from the top but International keeps moving.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
International on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if International tries to get out of the position.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith is working International over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but International has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think International has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis International!
Our winner, Travis International, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.