PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Potts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul Potts could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to John Smith's chin.

Potts
vs
Smith

175 cm
19
162 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

185 cm
23
155 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1, fighting out of London, Paul Potts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, John Smith!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a series of punches but Potts avoids them all with ease.
Potts wants to clinch.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Potts has managed to clinch.

Potts breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Potts closes the distance and clinches.
Smith scores a nice knee to the body.

Potts breaks from the clinch.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Potts lands a high kick!

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Potts.
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Potts is trying to stall.
Smith using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A right hand to the body from Potts.
Potts is trying to break the clinch but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Potts shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Potts wants to break free but Smith has control.
Nice elbow from Smith.
Potts tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
John Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.

Potts has managed to clinch.

Potts manages to break the clinch.

Potts moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Smith lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Smith looking to stall.
Potts pushes off an throws an elbow but Smith leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Smith avoiding damage as Potts throws knees to the body.
Smith misses with a knee to the head.
Smith looks gassed!
Smith can't break the clinch.
Smith has Potts pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Potts manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Paul Potts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Smith.
Potts fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Potts breaks from the clinch.
Potts is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Potts shoots in and bounces Smith off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Potts makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Potts postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Potts wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to stand up but Potts is controlling him.
Potts pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Potts slips nicely into half guard.

Potts is working for a submission of some sort.
Smith tries to kick Potts off but Potts keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Potts throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Potts wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Potts is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Potts pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Potts blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Potts is blocking nicely.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Potts has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Potts has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Potts wants to stall.
Potts cracks Smith with a nice body shot.

Potts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Potts looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potts doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Potts throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Potts has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Smith.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Potts wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith won't allow it.
Potts lands a nice knee to the body.
Potts has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Potts fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Potts.
Potts gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Potts.
Potts can't break the clinch.
Potts is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Potts misses with the head strike.
Smith landing knees to the body.
Smith landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith throws a lazy head kick
and Potts counters with a head kick. That will keep Smith thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Potts moves out of range easily.
Potts avoids the head kick by Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Potts dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Potts tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Potts is looking to land body kicks.

Potts instigates a clinch.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Smith prevents Potts from breaking the clinch.
Smith lands a body shot in the clinch.
Smith pushes off an throws an elbow but Potts leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Potts breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith avoids the head kick by Potts.
Potts moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Potts moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
A punch combination from Potts misses.
Potts misses with a few strikes there.
No luck for Potts with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Potts tries to clinch up.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Potts throws the kick towards the body but Smith avoids it.
Smith takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Potts is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Potts blocks a head kick by Smith.
Paul Potts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Potts looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Smith is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Potts wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith is looking to stand up but Potts isn't so interested in that idea.
Smith controlling the position.
Potts pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Potts 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potts stands and throws Smith's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Potts has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Smith!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Potts throws some wild stikes that Smith manages to avoid easily.
Potts looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potts lands a heavy elbow.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Smith is looking to get to half guard.
Potts tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Potts is trying to take his opponent's back.
Smith trying desperately to get to his feet.
Potts looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Potts looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Potts is working for a guillotine from mount but Smith frees his head quite easily.

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.

Potts goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Smith turns into him and now he's in Potts's guard.

Potts is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Potts trying to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith lands a couple of digs.
Potts manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Potts drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smith manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Potts has Smith in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Potts dominated that second round.
That's time! Potts's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Potts fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick

and Potts decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
Potts wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Potts trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith wants to stand but Potts is controlling the position.
Potts postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Potts thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Potts is stalling in the full guard.
Smith wants to stand up but Potts is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith keeping full guard, as Potts tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Potts.
Potts tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Potts shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Potts swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Potts misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Smith throws a head kick but Potts moves out of range.

Potts drives through with a takedown into guard.

Potts drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smith manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Potts has Smith in his guard.
Smith tries to stand but Potts is controlling from the bottom.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Potts, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Potts looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Potts trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Potts trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith is looking to stand up but Potts isn't so interested in that idea.
Potts trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Potts being controlled here momentarily.
Smith is looking to stand up but Potts isn't so interested in that idea.
Potts passes into half guard.
Smith tries to kick Potts off but Potts keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Potts throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potts passes the guard and advances to mount!

Potts working for a submission but Smith is keeping him at bay.
Potts tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Potts takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Potts looking to secure an arm triangle but Smith defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Potts has control of Smith's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Smith regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Potts looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Potts wants to take Smith's back here but Smith is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
John Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Potts lands a big shot there that rocks Smith but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Potts is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Smith can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Potts has hold of Smith's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Smith manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Potts showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Potts has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Potts!