PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matt Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Geralt Of Rivia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Of Rivia

167 cm
24
141 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

171 cm
25
145 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

Arcticus University: London
KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matt Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Geralt Of Rivia!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith pushes Of Rivia up against the cage in a clinch.
Of Rivia managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Of Rivia misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Smith with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Smith.
Of Rivia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A body shot lands from Of Rivia.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Of Rivia.
Smith blocks a body shot from Of Rivia.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
Smith landing knees to the head.

Of Rivia breaks the clinch.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Of Rivia circles away.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Of Rivia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Of Rivia scores with a shot to the body.
Of Rivia has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Of Rivia just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith is looking to counter the offense by Of Rivia and move into the clinch.
Of Rivia lunges at Smith with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Smith's hand.
Smith tries to clinch up
and Of Rivia counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Of Rivia lands a high kick!
Smith tries to clinch there but Of Rivia circles away.
Smith has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Cylon Training Academy in the buildup to the fight.
Matt Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith is looking to clinch but Of Rivia is avoiding it.
Smith tries to clinch up.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Smith crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Of Rivia - the referee stops the clock and Smith gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Of Rivia. Smith manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Of Rivia misses the shot to the body.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Of Rivia moves out of range easily.
Of Rivia with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Smith tries to clinch but Of Rivia moves away
and Of Rivia counters with a good low kick that Smith was not able to check.
Smith steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Of Rivia. That one must have hurt.
A jab lands there for Of Rivia.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Of Rivia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Of Rivia lands a body shot.
Of Rivia throws a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Of Rivia's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Of Rivia duly obliges.
Of Rivia dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Of Rivia lands a right hook to the body.
Of Rivia with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith ducks right into an uppercut from Of Rivia.
Of Rivia bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Smith throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Of Rivia swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Of Rivia swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Of Rivia managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
A short body shot lands from Of Rivia as the two fighters clinch.
Of Rivia tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Of Rivia scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Of Rivia blocks it.
Of Rivia tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Of Rivia avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Of Rivia tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Of Rivia fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Of Rivia.

Of Rivia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Of Rivia connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Smith's hands.
Of Rivia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Of Rivia fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith.
Smith tries to clinch but Of Rivia is having none of it.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith wants to clinch up but Of Rivia keeps it at a distance.
Of Rivia fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Of Rivia pushes him off.
Of Rivia is trying to counter with his kicks.
Of Rivia attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Smith takes one to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Smith forces Of Rivia back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Of Rivia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Of Rivia avoids it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A short right from Of Rivia on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Of Rivia misses with a punch on the inside.
Of Rivia misses with the head strike.
A short left from Of Rivia.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Of Rivia doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Of Rivia misses with the head strike.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Of Rivia.
Of Rivia struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
Of Rivia blocks an elbow strike.
Knees to the body from Smith.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Of Rivia avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith blocks an uppercut.
Of Rivia is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Smith is keeping busy.
Of Rivia lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Smith pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geralt Of Rivia dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Geralt Of Rivia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Of Rivia misses the shot to the body.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Of Rivia in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Of Rivia throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Of Rivia circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith throws a head kick but Of Rivia moves out of range.
Of Rivia avoids a kick to the body.

Smith has Of Rivia up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Of Rivia tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith taking a breather.
Smith putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Of Rivia in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A short right from Of Rivia.
Of Rivia misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Of Rivia avoids the damage to the body.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Of Rivia breaks from the clinch.
Of Rivia scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Of Rivia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Of Rivia keeps the fight on the outside.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Of Rivia, as that shot connected.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Of Rivia.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Of Rivia pushes him off.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Of Rivia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Of Rivia throws a quick inside leg kick.
Of Rivia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Of Rivia pushes him off.
Of Rivia looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Of Rivia throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Of Rivia.
Of Rivia swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Of Rivia let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Of Rivia loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Of Rivia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Of Rivia counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smith thinking.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Of Rivia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smith moves out of range as Of Rivia throws a body kick.
Of Rivia looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
As Of Rivia tries to get set, Smith tries to push him back and clinch up but Of Rivia manages to avoid the attempt.
Of Rivia misses with a leg kick.
Smith is looking to clinch but Of Rivia is avoiding it.
Smith checks the leg kick nicely there.
Smith tries to clinch but Of Rivia is having none of it.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Of Rivia throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Of Rivia throws a head kick that Smith semi-blocks.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Of Rivia moves out of range easily.

Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Of Rivia, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has Of Rivia pushed against the cage.

Of Rivia breaks the clinch.
Smith tries to clinch but Of Rivia moves away
and Of Rivia counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Smith 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Of Rivia pushes him off.
Smith tries to clinch but Of Rivia moves out of range.
Of Rivia looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Smith takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Of Rivia. Of Rivia obviously looking to wear him down.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith looks to clinch
and Of Rivia counters with a straight right hand.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Of Rivia looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Of Rivia swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Of Rivia counters with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Of Rivia misses with a straight right.
Of Rivia lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Of Rivia throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Of Rivia pushes him off.
Smith throws a head kick but Of Rivia moves out of range.
Of Rivia fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith.
Smith avoids a kick to the body.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Of Rivia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Of Rivia turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Of Rivia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Of Rivia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith slips under a jab.
Of Rivia tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Of Rivia manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Of Rivia was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Smith is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geralt Of Rivia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Of Rivia goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Smith throws a counter high kick but Of Rivia was just alert enough to avoid it.
A jab from Of Rivia misses.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Of Rivia.
Smith wants to clinch up but Of Rivia keeps it at a distance.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Of Rivia throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Of Rivia swinging wildly here.
Of Rivia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smith tries to clinch but Of Rivia moves out of range.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Of Rivia misses with a hook from the clinch.

Of Rivia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Smith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Of Rivia swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smith lands a knee to the head.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Of Rivia avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Of Rivia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith pushes off an throws an elbow but Of Rivia leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Of Rivia fails to land.
Of Rivia lands a nice shot to the body.
Of Rivia tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smith looking to slow down the pace here.
Of Rivia lands a left hand.
Of Rivia tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Of Rivia is defending well for now.
Of Rivia goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Of Rivia pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Of Rivia paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Of Rivia looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Of Rivia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Of Rivia throws a shot to the body.
Of Rivia moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Of Rivia throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Smith's head.
Of Rivia swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.

Smith moves into the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Knees in the clinch landing for Smith.
Smith is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Smith missing with knees to the body.

Of Rivia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Smith checks a leg kick.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Of Rivia pushes him off.
A countering left hand to the body from Of Rivia misses.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
Of Rivia misses with a punch on the inside.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Of Rivia avoids it.
Smith blocks an uppercut.
Of Rivia misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Of Rivia misses with the head strike.
Of Rivia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Of Rivia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith lands an elbow inside.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Of Rivia.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Of Rivia is defending well for now.
Of Rivia swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Of Rivia avoids it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A head punch on the inside from Of Rivia fails to land.
With the fighters up against the cage, Smith throws an elbow but misses.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Of Rivia doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Of Rivia working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Of Rivia misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Of Rivia.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Of Rivia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Of Rivia manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith blocks a leg kick.
Smith tries to counter by clinching up but Of Rivia breaks away and moves out of range.
Matt Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Of Rivia with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Of Rivia scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Smith looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Of Rivia keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice shot lands for Of Rivia.
Of Rivia loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Of Rivia scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Smith wants to clinch.

Smith has Of Rivia up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Geralt Of Rivia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Of Rivia 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Geralt Of Rivia!
Geralt Of Rivia decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.