PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Beta Knox (ranked 1940 p4p, 1926 weight class) and James Smith (ranked 259 p4p, 257 weight class). Knox comes to the cage accompanied by Anthrax | Fight Em Till You Can't. 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.

Knox
vs
Smith

172 cm
43
161
27 - 27 - 0

176 cm
37
164
27 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Grunge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Beta Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Smith!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith slips under a jab from Knox.
Smith takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A left lands for Knox.
Knox lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Smith tries to bum rush Knox with a series of wild strikes but Knox uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Knox ducks down to avoid it.
Nice uppercut lands for Knox. That snapped Smith's head back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
Knox tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Knox.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Smith! But no joy.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
An attempted straight right counter from Knox misses the target.
Knox misses the jab.
Smith avoids the body shot from Knox.
Knox swings away with a body shot that misses
and Smith counters with a right hand to the body.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Knox moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Knox looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox throws a right hand that misses
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Knox throws out the jab.
Smith looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Knox shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Knox has a takedown stuffed.
Smith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Smith dives in and grabs Knox's left leg, looking for a takedown. Knox pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Knox was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Knox throws an off balance right hand
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith slips under a jab from Knox.
Smith throws a counter combo.
Knox has been working on his balance at Alpha Brasil, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Smith.
Smith throws a low kick but Knox moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith jabs Knox right on the nose. Knox blinks but takes it well.
Smith lands with a good body shot.
Knox avoids the body shot from Smith.
Knox ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Knox on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Knox fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Knox scores with a jab.

Smith closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Knox to the mat! Knox manages to get full guard.
Smith works over Knox with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Knox 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knox wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knox working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Knox looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith wants to control from the top but Knox keeps moving.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Knox is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Knox bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.

Knox trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith wants to improve his position but instead Knox has moved into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith trying to get back to full guard but Knox takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Knox working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith working to try and regain half guard.
Smith keeps trying to improve his position.
Knox controlling the pace for now.
Knox avoids the attempt from Smith to control.
Knox throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Smith is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smith takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Smith sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.
Knox seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith wants to improve his position but Knox is controlling well.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Knox sits in half guard.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Knox is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Knox with the ground and pound but Smith uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Knox in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Knox controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Knox from controlling successfully.
Knox controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smith trying to control the position.
Smith 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Smith connects with a looping right hand.
A jab from Knox misses.
Knox waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Smith. That snapped Knox's head back.
A shot to the body from Smith misses
and Knox counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Knox misses with a wild body shot.
Smith fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Knox looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Knox throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Knox ducks right into an uppercut from Smith.
Smith misses with a shot to the body
and Knox counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith throws an overhand right that lands on Knox's shoulder, as Knox tries to avoid the shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Beta Knox will probably get the nod.
That's time! Knox's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Knox's waist but Knox gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
Knox comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Knox throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
Jab by Smith.
Knox throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Knox takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Smith is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Knox's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Smith connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Knox scrambles back to his feet.

It looks like Beta Knox has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith jabs at Knox's body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Knox.

Smith is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Knox's half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox is trying to get back to full guard.
Knox is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Knox avoid being mounted?
Knox is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith throwing shots but Knox is blocking nicely.
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Knox makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Knox.
Smith scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
Smith stands up over Knox, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Knox is rocked!
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Oh Knox is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smith scoring with punches to the head and body.
Knox wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith passes into half guard.
Knox tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Smith looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Smith lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Knox quite badly. Knox pulls Smith in close trying to recover. Smith postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Knox on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Knox doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Smith!
In defeat, Beta Knox stepped up to the mic, saying '"If you haven't lost in this sport, you haven't fought the right guys yet." (Matt Hughes) '.