PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thorn Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Black
vs
Smith

160 cm
27
157 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

165 cm
20
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thorn Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jake Smith!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jorge Garcia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Black throws a combination that misses
and Black takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Smith avoids the body shot from Black.
Black is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Black bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Black is looking to counter the offense by Smith and move into the clinch.
Black misses the shot to the body.
No joy there for Black, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Black is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Black staying out of range there.
Smith throws a jab when Black was well out of range.
Black takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Black, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith lands a body shot.
Smith throws a hook but Black avoids it easily.
Black is looking to counter the offense by Smith and move into the clinch.
Smith sizes up Black with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Black.

Black gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short uppercut from Smith.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Black.
Black goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Black staying out of range there.
Smith scores with a nice right hand.
Smith connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Black momentarily.

Black is rocked!
Black doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Oh Black is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thorn Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Black shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smith's guard.

Smith has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Black has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Black seems to have got his legs back now.
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!
Black misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jake Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Black takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Black swings widly with a right hand
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Black shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Black defends well.
Black makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Black drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Black jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Black prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
Black is pushing down on Smith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Smith is fighting to maintain full guard but Black has managed to sneak the leg through.
Smith throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Smith tries to kick Black off in order to stand up. Black Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Black has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Smith is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Black off and has taken his back!
Black is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith doesn't have the hooks in and Black manages to turn into his guard.
Smith wants to stand but Black is controlling the position.
Black is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Black stops Smith from standing up.
Black scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smith trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The fighters are working up against the cage. Smith manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Black drags the fight down to the ground.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Black. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Black working a defensive guard here.

Black looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith postures up.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Black's head.

Smith gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Smith checks the leg kick nicely there.
Black displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.
Smith cracks Black with an open hand slap.
Black closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smith misses with a looping right.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Black closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Smith quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Black working the head and body with strikes.
Black scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Black manages to avoid it.
Black moves out of range of the strikes.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
A clash of legs there as Smith blocks the low kick.
Smith cracks Black with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Black is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Smith.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Black shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Black takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Black moved out of range.
Smith punishes Black's body with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Black on the wrong end of a nice jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black avoids the body shot from Smith.
Smith lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Black tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with a right hand to the body.
Black takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smith lands with a straight right. Black didn't see that one coming.
Black connects with a right hand. Smith shakes it off.
Black misses with a wild body shot.
Smith connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Smith throws a body punch but Black moves out of range.
Smith lands with an overhand left.
Black looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Black persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith jabs Black right on the nose. Black blinks but takes it well.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Good shot there by Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Black has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Black throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Black wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith lands a jab to Black's midsection.
Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thorn Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith sizes up Black with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Smith jabs Black to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smith cracks Black with an open hand slap.
Black with a lazy takedown attempt
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Black looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Smith throws a body punch but Black moves out of range.
As Smith tries to get set, Black tries to push him back and clinch up but Smith manages to avoid the attempt.

Black has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Black successfully pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black trying to control the position.
Black wants to sweep but no luck.
Black is trying to keep Smith in close.
Black bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.

Smith looking to control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smith can do anything to dispel that myth.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Black defends well.
Smith is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Black dives into side control.
Smith takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Smith is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Black wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smith, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black landing strikes.
Black wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith is pushing Black's head away, looking to escape. Black manages to hold on to the position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Black is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.
Black scores with punches from side control.
Smith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
A control attempt from Smith but he's now mounted!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice defenses there by Black.
Smith throws a shot to the body.
Black shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.
Black takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Black closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Smith throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Black lands a body shot.
Smith scores with a sloppy right hand. Black should have avoided that one.
Jake Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Black.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Black.

Black scores with a takedown into Smith's guard.
Black not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black passes into half guard.
Black stops Smith from getting back to his feet.
Nice strikes from Black there.
Black sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Smith is trying to stand back up but Black is controlling him
Still in half guard, Black seems content to control.
Smith tries to kick Black off but Black keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Smith has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Black is on him like a limpet, forcing Smith back against the cage.
Black throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Smiths head.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith is looking to control Black's arms but Black gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
Thorn Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Smith - that landed with a thud.
Smith blocks an uppercut.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Black does a little dance to reset his feet.
Black is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Smith.
Smith avoids the body shot from Black.
Smith connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Black's hands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black needs to keep his hands up - Smith had a free shot at his head there.
Smith throws a jab when Black was well out of range.
Black fails with the takedown.
Black is looking to wear down Smith with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Black misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A nice side step and Smith releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Black takes one on the button.

Black darts in and clinches Smith up against the cage.
Smith leaning his opponent against the cage.
Black wants to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith blocks a jab.
Black scores with a hook to the body. Smith takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Black looking to score a takedown here. Smith is defending well but Black drives through and ends up in Smith's guard.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Black defends well.
Smith wants to stand but Black is controlling the position.
Smith controls Black momentarily but Black frees himself.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Smith is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Black misses with a short punch on the inside.
Black tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Jab, jab by Smith - just one landing.
Black misses with a shot to the body
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Black throws an off balance right hand
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Smith dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Black takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Black lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Smith has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Smith and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Smith looks like he wants to counter punch here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Smith!
A victorious Jake Smith thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.