PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leo Knight (ranked 25666 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Smith (ranked 25172 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Knight
vs
Smith

183 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

225 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leo Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Smith!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Knight gets a double leg takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Knight could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Knight throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith pulls Knight in close to prevent any damage.
Knight controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Knight throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Knight has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knight is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Knight would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Knight stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Knight throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight sitting in guard here, content to control.
Knight with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Knight wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Smith looking for a guillotine here but Knight defends easily.
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Knight stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Smith scores with a takedown into Knight's guard.

Knight working for submissions but it's allowed Smith to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to take a breather but Knight is having none of it.
Smith throws a strike but Knight avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Smith wants to stand but Knight is controlling his posture from full guard.
Knight might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Smith trying to control but Knight is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knight throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Knight seems keen to control Smith's posture.

Knight is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Knight's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Knight changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Knight manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Knight is breathing heavily.

Knight feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Knight changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith striking off his back, scoring a few points.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knight wants to stand and escape but instead Smith has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Smith trying to control but Knight is working from the bottom.
Knight knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Knight haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Smith will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Knight moves out of range of the body kick from Smith.
Smith throws a head kick but Knight moves out of range.

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Knight wants the takedown. Smith is fighting it off but Knight persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Smith's guard against the cage.

Smith working for a triangle but Knight defends it easily.
Knight wanted to stand there but Smith had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knight is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Knight postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Knight from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Leo Knight overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith wants to hit a switch here but Knight passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Smith there!
Knight working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Knight trying to control but Smith is having none of it.
Smith is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Knight controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working to get back to half guard.
Knight unloading with bombs!
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Knight tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Knight content just to control the position here.
Knight prevents Smith from getting the reversal.
Knight landing punches.
Smith slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Knight is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.
Knight is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Smith wants to improve his position but Knight is controlling well.
Knight performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Knight tries to stand and escape but Smith is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.
Smith is still trying to improve position.
Smith is trying to stand back up but Knight is controlling him
Knight working the head and body with strikes.
Knight seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Knight with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Knight 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. This is the final round!

Knight shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Smith changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Knight looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Knight throws Smith to one side and escapes!

Knight gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smith to score an easy takedown into full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith trying to control but Knight is working from the bottom.
Smith postures up.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Knight works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knight has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Knight wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Knight is proving hard to escape from.
Smith looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Knight drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Knight throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
Smith wants to stand up but Knight is controlling him.
Smith is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Smith has his foot on Knight's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knight works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Knight is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Knight got a little sloppy there for a moment and Smith has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Knight has managed to get both his arms back between Smith's legs - danger averted.
Knight controlling from the top position.

Knight is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Knight slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Knight.

Knight lands a takedown into guard.
Knight is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Knight prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith pulls Knight in close to prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Knight showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Knight has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Knight!