PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Marsland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alan Smith looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Marsland
vs
Smith

184 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Urban Extreme Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Chris Marsland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Alan Smith!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marsland has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Smith has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Marsland regains guard immediately.

Marsland working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marsland trying to strike off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marsland working a defensive guard here.

Marsland had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Smith is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Marsland Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Smith's back instead.

Marsland has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsland is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Marsland gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Marsland gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Marsland apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith tries to clinch up but Marsland circles away and keeps his distance.

Smith looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smith prevents Marsland from improving his position.
Marsland is breathing heavily.
Smith winds up and cracks Marsland with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Marsland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Marsland's hands, connecting with Marsland's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsland trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
A nice elbow there by Smith.
Smith putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Marsland is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Marsland is working hard here to advance position.
Smith controlling his opponent.
Smith is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Marsland can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Smith fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Marsland is trying desperately to improve position.
Smith is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Marsland can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Smith with a couple of short strikes.
Marsland is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Marsland keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marsland tries to hold on but Smith postures up.
Marsland working to try and regain half guard.
Marsland is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith prevents Marsland from getting the reversal.
Smith wants to control the pace but Marsland is squirming around nicely.
Marsland is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Marsland doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith counters with an inside leg kick.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marsland's waist but Marsland gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.

Marsland takes the fight into the clinch.

Smith has Marsland pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Smith pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Marsland tumbling to the mat - Smith dives into Marsland's guard.
Marsland is pulling down on Smith's head. It's preventing any offense from Smith, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marsland looking for a sweep. Not yet Marsland, not yet.
Marsland is trying to keep Smith in close.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Marsland is working an open guard so Smith takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsland throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Marsland looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Marsland's guard.

Smith stands up and waves to Marsland to follow him.
Chris Marsland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Marsland.
Marsland wants to clinch

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smith is looking to stand up but Marsland won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith postures up.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Marsland has an active guard here but Smith has managed to pass into half guard.
Marsland is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Marsland avoid being mounted?
Smith content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Marsland trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Smith manages to pass to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Marsland is looking to escape.

Smith jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Marsland is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Marsland and Smith has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Marsland is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.
Marsland is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Marsland manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Marsland working over Smith with some ground and pound. Smith looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Smith is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Marsland scores with a couple of nice shots.

Marsland is working for a submission of some sort.
Marsland is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Marsland is looking to stall here but Smith recovers full guard.
Marsland controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Marsland shoots in and bounces Smith off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Marsland is proving a slippery customer.
Marsland stops Smith from standing up.
Marsland passes Smith's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Marsland seems to be working for a kimura but Smith defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marsland landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith keeping control of the position.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Marsland.
Marsland is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Marsland landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Smith is looking to escape.
Marsland scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Marsland is looking for a kimura here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Marsland rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Marsland tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smith lands an elbow inside.
Smith dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.

Marsland takes the fight into the clinch.
Marsland 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.
Marsland has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Marsland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsland tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Smith landing knees to the body.

Marsland has hold of one of Smith's legs. Smith is fighting the takedown attempt but Marsland gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Smith keeping full guard, as Marsland tries to pass.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marsland is controlling him.

Marsland drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Marsland jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Marsland stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marsland is controlling him.

Marsland stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.
Smith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Chris Marsland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marsland tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Marsland fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Marsland throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Marsland manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Marsland drops back, looking for a kneebar! Smith looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Smith looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Smith!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chris Marsland.
I think Smith 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

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