PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Knuckles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blue Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Knuckles
vs
Smith

190 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Johnny Knuckles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Blue Smith!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Knuckles manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Knuckles avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith darts in trying to clinch
and Knuckles counters with a head kick. That will keep Smith thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Knuckles as he jumps to the side.
Johnny Knuckles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blue Smith.
Knuckles misses with a wild combination.
Knuckles slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith blocks a head kick by Knuckles.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Knuckles shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith shoots in but Knuckles avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice shot lands for Knuckles.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Knuckles moves out of range easily.
Smith dives in and grabs Knuckles's left leg, looking for a takedown. Knuckles pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Smith looks winded!
Knuckles looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Knuckles lands with a nice body punch.
Knuckles looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Knuckles lands a high kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Knuckles misses with a series of wild punches.
Knuckles shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Knuckles 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.

Knuckles clinches.

Knuckles pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Knuckles sprawls well. Knuckles wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith tries to clinch up but Knuckles circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Knuckles wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith won't allow it.
Smith wants a takedown.
Knuckles manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Knuckles lands with a short shot to the head.
Knuckles jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smith walks away with a smile on his face. Knuckles gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Smith throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Knuckles gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knuckles breaks from the clinch.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Knuckles as he avoids it easily.
Knuckles goes for a double leg but Smith avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Smith continues to drive forward.
Knuckles holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Knuckles.
Smith is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Knuckles to keep the fight standing.

Knuckles breaks the clinch.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Knuckles counters by clinching up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Knuckles pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Knuckles.

Knuckles gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith tries to clinch but Knuckles moves out of range.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Knuckles fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Knuckles just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Knuckles.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Knuckles as he avoids it easily.
Smith wants to clinch up but Knuckles keeps it at a distance.
Johnny Knuckles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knuckles tries a head kick but it misses.

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knuckles has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smith is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Knuckles. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Knuckles after a bit of a struggle.
Smith is working for takedown but Knuckles is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smith tries to pull guard but Knuckles won't allow it.
Smith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Knuckles walks away with a smile on his face. Smith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Knuckles. Knuckles gets slowly back to his feet.
Knuckles misses with a double jab

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Knuckles not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knuckles looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Knuckles gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knuckles stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Smith working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Knuckles has passed into half guard!
Knuckles controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Smith tries to kick Knuckles off but Knuckles keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Knuckles is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Knuckles misses with a head shot. Smith uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Knuckles is standing up over Smith. Smith looks to escape but Knuckles dives into side control.
Knuckles moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knuckles has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Johnny Knuckles will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Knuckles swivels and escapes.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Knuckles shows good takedown defense.
Knuckles moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sloppy strikes from Knuckles. Those never looked like landing.
Knuckles misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Knuckles dives in for a single leg takedown but Smith sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Knuckles looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Knuckles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knuckles letting Smith take a breather here.
Knuckles wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Smith.
Smith is pushing Knuckles up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Knuckles has Smith pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Smith manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Knuckles blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Knuckles shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Knuckles gets underhooks to prevent Smith's takedown attempt.
Smith misses with a body punch.
Smith is working for takedown but Knuckles is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Knuckles.
Smith tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Knuckles smiles and moves away.
Knuckles tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Knuckles somewhat.
Knuckles throws a head kick that half lands.

Knuckles forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Knuckles as Smith tries to tie him up.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knuckles clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Knuckles has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the cage.

Knuckles gets control of Smith's arms and successfully pulls guard. Knuckles will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Knuckles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Knuckles is pulling down on Smith's head. It's preventing any offense from Smith, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith trying to control but Knuckles is working from the bottom.
Knuckles managing to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Knuckles is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Knuckles showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Knuckles 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Knuckles!