PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dark Lotus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Smithing (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lotus
vs
Smithing

173 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dark Lotus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Smithing!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smithing is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lotus's half guard.

Lotus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smithing thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smithing stops Lotus from getting back to his feet.
Smithing throws a strike but Lotus avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Smithing scoring with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smithing advances position into side control!
Lotus is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smithing connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Lotus some visible discomfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lotus manages to get back to half guard.
Smithing wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lotus keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smithing is looking to stall here but Lotus recovers full guard.
Smithing is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smithing postures up in Lotus's guard and throws a big left but Lotus blocks it.

That's two 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.
Smithing in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smithing trying to control but Lotus is working from the bottom.
Smithing is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Smithing loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smithing looking to sit in guard and control but Lotus gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Smithing is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Lotus gets to his feet - Smithing follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smithing looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lotus!
Smithing working away.
Smithing trying to control the action but Lotus is working from the bottom.

Smithing wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lotus, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smithing throwing strikes but Lotus manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Smithing is looking to regain half guard here but Lotus keeps moving and retains side control.

Lotus working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Smithing can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smithing 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.

Smithing drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Smithing works over Lotus with some ground and pound from guard.
Smithing postures up in Lotus's guard and throws a big left but Lotus blocks it.
Smithing must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smithing throwing strikes from guard but Lotus blocks nicely.

Lotus has his foot on Smithing's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smithing works his way back into a safe position though.
Smithing looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lotus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smithing.
Smithing distracts Lotus with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smithing landing some decent shots from guard.
Lotus is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lotus is looking to stand up but Smithing isn't so interested in that idea.
Smithing trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smithing accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lotus tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smithing fails with the takedown.

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.

Smithing fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Lotus to the ground. Smithing is now in Lotus's guard.
Lotus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smithing.
Lotus is trying to keep Smithing in close.
Smithing controlling from the top position.
Smithing throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lotus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smithing distracts Lotus with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Smithing wants to stand and escape but instead Lotus has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

John Smithing has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lotus stopping the sweep attempt from Smithing.

Lotus decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smithing, up you get!

Smithing looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lotus!
Smithing misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lotus wants to get back to his feet.
Smithing has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smithing lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lotus down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smithing is trying to ground and pound but Lotus uses the momentary lack of control by Smithing to regain half guard.
Smithing not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smithing trying to control from Lotus's half guard. Lotus has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Smithing prevents Lotus from getting back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smithing drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lotus manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Smithing has Lotus in his guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smithing showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lotus throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smithing dodges the punch combination from Lotus.
Smithing shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lotus sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Nice body kick from Smithing.

Smithing instigates a clinch.

Smithing ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smithing no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lotus trying to control but Smithing is working from the bottom.
Smithing lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Smithing is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smithing's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lotus keeping moving, preventing Smithing from controlling successfully.
Smithing pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lotus is keeping the position for now.

Smithing gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smithing throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lotus's waist but Lotus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smithing off to one side.

Smithing shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lotus's guard.
Smithing takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smithing wants to control from the top but Lotus keeps moving.
Lotus tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smithing prevents Lotus from getting back to his feet.
Smithing slips nicely into half guard.

Lotus is defending against the submission attempts here by Smithing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lotus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smithing seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Smithing throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Smithing is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lotus is just riding it out for now. Smithing eventually gives up the hold.
Lotus is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smithing scores with a couple of nice shots.
John Smithing is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smithing slips a nice elbow through Lotus's hands, connecting with Lotus's forehead.
Dark Lotus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smithing controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Smithing comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smithing winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight for John Smithing!
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight for John Smithing!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for John Smithing!

John Smithing wins by unanimous decision!