PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between BJ Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Swanson

169 cm
24
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Good knees
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, BJ Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raphael Swanson !
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Swanson counters with a three punch combo that has Smith backing up. Smith nods at Swanson to acknowledge the strikes.
Swanson lands the left hand.
Swanson tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Swanson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Swanson misses with a body shot.
Swanson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Smith taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Swanson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Swanson .

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Smith.
Swanson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Smith is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Swanson tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the cage.
Swanson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith connects with a nasty looking knee right to Swanson 's face.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Smith obliges.
Smith throws an elbow that misses.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Swanson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Swanson blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Smith.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Swanson avoids it.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Swanson is blocking nicely.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Swanson tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Swanson tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Swanson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
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.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Swanson is blocking nicely.
Smith with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Swanson throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Nice straight punches there by Swanson . You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Swanson .

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Swanson in a clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Swanson swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Swanson sprawls well. Swanson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Smith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smith content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Swanson is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ 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.

Swanson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith connects with a solid leg kick.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Swanson can do to turn this around?
Swanson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Swanson takes a knee to the side of the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith stalling the fight.
Swanson blocks an elbow strike.
A frustrated look appears on Swanson 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Smith working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Swanson blocks it with crossed arms.
Swanson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Swanson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Smith takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The referee calls for Smith to work.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Swanson blocks it.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Smith throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith keeps control of Swanson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Swanson blocks it.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Swanson is trying to break free.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Swanson blocks with his arms.
Smith is stalling here.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Swanson blocks with his arms.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Swanson is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson working hard to break the clinch.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Swanson is blocking nicely.
Swanson is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith landing knees to the head.
Smith connects with a knee to the head.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Smith drags the fight down to the ground.
Swanson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Swanson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smith is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
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.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Swanson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Smith dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

No joy there for Swanson , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
It appears Smith was looking to counter with a kick there.
Raphael Swanson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swanson thuds his right hand into Smith's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Swanson scores with a one two! Smith had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Swanson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Raphael Swanson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sloppy strikes from Swanson . Those never looked like landing.
Swanson throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Smith drops down looking for a counter takedown but Swanson sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swanson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Swanson throws out a counter right but Smith avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Swanson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Swanson misses with a wild combination.
Smith lands a high kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson sizes up Smith with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Swanson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Smith closes the distance and pushes Swanson back into the cage.
Smith lands a knee to the body.
Smith leaning his opponent against the cage.
Smith misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith gets through Swanson 's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Swanson tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.
Raphael Swanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Swanson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith connects with a nasty looking knee right to Swanson 's face.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Smith decides to pull guard.
Swanson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Swanson stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BJ Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Swanson throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.
Swanson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Swanson looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
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.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Swanson is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raphael Swanson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

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