PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tj Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Locke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Locke is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Smith
vs
Locke

172 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tj Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of The Island, John Locke!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Daniel Franklin and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Locke sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Locke shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.
Locke throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Smith clinches up with Locke and pushes him back against the cage.
Locke is trying to break the clinch but Smith is controlling him.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith blocks a head kick by Locke.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smith enables Locke to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smith manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Smith looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Locke trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith working for a triangle but Locke defends it easily.
Locke wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Locke doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Locke manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Locke puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Smith flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Locke trying to mount his opponent but Smith defends it.
Smith desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Locke wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Locke is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Locke throws a nice inside leg kick.

Locke darts in and clinches Smith up against the cage.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Locke walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Smith checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Locke on that attempt.

Locke feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Locke changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Locke can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Locke from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Locke's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Locke from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Locke was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Locke lands a really nice looking cross but Smith seems unphased.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smith is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Locke's half guard.
Locke trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Locke will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Locke is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.

Smith stands up and beckons Locke to his feet.
Locke loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.

Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Locke is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Locke is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Locke is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Locke trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Locke working a defensive guard here.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smith darts in and clinches Locke up against the cage.

Smith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Locke won't allow Smith to sweep him here.

Smith has his foot on Locke's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Locke works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Locke with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Locke trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Locke looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith won't allow Locke to sweep him here.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Locke is proving hard to escape from.
Smith trying to move into half guard but instead Locke has managed to sweep!
Locke wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Locke distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smith pushes down on Locke's leg and manages to get into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Locke defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tj Smith dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Smith pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Locke back to the cage. Smith follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Locke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Smith feints and as Locke raises his hands in defense, Smith changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Locke throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Locke not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Locke is looking for a triangle here but Smith uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Smith content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Locke tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Smith easily slips into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke tries to hold on but Smith postures up.
Locke is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Locke is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Locke is in all sorts of trouble here.
Locke is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Smith lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Locke hang on?

Smith has control of Locke's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Locke regains control of the situation pretty easily.
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 three minutes gone in the round.
Smith with a couple of short strikes.
Tj Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Locke is in all sorts of trouble here.
Smith tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Smith with shots to the head and body - Locke looks very uncomfortable down there.
Smith lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Smith is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Locke can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Locke can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Locke is in all sorts of trouble here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith is landing with some decent strikes but Locke is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Smith with the ground and pound from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tj Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tj Smith!