PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Merkk Maloney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grayson Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grayson Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maloney
vs
Smith

225 cm
19
300 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

193 cm
22
270 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Merkk Maloney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Grayson Smith!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maloney has his takedown stuffed

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maloney's guard.
Smith 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.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.

Maloney throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Maloney is retaining full guard.
Smith should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Maloney working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maloney works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith won't allow Maloney to sweep him here.
Smith postures up in Maloney's guard and throws a big left but Maloney blocks it.
Smith trying to control but Maloney is working from the bottom.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith trying to control but Maloney is working from the bottom.
Smith might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Maloney kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Grayson Smith hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Maloney with a lazy takedown attempt

so Smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smith slips nicely into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Maloney does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Smith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Maloney is defending against the submission attempts here by Smith.
Maloney won't allow Smith to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maloney gets back to full guard.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smith trying to control but Maloney is working from the bottom.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Maloney has wrist control.
Maloney looking to control.
Smith is in close to Maloney's body, working some short punches and elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Maloney had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grayson Smith dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith stuffs the takedown.
Maloney is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Sloppy strikes from Maloney. Those never looked like landing.
Smith fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Maloney closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Smith did well to prevent Maloney getting side control.

Smith pushes Maloney off and gets back to his feet.
Smith swinging wildly here.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Smith closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Maloney did well to prevent Smith getting side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maloney regains full guard. Nicely done.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maloney keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Smith advances to half guard.
Maloney tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Smith has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling the position easily from mount.

Smith with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Smith lands a heavy elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith trying to control but Maloney is having none of it.
Maloney is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maloney is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Maloney on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Maloney tries to get out of the position.
Maloney tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.
Smith tries to control but Maloney wriggling away.
Smith is landing with some decent strikes but Maloney is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Maloney tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smith trying to control but Maloney is having none of it.
Maloney is in a horrible position here. Smith smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Maloney is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maloney is bucking up trying to escape but Smith cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Smith unloading with bombs!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Smith drops a big elbow. That's hurt Maloney! More shots from Smith and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Grayson Smith!