PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Smith (ranked 3153 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lorenzo Tala (ranked 4636 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith's entrance music is Bleached - Hard to Kill. A fine choice. 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.

Smith
vs
Tala

170 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ben Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lorenzo Tala!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tala tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith lands a shot to the body.
Smith presses Tala against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tala looking for a takedown.
Smith displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tala up against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Smith lands a nice shot that snaps Tala's head back.
Tala with a poor takedown
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tala fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Ben Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lorenzo Tala.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tala tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tala has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Smith after a bit of a struggle.
Smith makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Smith stalls.
Still in the clinch, Smith scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tala is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tala looks winded!

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Ben Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tala is trying to pull guard but Smith turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Smith softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Smith moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tala can't get the takedown.
Smith lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Smith has Tala pushed against the cage.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Smith finds it's way through Tala's defenses.
Smith moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Smith closes the distance and pushes Tala back into the cage.
Smith lands with a left to the head.
Smith definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Smith lands with a right to the head.
Smith scores with a shot to the side of Tala's head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smith.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith lands a right hook to the body.
Smith scores with a sloppy right hand. Tala should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tala misses the shot to the body.
Tala needs to keep his hands up - Smith had a free shot at his head there.
It's a brutal combination of punches from Smith! Tala is backing up but he can't get away as Smith lands with one final shot to the jaw that drops Tala and ends the fight. Great knockout.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Ben Smith!
Ben Smith was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.