PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Todd Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malik Turner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Halls of Montezuma. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Smith
vs
Turner

189 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
24
213 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Machiavelli Boutique

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Todd Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Malik Turner!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Columbo Gatti and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Turner is just out of range.
Smith throws a hook but Turner avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Turner misses its intended target.
Turner avoids the head kick by Smith.
Turner lands with a hook. Smith tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Smith tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Turner counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith takes one to the chin there.
Smith moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Turner closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Turner pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Turner wants to counter with a clinch but Smith pushes him away.
Turner jabs at Smith's body.
Smith dives in and grabs Turner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Turner pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Smith misses with a takedown
and Turner counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Todd Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Turner closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Smith's guard.
Turner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turner advances position into side control!
Smith tries to buck Turner off but Turner is having none of it.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Turner lands a few punches from side control.
Turner taking a breather here.
Turner throws a strike aimed at the side of Smith's head but Smith avoids it well.
Turner works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
A lull in the action here.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Turner on the ground.
Turner lands a nice forearm strike.
Turner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turner with the ground and pound but Smith regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Turner is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Turner.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to sweep but instead, Turner has passed into half guard.
Turner is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Turner throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Smith to regain full guard.
Smith seems keen to control Turner's posture.
Turner won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Turner sitting in guard here, content to control.
Turner scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Smith wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Turner is now in half guard.
Turner uses his free foot to push down on Smith's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Smith.
Smith wants to control but Turner is having none of it.
Turner lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smith hang on?
Turner landing punches.
Turner looking to finish Smith with some ground and pound. This is bad for Smith!
Smith is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Turner lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smith hang on?
Turner lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malik Turner dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Good exchange - Turner coming out on top.
Turner throws out a powerful jab.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Smith gets a takedown into half guard.
Smith looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Turner is trying to stand back up but Smith is controlling him
Turner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turner has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smith is working away from the top position though.

Turner manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Smith keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Turner wants the takedown. Smith is fighting it off but Turner persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Smith's guard against the cage.
Turner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Turner scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Turner is one step ahead there.
Turner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Turner makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Turner showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Turner cracks Smith with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith is trying to control the position but Turner postures up.
Turner keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smith's head.
Turner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Turner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
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.
Turner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Turner's jab looks to have found its range, popping Smith under the eye.
Turner keeps the fight on the outside.
Decent striking displayed by Turner there.
A jab from Turner misses.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Turner counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Smith is looking to clinch but Turner is avoiding it.
Turner lands the left hand.
Turner misses the jab.
Turner loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.

Smith fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Turner to the ground. Smith is now in Turner's guard.
Turner lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Turner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Turner controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Turner.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Turner's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Turner controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Turner cracks Smith with a solid left hand.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Turner is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith wants to stand up but Turner is controlling him.
Turner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malik Turner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Turner defends it nicely.
Smith misses with a takedown
and Turner counters with a nice body shot.
Turner scores with a nice strike.
Turner sizes up Smith with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Turner has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Turner throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.

Smith gets a double leg takedown into Turner's guard.
Malik Turner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Turner is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Turner is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Turner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Turner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Turner scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Smith on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Turner winds up and cracks Smith with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Turner trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Turner connects with a nice short shot to Smith's temple.
Turner not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smith trying to hold on to Turner's head to control him but Turner postures up.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Turner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.
Turner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Turner lands a nice short elbow.
Turner not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Turner is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Turner jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Smith moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Turner jabs Smith to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smith gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Malik Turner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a body kick that misses.
Smith misses with a hook to the body
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Turner connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Smith's hands.
Turner lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Turner fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Turner feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Smiths jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Turner scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Horrible takedown attempt by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Turner, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Todd Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Turner is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Turner counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Smith!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Smith's face as Turner controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith parries the strikes from Turner easily there. Turner is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Smith to escape.
Smith takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Turner working the ground and pound from side control.
Turner taking a breather here.
Turner scoring with punches from side control.
Todd Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Turner working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malik Turner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Turner 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malik Turner!