PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roland Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Knotts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brian Knotts has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Roland Smith's chin.

Smith
vs
Knotts

190 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
220 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roland Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Knotts!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Gwen Towbar and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Knotts stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.

Knotts gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Knotts pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Knotts displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.
Nice straight punches there by Knotts. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Knotts.
Smith is breathing heavily.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knotts makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Knotts.

Knotts looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knotts is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knotts is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Knotts is pressing down on Smith's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smith is holding on for now.
Knotts content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Knotts 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 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.
Knotts working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Knotts landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Knotts decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

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

Knotts breaks the clinch.
Smith with a poor takedown

and Knotts counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Knotts.
Smith throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Knotts drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Knotts off! Knotts jumps back into Smith's guard.
Knotts wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knotts throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Knotts decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!
Knotts lands with a right hand.
Knotts tries to clinch up.
Smith takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Knotts circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith takes one to the chin there.
Knotts's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Knotts duly obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knotts shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Knotts showed some decent athleticism there.
Smith manages to get to full guard.

Knotts stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.
No luck for Knotts with that takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Knotts feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knotts won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Knotts dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Brian Knotts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Knotts changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Knotts working away.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.

Knotts has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Knotts swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Knotts lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Knotts scores with a jab to the body.
Knotts tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Knotts misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Smith gets caught flat footed, as Knotts shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knotts postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Knotts from controlling successfully.
Smith is trying to control the position but Knotts postures up.
Smith wants to stand up but Knotts is controlling him.

Knotts stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Smith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Knotts throws a shot to the body.
Knotts closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knotts looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knotts has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Knotts wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith won't allow it.
Knotts wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knotts works on Smith's body with a couple of short punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Knotts.
Smith can't break the clinch.

Knotts breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Knotts shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Knotts trying to pass the guard but Smith defending well.

Knotts is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knotts has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Smith works to full guard.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Knotts.
Smith is trying to control the position but Knotts postures up.
Knotts trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knotts controls from within his opponent's guard.

Knotts stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knotts has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Knotts drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Smith pushes Knotts off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Knotts.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nice elbow from Knotts.

Knotts breaks the clinch.

Knotts looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knotts passes the guard and advances to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Knotts showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith dodges the punch combination from Knotts.

Knotts clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Knotts is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smith pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Knotts breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knotts just misses with a punch to the body.
Knotts throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Knotts looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.

Smith clinches with his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knotts stalling in the clinch but Smith improves position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Jab by Knotts.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Knotts sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Knotts shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Knotts stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Knotts fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Knotts tests Smith's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Knotts fails to land the takedown.
Nice shot lands for Smith.
Knotts throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Smith on the side of the head.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Knotts counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knotts connects with a single shot there.

Knotts moves into the clinch.
Knotts tries for a takedown. No joy.
Roland Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Knotts.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Knotts just stands there and leans against the cage.

Knotts pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Roland Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Smith takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Smith walks into a left hand.

Knotts drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knotts manages to break the clinch.

Knotts closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Knotts lands in his opponent's guard.

Knotts gets to his feet. Smith looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Knotts throws a series of strikes that have Smith backpedaling.
Knotts throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.

Knotts gets the takedown into side control.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Knotts wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Knotts tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Knotts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knotts stands up.
Knotts scores with a jab to the jaw.
Knotts throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
A head kick misses from Knotts.
Knotts shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Knotts counters by moving into the clinch.
Knotts wants to break free but Smith has control.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Roland Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brian Knotts is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Knotts pulls guard effortlessly.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Knotts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Knotts 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Knotts!