PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Finn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Smith's choice of entrance music: Oh Well.. Craig Finn had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Finn
vs
Smith

189 cm
23
205 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

183 cm
23
220 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Knock Out Artistry

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Craig Finn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Darren Smith!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Finn.
Finn chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smith can pounce on him.
Finn tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Finn wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Finn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith blocking some punches.
Smith slowing the pace effectively.
Nice elbow from Smith.
A right handed body shot lands from Smith.
Finn is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Finn avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Smith lands an elbow just above Finn 's eye.

Smith gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Finn keeps working.
Smith lands strikes from half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Smith is tying to control. Finn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Smith in particular looking to stall.
Smith is pressing down on Finn's thigh, looking to free his foot. Finn is holding on for now.
Finn has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smith is working away from the top position though.
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Finn is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Smith with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Finn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Finn wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Finn's head.
Smith is pressing down on Finn's thigh, looking to free his foot. Finn is holding on for now.
Smith throwing shots but Finn is blocking nicely.

Finn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Smith is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Finn is just riding it out for now. Smith eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Some wild striking there from Finn.

Smith rushes Finn and presses him up against the cage.
The referee calls for Smith to work.
Smith connects with a knee to the head.

Smith turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
You can see the frustration on Finn's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Smith goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Finn rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Smith's guard! Nice work there by Finn!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Finn from standing up.
Smith is trying to control the position but Finn postures up.
Finn has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smith is proving hard to escape from.
Finn stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Finn wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
Finn tries to clinch up

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.
A short right from Smith on the inside.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Finn.
Smith looking for a takedown.
Finn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Smith wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith avoiding damage as Finn throws knees to the body.
Smith lands an elbow that stopped Finn in his tracks for a moment.
Finn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Finn.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Finn gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Craig Finn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Smith.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Finn gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Finn misses with some punches.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Finn avoids a wild elbow strike from Smith.
Finn tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.

Smith gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Finn manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Smith avoids the body shot from Finn.
Finn tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with an outside leg kick.
Finn misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Finn tries to clinch
and Smith counters with a body kick.
Smith explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Craig Finn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Finn in a clinch.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Finn shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Finn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Finn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Smith has Finn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Finn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Finn struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
Smith jumps guard but Finn stands there with Smith around his waist. Smith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Smith goes for a takedown in the clinch but Finn prevents it.
Finn landing knees to the body.
Finn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finn misses with a body punch.
Finn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Finn scores with a hook to the body.
Smith with a knee to the head.
Finn tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Finn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Smith looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Finn pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Finn tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Finn tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Finn.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Finn shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Finn tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Finn throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Finn misses with a punch to the body.
Finn stops a takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith has Finn pressed against the cage.
Smith misses with a body punch.
Finn trying to land knees to the body.
Finn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Smith gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Finn pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finn tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Smith counters with a low kick, right behind Finn 's knee.
Finn moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
A lazy body kick from Finn

and Smith counters by clinching up.
Smith has Finn pushed against the cage.
Smith blocks a body shot from Finn.
Smith displaying some good clinch control by pressing Finn up against the cage.
Finn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
A left hand lands to the body for Smith.
Finn struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
Smith tries to stall but Finn uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Finn throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
With the fighters up against the cage, Finn throws an elbow but misses.
Smith is working for takedown but Finn is calmly controlling the position for now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Finn just misses with a elbow thrown towards Smith's brow.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Smith creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Smith avoiding damage as Finn throws knees to the body.
Finn tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Finn tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.

That's four 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.
Smith prevents a body shot from Finn.
Smith blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Finn misses with a punch to the body.
Smith wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Finn misses with an elbow over the top.
Finn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Finn trying to land knees to the body.
Finn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Finn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Finn stops a takedown attempt from Smith.
Finn pushes off an throws an elbow but Smith leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Finn gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Finn tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Finn scores with a nice hook to the head.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Finn blocks it with crossed arms.
Finn can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Finn pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Finn throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Finn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Finn rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smith tries to pull guard but Finn holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Smith can't get the takedown.

Smith jumps guard and drags Finn to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
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.
Finn is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Finn decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Smith rushes Finn and presses him up against the cage.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Craig Finn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Smith.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Finn.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Finn.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith connects with a knee to the head.
Finn lands with a left to the head.
Darren Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Finn lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Smith.
Smith avoiding damage as Finn throws knees to the body.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Finn just stands there and leans against the cage.
Finn tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Finn back against the cage.
Finn misses with some punches.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Finn misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Finn.
Smith prevents a body shot from Finn.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Finn.
Finn gets underhooks to prevent Smith's takedown attempt.
Finn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Finn misses with some punches.
Finn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Finn tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Finn.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith lands an elbow just above Finn 's eye.
Smith tries to pull guard but Finn holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Smith gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

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.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
Finn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Finn just misses with a elbow thrown towards Smith's brow.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith tries to pull guard but Finn holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Smith dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Finn tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Finn back against the cage.

Smith has clasped his hands together around Finn's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Finn parries the strikes from Smith easily there. Smith is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Finn to escape.
Finn is trying to improve his position.
Who's going to make the next move?
Finn avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the action but Finn is working from the bottom.
Finn dodges the ground and pound from Smith.
Finn manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Finn is trying is best to control the position here.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Finn is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four 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.

Finn kicks Smith off and gets back to his feet.
Finn closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smith counters with a head kick.
Craig Finn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Finn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Finn is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Darren Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Craig Finn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finn darts in trying to clinch

and Smith counters by clinching up.
Finn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Finn tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Finn throws a head punch that misses.
Smith missing with knees to the body.

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 Craig Finn.
Well Smith has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:29

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