PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Arnold (ranked 25086 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Smith (ranked 6008 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.

Arnold
vs
Smith

152 cm
19
151 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matthew Arnold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jason Smith!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Columbo Gatti and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Arnold lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Arnold tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Arnold to the ground. Arnold escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Arnold appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Smith looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Arnold is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arnold looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Arnold trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Arnold swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arnold really is a fat lump.
Arnold keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Arnold bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smith's guard.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.

Arnold stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Arnold sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Arnold counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Matthew Arnold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Smith.
Arnold tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith wants to counter with a clinch but Arnold pushes him away.
Arnold defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.

Arnold gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Arnold holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Arnold breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith throws a head kick that misses

and Arnold counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Arnold is looking to stand up but Smith won't let him.
Arnold with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smith controls Arnold momentarily but Arnold frees himself.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Arnold gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Arnold throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arnold 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 looking to control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arnold would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arnold trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Smith throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Arnold.

Arnold drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.

Smith has Arnold pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Smith pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Arnold tumbling to the mat - Smith dives into Arnold's guard.
Arnold bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.

Arnold postures up and lands a big shot to Smith's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Arnold defends well.
Arnold postures up.

Smith looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Arnold. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith looking to control.
Arnold throws a big elbow that misses.
Arnold distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Arnold connects with a couple of short punches.

Arnold decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!
Smith shoots and misses
and Arnold counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Arnold pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Smith has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Arnold is trying to keep an underhook but Smith manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Arnold gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Arnold dominated that round.
That's time! Arnold's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Arnold.
Arnold'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'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 manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Arnold slowing the pace effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Arnold has Smith pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Arnold pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Smith tumbling to the mat - Arnold dives into Smith's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith controls Arnold momentarily but Arnold frees himself.
Arnold working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith is pulling down on Arnold's head to control his posture.
Arnold scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Arnold wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Smith trying to control the position.
Arnold distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Arnold trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith seems keen to control Arnold's posture.

That's two 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.
Arnold stands up over Smith, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Arnold working some strikes from top position.
Smith pulls Arnold in close to prevent any damage.

Arnold stands up from Smith's guard - Arnold perhaps looking for a knockout.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Arnold counters with a nice body shot.
Smith shoots in but Arnold avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Arnold lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Matthew Arnold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Smith.
Smith looks to clinch
and Arnold counters with a left to the body.
Arnold tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arnold circles away from the clinch attempt

and Arnold counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Smith scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
As Smith tries to get set, Arnold tries to push him back and clinch up but Smith manages to avoid the attempt.
Arnold tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Matthew Arnold is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Arnold holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Arnold taking a breather.
Smith stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arnold manages to break the clinch.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Arnold is looking to counter the offense by Smith and move into the clinch.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Arnold pushes him off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith shoots for a takedown but Arnold saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith lands a jab-cross combination.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith throws a head kick but Arnold moves out of range.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Arnold dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Arnold gets a clinch.

Arnold has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Smith regains guard immediately.

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

Arnold decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Arnold avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Arnold throwing a counter right hand but Smith manages to avoid it.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Arnold's waist but Arnold gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arnold wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Arnold closes the distance and clinches.

Arnold has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Smith clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arnold is punishing Smith with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Arnold is looking to control Smith but Smith is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Arnold is riding his opponent, not letting Smith buck him off.
Arnold is punishing Smith with strikes - can he finish him?!
Arnold is punishing Smith with strikes - can he finish him?!
Arnold is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Smith wants to escape the position.
Arnold loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Smith hold on?
Smith wants to control his opponent's hands but Arnold gets his hands free.
Smith is taking damage to the body and head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith trying to control but not successfully.
Smith is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arnold has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Arnold is punishing Smith with strikes - can he finish him?!
Arnold punches Smith on the ear.

Smith is rocked!
Smith trying to control but not successfully.
Matthew Arnold overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee is taking a good look at Smith as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Arnold!
Smith is still in real trouble! Can Arnold finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Arnold. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Smith is covering up but some of the strikes from Arnold are getting through and doing damage.
Smith covers up after that shot from Arnold.
Arnold keeps control of the position as Smith tries to break free.
Can Smith hold on?! Arnold is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Smith is covering up but some of the strikes from Arnold are getting through and doing damage.
Arnold lands shots to the head and Smith turtles up! The ref has seen enough and stops the fight! This one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Matthew Arnold!