PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Silas Holden (ranked 10427 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Smugg (ranked 7372 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Holden
vs
Smugg

208 cm
24
162 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

200 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Silas Holden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Smugg!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Holden gets tackled into the cage by Smugg. Smugg maintains the clinch.

Smugg manages to break the clinch.

Smugg has Holden up against the cage in a clinch.
Holden really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Holden blocks an uppercut.

Holden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smugg clinches up with Holden and pushes him back against the cage.
Smugg tries to throw a body punch but Holden avoids it by throwing Smugg back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Smugg fails to land.
Smugg lands a nice shot to the body.
Smugg lands a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smugg.
Good body shot from Smugg.
Smugg lands a hook to the side of the head.

Smugg manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smugg moves into the clinch.

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

Holden moves into the clinch.
Smugg tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Smugg breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smugg rushes Holden and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smugg misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smugg lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Holden backwards.
Smugg keeps control of Holden as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Holden working hard to break the clinch.
Holden jumps guard but Smugg turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Smugg misses with a hook to the ribs.
Holden is trying to force a seperation but Smugg has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holden blocks a body shot from Smugg.
Holden wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smugg has him pressed against the cage.
Smugg misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Smugg.
Holden blocks a body shot from Smugg.
Smugg tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Holden's elbow.
Smugg struggles to land a body shot inside as Holden controls his hands.
Smugg misses with some punches.

Smugg breaks the clinch.

Holden moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Holden blocks an uppercut.

Holden manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smugg moves into the clinch.

Smugg breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smugg lands an uppercut.
Smugg lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Holden is rocked!
Holden blocking some punches.
Oh Holden is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smugg misses with the head strike.
Smugg misses with some punches.
Smugg slowing the pace effectively.
Holden blocking some punches.
Smugg throws a punch but it's blocked by Holden.
Smugg misses with some punches.
Come on Smugg - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Smugg working aggressively here.
Holden can't break the clinch.
Smugg content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Holden blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Holden.
Smugg misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smugg misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Holden.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smugg misses with a short punch on the inside.
Smugg lands a shot to the body.
Smugg misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Holden.
Smugg swings wildly with an uppercut but Holden uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smugg misses with a short punch on the inside.
Smugg misses with a punch on the inside.
Smugg has Holden pressed against the cage, preventing Holden from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Smugg has Holden pressed against the cage.
Smugg throws a head punch that misses.
Smugg tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Holden seems to have got his legs back now.
Smugg tries a body shot but Holden blocks it.
Smugg tries to throw a body punch but Holden avoids it by throwing Smugg back against the cage.
Smugg prevents Holden from breaking the clinch.
Smugg misses with a punch to the body.
Smugg misses with a punch on the inside.
Smugg makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Holden is trying to break the clinch but Smugg is controlling him.
Holden keeps control of Smugg as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

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

Smugg has Holden up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smugg moves into the clinch.
Smugg scores with a nice hook to the head.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smugg stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Holden drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holden pulls Smugg in close to prevent any damage.
Smugg won't allow Holden to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smugg wanted to stand there but Holden had control of the position.
Holden has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Holden looking for a sweep. Not yet Holden, not yet.
Smugg is looking to stand up but Holden won't let him.
Holden is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Holden lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Smugg is looking to stand up but Holden isn't so interested in that idea.
Holden postures up in Smugg's guard and throws a big left but Smugg blocks it.
Holden throwing strikes from guard but Smugg blocks nicely.
Smugg working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holden.

Holden decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Smugg has managed to clinch.
Smugg can't find room to land a body shot as Holden controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smugg scores with a shot to the side of Holden's head.
Smugg can't find room to land a body shot as Holden controls the action.
Smugg wants to get back to striking at distance but Holden won't allow it.

Smugg breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smugg pushes Holden up against the cage in a clinch.
Smugg has a couple of punches blocked by Holden.
Smugg tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smugg prevents Holden from breaking the clinch.
Smugg makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Smugg can't find room to land a body shot as Holden controls the action.

Holden breaks from the clinch.
Joe Smugg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Smugg moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smugg tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Holden prevents a body shot from Smugg.
Holden working hard to break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smugg.
Come on Smugg - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Smugg tries to throw a body punch but Holden avoids it by throwing Smugg back against the cage.
Smugg working aggressively here.
Smugg tries to circle away but Holden has him pinned against the cage.
Smugg has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smugg lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Smugg breaks the clinch.

Smugg closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Smugg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Smugg rushes Holden and presses him up against the cage.
Smugg struggles to land a body shot inside as Holden controls his hands.
A frustrated look appears on Smugg's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Smugg escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smugg rushes Holden and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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

Smugg closes the distance and pushes Holden back into the cage.
Holden just leaning against Smugg, taking a breather.
Smugg lands with a short shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smugg misses with a hook from the clinch.
Holden is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smugg is defending well for now.
Smugg is trying to stall.
Smugg tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smugg pushes Holden back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Smugg pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Smugg clinches up with Holden and pushes him back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Joe Smugg seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Smugg tries a body shot but Holden blocks it.
Smugg looking to slow down the pace here.

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

Smugg clinches.
Holden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smugg lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smugg has Holden pressed against the cage.
Smugg lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Smugg has had enough of the clinch but Holden keeps him there for the moment.
Smugg prevents Holden from breaking the clinch.

Smugg breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smugg moves into range and clinches up with Holden.
Smugg misses with a punch to the body.

Holden breaks the clinch.

Smugg gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smugg has had enough of the clinch but Holden keeps him there for the moment.
Holden jumps guard but Smugg turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Smugg swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holden has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Smugg after a bit of a struggle.
Smugg misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smugg stalling in the clinch but Holden improves position.
Holden looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Smugg prevents Holden from breaking the clinch.
Smugg is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smugg lands a body shot in the clinch.
Smugg looking to slow down the pace here.
Holden prevents a body shot from Smugg.
Holden prevents Smugg from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Holden is trying to break the clinch but Smugg has him pressed against the cage.
Holden wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smugg has him pressed against the cage.
Smugg swings wildly with an uppercut but Holden uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smugg throws a punch but it's blocked by Holden.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Smugg escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smugg moves into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smugg is working Holden over against the cage.
Smugg doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Silas Holden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Smugg is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Holden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Smugg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smugg 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Smugg!