PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ben Almond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Almond
vs
Smith

186 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
19
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Almond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Smith!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Almond is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith tries to move to mount but Almond blocks the move with his legs.

Smith stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Almond shoots and misses

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
Smith working away.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Almond is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Almond struggling a bit here.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Almond is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almond is trying to improve his position.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Almond is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Smith is controlling him well.
Smith tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Almond, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Almond against the cage but Almond circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smith looks gassed!

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.
Almond misses with a takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Smith stops Almond from standing up.
Almond is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Almond looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Almond's guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Almond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Almond is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almond is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Almond. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Almond defends it well.
Almond moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Smith fails with the takedown

and Almond counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith working a defensive guard but Almond manages to pass into side control anyway.
Almond controlling from side mount.
Almond working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Almond misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smith fails with the takedown

and Almond counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
Almond postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Smith looking to control.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Almond from controlling successfully.

Smith is working an open guard so Almond takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Almond tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almond advances position into side control!
Smith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Almond working the ground and pound.
Almond scoring with punches and elbows.
Almond controls the position.
Almond wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.

Almond stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Almond is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Almond circles away and we're back to standing.
Ben Almond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Smith.
Smith fails with the takedown
and Almond counters with a right hand to the body.

Almond rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Almond has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Almond shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Smith prevents Almond from breaking the clinch.

Almond breaks from the clinch.
Almond doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Almond, up you get!

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Smith takes a little break here. Almond wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Smith stands up and beckons Almond to his feet.

Almond has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Almond is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Almond tightens his grip and picks Smith up, before dumping him to the ground. Smith manages to land in guard.
Almond has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Smith working for a triangle but Almond defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Almond wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith keeping full guard, as Almond tries to pass.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Almond's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almond trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Almond dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.

Smith stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Almond has his takedown stuffed

and Smith counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Almond!
Almond is looking to get to half guard.
Almond is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith avoids the attempt from Almond to control.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Almond is looking to escape.
Almond tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Smith stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's two 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.
Almond tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Almond.
Almond scores with a kick to the midsection.

Almond gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Almond shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Almond throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Almond is trying to keep Smith in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith pushing down on Almond's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Almond tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Almond is trying to stand back up but Smith is controlling him
John Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith stalling away here and it's allowed Almond to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Almond working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Almond is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smith tries to roll over but Almond keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Almond passes into side control, despite Smith's attempt to control the position.
Almond cracks Smith with a big elbow.
Smith is trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Smith!