PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Butler (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
Butler

187 cm
19
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

189 cm
19
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Arthur Smith !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Josh Butler!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Daniel Blasius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Butler.
Butler scores with a nice body kick.
Butler turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Butler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smith throws a nice outside leg kick.
Butler takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Butler turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Butler looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nice takedown defense from Butler. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Butler is able to avoid easily.
Smith tries to land a body kick
and Butler counters with a leg kick.
Butler takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice jab there from Smith .
Smith shoots in but Butler avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Josh Butler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Butler fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Smith is out of range.
Butler throws a quick inside leg kick.
Butler throws a leg kick but Smith moved away.
Butler walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Smith checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Butler throws the kick towards the body but Smith avoids it.
Butler blocks the body kick.
Butler looks to land a body kick but Smith moved away.
Smith avoids the head kick by Butler.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Smith bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Smith blocks the leg kick.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Butler moves out of range easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Butler moves out of range of the body kick.
Butler finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Butler takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smith .
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith throws a predictable looking body shot
and Butler counters with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Butler misses with a low kick as Smith jumps back.
Butler throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Smith throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Butler counters with an outside leg kick.
Smith tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Butler throws the kick towards the body but Smith avoids it.

Smith shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Butler is trying to defend but Smith finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Smith prevents Butler from standing back up.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Butler is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a strike but Butler avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.
Butler is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
Smith trying to control but Butler is working from the bottom.
Butler wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Smith dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Butler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Butler blocks a head kick by Smith .
Butler scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Smith tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Smith blocks a low kick nicely.
Butler blocks a head kick by Smith .
Butler sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Smith sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Butler's waist but Butler gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler lands a front kick.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Smith working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Butler wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Smith trying to control the position but Butler is working away.
Butler being controlled for a moment.
We've been hearing that Smith has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position but Butler is working away.

Arthur Smith has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Butler leaves Smith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Smith . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith dives in and grabs Butler's left leg, looking for a takedown. Butler pushes down on Smith 's head and hops out.
An inside leg kick lands from Butler.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Butler is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Butler circles away and we're back to standing.
An inside leg kick from Butler misses.
Butler misses with a leg kick

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Butler tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Butler regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Smith .
Smith won't allow Butler to get back to his feet.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Butler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith won't allow Butler to get back to his feet.
Smith works over Butler with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith 's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Smith trying to control but Butler is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Arthur Smith has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Smith dominated that second round.
That's time! Smith 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith throws a chopping leg kick but Butler manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A head kick misses from Butler.
Butler throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith throws a head kick but Butler moves out of range.
Butler tried to score with a low kick but Smith checks it.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Butler shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Butler tried to score with a low kick but Smith checks it.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler ducks under a wild hook from Smith .
Butler motions for Smith to come forward. Butler throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Smith feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Butler's calf.
Arthur Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Butler tries to work over Smith 's front leg with a kick but Smith checks it.
Butler connects with an inside leg kick.
Smith blocks a head kick by Butler.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Butler shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Butler checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Smith throws a body punch but Butler moves out of range.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler misses with a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Butler, right into the meat.
Smith motions for Butler to come forward. Smith throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Butler scoring well with a low kick there.
Butler misses with a low kick.
Butler throws a leg kick that is checked
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Smith . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Butler throws a leg kick that is checked

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Butler is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Butler is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Butler is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Butler keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Butler is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Arthur Smith .
Smith with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Josh Butler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Butler throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith throws a push kick but Butler slaps the foot to one side.
Butler attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Butler defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arthur Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur Smith !
After the fight, Arthur 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.
Josh Butler was interviewed post fight and said 'NOOOOOOO'.