PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Smith (ranked 278 p4p, 252 weight class) and Jesse Custer (ranked 40 p4p, 36 weight class). Smith comes into the arena with IS THIS LOVE blaring out of the sound system. Custer comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Zebrahead - Falling Apart kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Smith
vs
Custer

181 cm
35
187
24 - 9 - 1

180 cm
29
180
17 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
HELLBENT

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 24 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenny Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesse Custer!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith looks to throw a body kick
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Custer misses with a kick to the body.
Smith checks a low kick from Custer.
Jesse Custer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Custer tries to land a leg kick but Smith saw it coming and moves away.
A solid body kick from Smith.
Custer with a nice calf kick.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Custer.
Custer is stalling here.
Custer tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Custer is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Custer presses Smith against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Custer's elbow.
Smith tries to throw a body punch but Custer avoids it by throwing Smith back against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Custer.
Custer has a couple of punches blocked by Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Custer.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.
Custer managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Custer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smith pushes Custer back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith blocking some punches.
Custer pushes Smith back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Custer will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Smith up against the cage.
Custer prevents a body shot from Smith.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smith as Custer tries to tie him up.
Custer controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Custer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Custer throws a leg kick
and Smith counters with a nice body shot.
Custer chopping away at his opponent's legs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Custer scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Smith ducks right into an uppercut from Custer.
Custer lands with a thumping leg kick.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Smith misses with a body kick.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Custer circles away.
Custer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Crunch! Smith slams his shin into Custer's torso.
Custer thumps Smith with a low kick.
Smith checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nice defenses there by Smith.
A telegraphed right hand from Custer misses the target.
Smith throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Custer throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Custer.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Smith, as that shot connected.
Custer misses with a right hand
and Smith makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Custer turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a jab.
Smith throws a quick inside leg kick.
Custer tried to score with a low kick but Smith checks it.
Custer closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
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!
Smith lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Smith moves away from the strike by Custer.
Smith thinks about countering with a body kick.
Smith blocks a leg kick.
Custer connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Custer takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Smith looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Custer avoids the head kick by Smith.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jesse Custer will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Good exchange - Smith coming out on top.
Custer shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
It looked like Smith was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Smith keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Custer misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Smith throws a quick counter kick to the body but Custer avoids it.
Custer misses with a hook.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!
Custer misses with a looping left.
Smith throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Custer is looking to score with low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Custer is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.
Kenny Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith blocks a low kick nicely.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Custer in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Custer throws a leg kick which misses Smith's front leg but catches the back leg as Smith tries to avoid it.
Custer throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Custer.
Custer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Smith.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Custer.
Custer flicks out a counter leg kick but Smith steps away.
Custer tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Custer tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A solid leg kick lands there for Custer.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Smith checks a leg kick.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Custer.
Custer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith checks a low kick from Custer.
Smith swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Custer. That snapped Smith's head back.
A jab from Custer misses.
Custer ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Custer feints a counter leg kick.
Custer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Custer loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
The crowd cheers as Smith lands an impressive looking overhand right. Custer doesn't seem phased though.
Custer finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Smith defending well as Custer loads up on a big left hand.
Custer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith tries to clinch but Custer moves out of range.
Despite the aggression on Custer's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Custer blocks the body kick.
Smith throws a push kick but Custer slaps the foot to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Custer moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Custer.
A body shot lands from Smith.
Custer blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Custer lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Smith putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Custer in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Custer misses with a punch to the body.
Custer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Custer blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Custer tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Custer back against the cage.
Custer tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Custer trying to stall but Smith improves his position.
Custer seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Smith lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Smith lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Custer's elbow.
Smith doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Custer breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Custer.
Custer avoids a kick to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Custer! But no joy.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Custer throws a right hand that misses
enabling Smith to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A punch lands to the side of Custer 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Custer jabbing away but nothing is landing.
As Custer backs away, Smith returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Custer throws a leg kick
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Custer rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Custer gets tackled into the cage by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.
Custer is trying to maintain a safe position but Smith gets an underhook and turns Custer into the cage.
Smith is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Custer lands a left hand.
Custer lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith lands a body punch in the clinch.
Smith lands a knee to the body.
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 Kenny Smith will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Custer misses with a looping right.
An attempted straight right counter from Smith misses the target.
Smith looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Custer keeps Smith at a distance using the push kick.
Custer misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Smith misses with a left hand
and Custer counters with a stiff right hand.
Custer throws a leg kick
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Custer with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A good leg kick by Smith.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Custer circles away.
Custer has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Smith.
A big right from Smith misses.
Smith defending well as Custer loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith connects with a body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Smith checks a leg kick.
Custer throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Custer throws an overhand right that lands on Smith's shoulder, as Smith tries to avoid the shot.
Smith throws a quick counter kick to the body but Custer avoids it.
Smith throws a head kick but Custer moves out of range.
Custer throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Custer misses with a looping left.
Custer misses with a hook.
Custer throws a body shot but no joy.
Custer looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Custer takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Custer throws a low kick, looking for Smith's leg but Smith calmly moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Custer.
Smith looks for the body kick but Custer saw that one coming.
Custer attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Custer throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Custer chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smith can pounce on him.
Smith takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith blocks a head kick by Custer.
Smith misses with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Custer misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Smith was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Custer misses with a right hand
and Custer takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A low kick lands for Custer.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Smith as he connects with a hook.
Custer throws a front kick aimed at Smith's knee but Smith avoids it well.
Custer loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Smith bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Custer's head.
A good leg kick by Custer.
Smith misses with a body kick.
Smith scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Custer.
Smith checks a low kick from Custer.
Custer looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.
Custer misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Smith lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Custer has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Custer and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Custer looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Custer with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Custer takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Smith throws a leg kick which misses Custer's front leg but catches the back leg as Custer tries to avoid it.
Smith has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Custer finds it's way round the side to connect with Smith's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Custer moves away.
Custer looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smith lands a nice looking body kick.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Custer moves away.
Custer looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.

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 Kenny Smith.
Well Smith 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kenny Smith!
A very excited looking Kenny 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.