PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Preston Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Smythe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Preston Barksdale has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barksdale
vs
Smythe

187 cm
23
191 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

167 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Team S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Preston Barksdale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sammy Smythe!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, David Schapiro and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smythe fails with the takedown.

Smythe feints and as Barksdale raises his hands in defense, Smythe changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smythe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smythe looking to sit in guard and control but Barksdale gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smythe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smythe keeping full guard, as Barksdale tries to pass.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Smythe has eaten all the pies!
Smythe is pulling down on Barksdale's head to control his posture.
Barksdale in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smythe is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smythe controls Barksdale momentarily but Barksdale frees himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A cross from Barksdale lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smythe shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smythe was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Smythe can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barksdale is looking to escape.
Smythe thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Barksdale is squirming around, avoiding Smythe's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barksdale is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barksdale wants to control but Smythe is having none of it.
Barksdale is squirming around, avoiding Smythe's attempts to control the action.
A nice elbow there by Smythe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smythe working for a guillotine from mount but Barksdale is in no mood to give up.
Poor strikes thrown by Smythe there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Smythe trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Barksdale is trying desperately to improve position.
Smythe looking to control but Barksdale is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Barksdale is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smythe working the ground and pound effectively.
Barksdale working to try and regain half guard.
BOOM! Smythe connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Barksdale is looking to get to half guard.
Barksdale is breathing heavily.
Smythe thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Smythe throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Barksdale is desperately trying to improve his position but Smythe has a good base and remains in mount.
Barksdale is squirming around, avoiding Smythe's attempts to control the action.
Smythe controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smythe lands a big shot there that rocks Barksdale but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Barksdale in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Smythe has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Barksdale's face.
Smythe prevents Barksdale from getting the reversal.
Smythe tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Barksdale tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smythe connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Smythe punishing his opponent with strikes.
A nice elbow there by Smythe.
Smythe pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Smythe breaks from Barksdale's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammy Smythe dominated that round.
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.

Barksdale fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barksdale tries for a takedown but Smythe circles away easily

and Smythe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smythe.

Barksdale escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smythe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smythe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smythe throwing strikes from guard but Barksdale blocks nicely.
Smythe trying to control but Barksdale is working from the bottom.
Smythe connects with a couple of short punches.
Smythe trying to control but Barksdale is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smythe throwing strikes from guard but Barksdale blocks nicely.
Smythe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barksdale swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Barksdale misses with a two punch combination.

Smythe drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smythe thows a big elbow that misses.
Smythe trying to control the position from guard on top but Barksdale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smythe slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Barksdale keeping full guard, as Smythe tries to pass.

Barksdale escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smythe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Barksdale throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smythe landing with the ground and pound.
Smythe thows a big elbow that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Smythe shoots in and bounces Barksdale off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Barksdale is trying to keep Smythe in close.
Smythe trying to control but Barksdale is working from the bottom.
Smythe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barksdale keeping full guard, as Smythe tries to pass.
Smythe stays in close to Barksdale's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smythe's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Smythe pushing down on Barksdale's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Smythe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barksdale keeps working.
Smythe wants to pass the guard but Barksdale is defending well.
Barksdale moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smythe trying to control the position from guard on top but Barksdale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barksdale trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smythe is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Despite being in the dominant position, Sammy Smythe just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smythe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Barksdale cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barksdale throws a nice looking combination but Smythe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barksdale looks to score with a jab to the body but Smythe is just out of range.
Barksdale wants to clinch

and Smythe counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barksdale's guard now.
Smythe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smythe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smythe stopping the sweep attempt from Barksdale.
Barksdale trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammy Smythe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Smythe misses with a wild body shot.
Barksdale with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smythe counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Smythe slows the pace down in half guard.
Smythe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smythe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barksdale's head.
Barksdale avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smythe.
Barksdale tries to get to full guard but Smythe has control of the leg.
Sammy Smythe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barksdale has hold of Smythe's hands but Smythe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smythe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smythe takes a swing at Barksdale's ribcage but misses.
Barksdale stuffs the takedown attempt from Smythe. Smythe gets slowly back to his feet.
Smythe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Preston Barksdale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smythe throws a lazy right hand but Barksdale sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smythe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Preston Barksdale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sammy Smythe.
Barksdale tries to clinch up

and Smythe counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barksdale won't be happy with that.
Smythe trying to control the position but Barksdale is working away.
Barksdale is trying to improve his position.
Smythe is chipping away with strikes.
The ground and pound from Smythe seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Smythe politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Smythe prefers to stall for the moment though.
Smythe wants to control but Barksdale is keeping him busy.
Smythe working the head and body with strikes.
Barksdale prevents Smythe from moving into mount.
Smythe scores with punches from side control.
Smythe trying to control the action but Barksdale is working from the bottom.
Barksdale is being controlled here.
The ground and pound from Smythe seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Smythe trying to control the position but Barksdale is working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Barksdale closes the distance looking to clinch

and Smythe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smythe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smythe seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Smythe trying to control but Barksdale is working from the bottom.
Smythe slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Smythe content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Smythe working the ground and pound.
Barksdale tries to buck Smythe off but Smythe is having none of it.
Barksdale is not content to let Smythe control the position.
Smythe slows the pace down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smythe trying to control the position but Barksdale is working away.

Despite being in the dominant position, Sammy Smythe just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barksdale lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Barksdale wants to clinch

and Smythe counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barksdale won't be happy with that.
Preston Barksdale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smythe misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sammy Smythe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smythe 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sammy Smythe!