PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bill Newton (ranked 1537 p4p, 204 weight class) and Uriah Small (ranked 1187 p4p, 162 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Newton
vs
Small

184 cm
32
197 lbs
21 - 19 - 3

183 cm
34
200 lbs
21 - 6 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 21 - 19 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bill Newton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Uriah Small!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Newton misses the target.
A little jabbing left from Small on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Newton with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Newton uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Small.
Newton darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Newton looks to score with a jab to the body but Small is just out of range.
Newton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Small.
Newton attempts a counter takedown but Small avoids it well and moves away.
Newton misses with a lunging right hand
and Small counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Newton scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Newton is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Newton is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Small reverses the position - he's now on top in Newton's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Small won't allow Newton to sweep him here.
Small trying to stand up but can't free himself from Newton's guard.

Newton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Small doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Small manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Newton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Small defends it easily.

Newton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Small is aware though and is defending well.

Small avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Newton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Small defends it easily.

Newton working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Small has passed into half guard!
Newton is looking to control Small's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Newton avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Newton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Small pulls his head out easily.
Newton is looking for a sweep. Small is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Newton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Small wants to stand up but Newton has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Newton gets full guard.

Small stands and steps away. Newton gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Newton checks a leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Newton.
Small throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Newton feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Small misses

and Newton counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Newton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Small is keeping the position for now.
Newton prevents Small from getting back to his feet.

Newton drops back looking for a leg! Small is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Small manages to kick Newton off! Newton jumps back into Small's guard.
Newton pushes down on Small's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Newton is working for a submission of some sort.
Small looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Newton seems to be looking for submissions.

Newton is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Small doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Newton.

Newton is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Newton dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Newton lands with a right hand.
Newton lands with a shot to the body.

Small rushes Newton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Small swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Newton pushes Small back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Newton lands a body punch in the clinch.
Small throws a head punch that misses.
Small tries to throw a body punch but Newton avoids it by throwing Small back against the cage.
Newton blocks a body shot from Small.
Newton struggles to land a body shot inside as Small controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newton goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Newton fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Newton throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Smalls head.
A right handed body shot lands from Newton.
Small tries to work over Newton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Small working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Small.
Newton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Newton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Small can do to turn this around?
Newton tries to work over Small's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Newton doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Small misses with a short punch on the inside.
Newton lands with a left to the head.
Small tries to throw a body punch but Newton avoids it by throwing Small back against the cage.
Small misses with some punches.
A short uppercut from Newton.
Small misses with a punch on the inside.
Newton misses with a punch to the body.
Newton lands a body punch in the clinch.
Newton can't find room to land a body shot as Small controls the action.
Small working aggressively here.
Newton blocking some punches.
Newton prevents a body shot from Small.
Newton swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Small misses with some punches.

Small is fighting off a takedown attempt but Newton is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Small to the mat. Small regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Newton is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Small is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Small has escaped and now he's on top!

Small must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Newton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Small wants to get up but he can't break Newton's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Newton throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Small escapes and throws Newton's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Newton tries to improve position but can't.
Bill Newton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Small stands up and beckons Newton to his feet.
Nice shot by Newton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Small.
Small takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Small throws a hook to the side of Newton's head but Newton sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Newton connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Small momentarily.
Small looks to score with a jab to the body but Newton is just out of range.
Newton throws a body shot but no joy.
Uriah Small is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Small missing with a left hand there. Newton was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Newton jabs Small to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Small throws a lazy right hand but Newton sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Small steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Newton.

Newton changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Small looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Newton tries for a kimura but Small is defending well.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Newton tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Small is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Newton is controlling him well.

Newton goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Small rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Newton's guard! Nice work there by Small!
Newton wants to sweep here but Small controlling him for the moment.

Newton looking for subs off his back but Small has passed one foot through into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Newton dominated that second round.
That's time! Newton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Newton misses with a jab to the body
and Small counters with a nice uppercut.
Small has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Newton finds it's way round the side to connect with Small's head.
Newton lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Newton looks for a takedown but Small sprawls well.
Small was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Small slips under a jab from Newton.
Small throws a leg kick

and Newton counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Small has his feet on Newton's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Newton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Newton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Small swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Newton counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Newton drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Small manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Newton has Small in his guard.

Small has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Newton is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Newton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Small stopping the sweep attempt from Newton.
Newton is looking to sweep but instead, Small has passed into half guard.
Newton trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Small manages to pass to mount!
Newton is trying to reverse the position but instead Small has taken his back - oops!
Uriah Small has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton is keeping busy.
I really don't envy Newton right now.
Newton wants to control his opponent's hands but Small gets his hands free.
Newton breaks Small's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Small is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Newton is controlling him.
Newton wants to pass the guard but Small is keeping the position.
Small really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Newton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Newton postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Small is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Newton, into his guard.

Small wants to stand but Newton has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Small's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Newton stands and throws Small's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Newton tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Newton has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Small is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Newton is controlling him well.

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

Newton tries for a kimura but Small is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Newton tries for a kimura but Small is defending well.

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

Newton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bill Newton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Newton tries for a kimura but Small is defending well.
Newton wants to control but Small is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bill Newton.
Well Newton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill Newton!