PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rock Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donovan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Johnson
vs
Smith

196 cm
33
273 lbs
24 - 14 - 0

198 cm
20
290 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rock Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donovan Smith!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Donovan Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith clinches with his opponent.
Johnson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Johnson tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Smith has the dominant position.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
Johnson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smith pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Johnson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Smith regains guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Johnson won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Johnson controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice defenses there by Johnson.
Donovan Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Smith is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson prevents Smith from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Johnson is taking a breather. Smith says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Johnson prevents Smith from standing back up.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Smith throws a lazy uppercut
and Johnson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith's corner calls for a 1-2. Smith obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Smith.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Smith.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Smith after a bit of a struggle.
Smith lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
Johnson wants a takedown.
A shot in the inside from Smith.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Smith pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Smith scores with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Donovan Smith will probably get the nod.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johnson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Johnson walks into a jab.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Johnson in a clinch.
Johnson can't get the takedown.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
A punch combination from Smith misses.

Smith takes the fight into the clinch.
Smith lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smith.
Johnson wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a shoulder strike.
Johnson is trying to drag Smith to the mat but Smith just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.

Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Smith after a bit of a struggle.
Smith working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Smith lands with a left to the head.
Smith lands a hook to the side of the head.
Johnson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Smith pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Smith. That snapped Johnson's head back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.

Johnson gets tackled into the cage by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Smith pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Johnson gets tackled into the cage by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smith gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith pushes Johnson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith blocks a body shot from Johnson.
Smith tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Johnson takes a shot to the head.
Smith scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Johnson takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith takes the fight into the clinch.
Smith works on Johnson's body with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Johnson is rocked!
Johnson looking for a takedown.
Nice body punch from Smith - that landed with a thud.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Smith.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Smith lands a body punch in the clinch.
Smith lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Smith throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith lands with a left to the head.
Oh Johnson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smith.
Smith pushes Johnson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Smith creates some distance for himselfand unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Johnson's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Johnson drops to his knees and Smith pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Donovan Smith!
After the fight, Donovan Smith was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.