PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Smith (ranked 4823 p4p, 6328 weight class) and Facian Ho (ranked 527 p4p, 581 weight class). Facian Ho has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Ho

180 cm
24
175
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
20
180
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Facian Ho!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Joseph Jones and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ho to the ground. Smith is now in Ho's guard.
Smith stands and throws Ho's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ho manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Smith is controlling Ho's trapped leg to prevent Ho from advancing to side control.
Smith wants to improve his position but Ho is controlling well.

Smith has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Ho is on him like a limpet, forcing Smith back against the cage.
Ho looking for a takedown.

Smith wants the takedown. Ho is fighting it off but Smith persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ho's guard against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ho preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Ho blocks nicely.
Ho working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Ho is retaining full guard.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Ho has wrist control.
Smith postures up in Ho's guard and throws a big left but Ho blocks it.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Ho has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ho is keeping the position for now.

That's two 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.

Ho looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ho trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ho working a defensive guard here.
Ho might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smith haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Ho working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith prevents Ho from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith cracks Ho with a solid left hand.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ho on the ground.
Ho wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith advances position into side control!
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Ho takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Smith lands an elbow.
Ho is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
You can see the frustration on Ho's face as Smith controls the position.
Smith working the head with strikes.

It looks like Facian Ho has been cut.
Smith lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to move into full mount but can't pass Ho's legs.
Smith lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ho prevents Smith from improving position.
Smith landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Smith is putting a hurting on Ho here, landing some big shots from side control.

Ho is rocked!
Smith wants to control but Ho is keeping him busy.
Smith controls the position.
Smith scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ho to see if he's OK.
Smith is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Ho's shoulder. That is not cool.
Smith tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Facian Ho's cut.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Ho sneaks out the side door and pushes Smith away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Ho looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Ho persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Ho tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith moves into the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Smith works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Ho has his feet on Smith's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.

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

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ho's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith won't allow Ho to sweep him here.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.
Ho trying to control the position.
Ho being controlled here, momentarily.
Matt Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ho is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ho can do to turn this around?
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Smith is working Ho over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Ho is still in real trouble! Can Smith finish him?

That has opened up Facian Ho's cut even more.
Smith cracks Ho with a solid left hand.

Facian Ho's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Facian Ho's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Matt Smith!
A very excited looking Matt Smith made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.