PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diamond Jones (ranked 3151 p4p, 341 weight class) and Kyle Smith (ranked 5301 p4p, 448 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.

Jones
vs
Smith

199 cm
24
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Diamond Jones !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kyle Smith!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Smith counters with a right hand to the body.
Jones throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jones off to one side.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Smith stuffs the takedown.
Smith is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Smith closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Jones quickly recovers to half guard.
Jones is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Smith in particular looking to stall.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Jones is trying to control but can't.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith controlling the action here.
Jones is looking to escape.
Jones is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Smith wants to advance to full mount but Jones doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith 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.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jones has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
Jones tries to strike from the bottom.
Smith wants to stand but Jones has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Jones instigates a clinch.
Smith stalling against the cage.

Smith manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Jones prevents a takedown attempt there.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jones shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diamond Jones . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jones looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Smith has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Jones is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Smith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jones manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

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

Jones clinches.
Jones tries to pull guard but Smith forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jones stalling the fight.

Jones has hold of one of Smith's legs. Smith is fighting the takedown attempt but Jones gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Smith pushes Jones off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Jones throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Smith tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Jones is in Smith's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Smith dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Danga de danga de dang - Jones scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Kyle Smith has been cut.
Jones wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith misses with a double jab

and Jones counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jones .
Jones is trying to force a seperation but Smith has the dominant position.
Jones tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.
Jones throws a knee to the head but misses.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smith to keep the fight standing.
Jones is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to take this one to the mat.
Smith lands a left hand that snaps the head of Jones backwards.
Smith is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Smith taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Smith has clasped his hands together around Jones 's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Jones manages to get back to half guard.
Jones trying to control but Smith postures up.
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.

Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith stops Jones from getting back to his feet.
Jones wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jones is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smith's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smith's back!
Smith can't escape the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones tries to keep control of the position but Smith is staying busy.
Smith trying to get back to his feet but Jones is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is trying to stick to Smith's back but Smith is turning into Jones . He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Jones 's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Smith.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Jones kicks Smith off and gets to his feet.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diamond Jones . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Jones 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Jones gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smith to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Jones wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith prevents Jones from getting back to his feet.
Smith trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Jones manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Jones will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Jones is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Smith manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Diamond Jones will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kyle Smith's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jones shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Jones keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Jones gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Jones keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.
Jones 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.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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

Jones looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Smith!

Jones decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Jones trying to control here.
Still in half guard, Smith seems content to control.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Smith is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to hold on to Smith's head to control him but Smith postures up.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Smith wants to stand up but Jones has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Jones is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jones is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jones avoid being mounted?

Smith is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Jones has managed to free his arm - good work.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jones pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.

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.
Jones wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Well, if Smith is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Jones tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jones goes for a takedown in the clinch but Smith prevents it.
Smith tries to pull guard but Jones holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

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