PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between JD Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Earl Morris (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!

Smith
vs
Morris

190 cm
22
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
165 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, JD Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Earl Morris!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morris thows a left - swing and a miss!
Morris connects with a looping right hand.
Morris throws a low kick but Smith moves out of range easily.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Morris stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Smith is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Smith misses with some punches.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Morris is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Morris.
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Smith throws an elbow but it misses.
Morris looking to slow down the pace here.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morris has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two 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.
Morris blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Morris is defending well for now.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Morris tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Morris controls the action.
Smith leaning against his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to work over Morris's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith tries a body shot but Morris blocks it.
Smith stalling in the clinch.
Morris trying to stall but Smith improves his position.
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Morris's efforts to push away.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Morris wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith taking a breather.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Morris avoids the damage to the body.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Morris avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that JD Smith will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
JD Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Morris sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith is looking to clinch but Morris is avoiding it.
Morris swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Morris sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Morris throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
Morris throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morris swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morris throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Morris stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smith.
Smith wants to clinch up but Morris keeps it at a distance.
Morris throws a low kick but it's checked well by Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch but Morris moves out of range.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morris swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morris circles away from the clinch attempt.
Morris lands a jab to the nose.
Smith looks for the body kick but Morris saw that one coming.
Morris looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morris can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morris keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Morris blocks nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.

Smith postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Morris is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Smith, into his guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Morris pushing down on Smith's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smith tries to roll over but Morris keeps him under control.
Morris tries to pass to full mount but Smith defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Morris connects with a nice short shot to Smith's temple.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Morris in particular looking to stall.
Smith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Morris stalling away here and it's allowed Smith to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morris pushing down on Smith's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Earl Morris will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Smith tries to clinch
and Morris counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Smith shoots in but Morris avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Morris fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Morris thows a body shot but no joy.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Morris throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Morris swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Morris.
Morris checks a leg kick nicely.
Morris rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Morris, pushing him back against the cage.
Smith is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Smith throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris is trying to stall.
Smith looking to slow down the pace here.

That's two 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.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Morris.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Smith tries to work over Morris's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith is looking to control Morris's arms but Morris gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
Smith pushes off an throws an elbow but Morris leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Smith misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with an elbow over the top.
Morris wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Morris tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.
Morris wants to break free but Smith has control.
Morris is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Morris avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Morris.
Morris blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Morris's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Morris on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Morris on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Morris's efforts to push away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Earl Morris.
I think Morris has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!