PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenneth Maxwell (ranked 25408 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Smith (ranked 5753 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maxwell
vs
Smith

167 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kenneth Maxwell!
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, John Smith!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Jorge Garcia and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith scores with a takedown into Maxwell's guard.
Maxwell keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Maxwell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maxwell wants to control the position but Smith says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maxwell keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maxwell tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith is looking to stall here but Maxwell recovers full guard.

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maxwell looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maxwell looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maxwell!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.

Maxwell tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Maxwell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smith, who protects the arm well.

Maxwell tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Maxwell has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Maxwell working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Maxwell controlling the position from side mount.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maxwell wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Smith pushes Maxwell away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Maxwell gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Maxwell gets to mount! Smith was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is bucking up trying to escape but Maxwell cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Maxwell controlling from mount.
Maxwell lands a couple of good shots and Smith has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Maxwell working for a choke but Smith is defending well.
Smith tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Maxwell is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Smith to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Smith shrugs it off.
Maxwell landing strikes from the mount.
Smith is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith holds on to Maxwell as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
Maxwell raining down hammerfists from mount.
Smith tries to hold on but Maxwell pushes him away.
Maxwell cracks Smith with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Smith tries to hold on but Maxwell postures up.
Maxwell controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maxwell avoids the attempt from Smith to control.

Maxwell jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Smith is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Smith and Maxwell has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenneth Maxwell dominated that 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.

Smith closes the distance but Maxwell moves to the side
enabling Maxwell to counter with a crisp jab.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.

Smith works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Maxwell really is a fat lump.
Maxwell throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith trying to control but Maxwell is working from the bottom.
Maxwell throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Maxwell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Maxwell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maxwell looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith landing some decent shots from guard.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Maxwell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Smith wants to get back to his feet but Maxwell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Maxwell postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maxwell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Maxwell is now in half guard.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maxwell.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Maxwell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith trying to control but Maxwell postures up.
Smith might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Maxwell haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Maxwell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Maxwell is controlling the pace.
Maxwell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to full guard but Maxwell has passed into side control.
Maxwell in side control, throwing shots but Smith defends.

Maxwell is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smith knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Maxwell thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Maxwell is trying to get an arm triangle but Smith is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Smith explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Maxwell seems keen to control Smith's posture.
Maxwell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith trying to move into half guard but instead Maxwell has managed to sweep!

Smith is trying to control the position but Maxwell postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Smith will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Maxwell checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
John Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Maxwell to the ground. Smith is now in Maxwell's guard.
Maxwell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maxwell strikes from his own guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Maxwell looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Smith puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Kenneth Maxwell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maxwell makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Maxwell.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Maxwell has a closed guard, preventing Smith from standing up.
Smith pushes down on Maxwell's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smith is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Smith is stalling here. Maxwell is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Smith seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Maxwell has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Maxwell lands a decent elbow from side control.
Maxwell trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has one of Maxwell's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Maxwell is putting a hurting on Smith here, landing some big shots from side control.
Smith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Maxwell is trying to get an arm triangle but Smith is defending well.

Maxwell is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

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.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.

Maxwell is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Smith.
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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

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