PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Luther King Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). King Jr has chosen MLK tribute as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Luther King Jr

173 cm
21
158 lbs
11 - 0 - 0

150 cm
26
155 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

M.O. Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodney Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Martin Luther King Jr!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King Jr lands a jab to Smith's midsection.
Smith lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
King Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith throws a right and a left that King Jr avoids nicely.
King Jr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
A countering left hand to the body from King Jr misses.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice uppercut there from Smith.
King Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from King Jr.
King Jr ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
King Jr steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A countering left hand to the body from King Jr misses.
King Jr lands a nice looking body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith fails with the takedown
and King Jr counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Smith connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
King Jr doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!
Rodney Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith misses with the combination.
Smith connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Smith scores with a head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. King Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.
King Jr misses with a wild body shot.
Smith throwing a counter right hand but King Jr manages to avoid it.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A nice side step and King Jr releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
King Jr swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Smith throws a hook but King Jr blocks it.
Smith throws a right hand that King Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that King Jr also avoids with ease.
King Jr takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
King Jr lands a slapping body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
King Jr swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
King Jr connects with a body shot.
Smith misses with the combination.
King Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. King Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
King Jr moves out of range of the strikes.
King Jr doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Smith ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
King Jr slips under a jab from Smith.
King Jr is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Smith with a body shot.
A cross from Smith lands.
King Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith lands a really nice looking cross but King Jr seems unphased.
Smith is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
King Jr misses with a body shot.
Smith looks to throw the jab but King Jr is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by King Jr.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
King Jr blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smith working aggressively here.
Smith's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by King Jr.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
King Jr can't break the clinch.
Smith is struggling to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Smith misses with a straight right.
A countering left hand to the body from King Jr misses.
King Jr misses with a wild body shot.
Smith throws a head kick but King Jr moves out of range.
King Jr appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Smith throws a right and a left that King Jr avoids nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith throws a shot to the body.
King Jr blocks a head kick by Smith.
Smith misses with a head kick.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A nice side step and King Jr releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Smith scores with a jab to the jaw.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Smith dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith throws a big shot that misses.
Smith throws a head kick that half lands.
Smith dips to his left and cracks King Jr with an uppercut!

King Jr tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of King Jr backwards.
A short right from Smith.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smith.
Smith lands with a light punch inside.
Smith scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Smith lands with a left to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but King Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
King Jr tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Smith scores with a nice short uppercut.
Smith lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
King Jr takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
King Jr gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Smith scores with a nice strike.
Smith scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
King Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Smith is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
King Jr takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A decent looking cross lands there for Smith.
Nice defenses there by King Jr.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.
Rodney Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of King Jr's head.
Smith throws a right hand that King Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that King Jr also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith connects with a high kick.
Smith works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
King Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Smith misses with a body kick.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice side step and King Jr releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
King Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
King Jr doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Smith looks to throw the jab but King Jr is out of range.
A nice side step and King Jr releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Martin Luther King Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King Jr bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith missing with a left hand there. King Jr was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that King Jr can do to turn this around?
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but King Jr moves away.
King Jr appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from King Jr. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
King Jr keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
King Jr swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
King Jr uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
King Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from King Jr. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
King Jr takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
King Jr is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Smith rather than just go for the knockout.
King Jr misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Smith misses the target.
Some wild striking there from Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a really nice looking cross but King Jr seems unphased.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
King Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
King Jr moves away from the strike by Smith.
A left lands for Smith.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
King Jr throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
King Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into King Jr's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith stops King Jr from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Smith dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by King Jr.
King Jr's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
King Jr misses the shot to the body.
Smith throws a head kick but King Jr moves out of range.
Smith scores with a jab to the jaw.
King Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King Jr takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
King Jr staying out of range there.
A big right from Smith misses.
King Jr blocks a jab.
King Jr let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
King Jr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Smith.
King Jr has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
King Jr misses the shot to the body.
Smith throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and King Jr moves out of range easily.
King Jr fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
King Jr looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
King Jr slips under a jab.
King Jr now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Smith avoids the body shot from King Jr.
Smith swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Smith throws a body punch but King Jr moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by King Jr.
King Jr stuns Smith with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
King Jr avoids the body shot from Smith.
Smith throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith throws a hook but King Jr avoids it easily.
King Jr misses with a hook to the body
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
King Jr misses with a wild body shot.
Smith looks to land a body kick but King Jr moved away.
Smith avoids the body shot from King Jr.
Smith lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Smith lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
King Jr doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Smith throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
King Jr is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Smith with a body shot.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King Jr misses with a wild body shot.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - King Jr circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from King Jr misses.
Smith avoids the body shot from King Jr.
King Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
King Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from King Jr.
Smith attempts a counter takedown but King Jr avoids it well and moves away.
Smith scores with a sloppy right hand. King Jr should have avoided that one.
Smith throws a body punch but King Jr moves out of range.
King Jr lands a nice hook to Smith's body. Smith takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smith throws a head kick but King Jr moves out of range.
King Jr appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by King Jr.
King Jr ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith scores with a punch to the head.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by King Jr.
King Jr staying out of range there.
King Jr let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rodney Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from King Jr. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A nice side step and King Jr releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Nice body punch from King Jr.
King Jr bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A nice side step and King Jr releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
King Jr scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A looping hook to the body misses from King Jr. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
King Jr throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith misses with a head kick.
King Jr appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
King Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Martin Luther King Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
King Jr avoids the body shot from Smith.
King Jr appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodney Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodney Smith!
Rodney Smith opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.
Martin Luther King Jr spoke after the fight, saying 'I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today! '.