PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arthur King (ranked 1367 p4p, 1287 weight class) and Mike Smeshomedov (ranked 164 p4p, 157 weight class). Arthur King has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

King
vs
Smeshomedov

180 cm
26
190
14 - 11 - 1

180 cm
24
192
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Fast

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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 14 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Arthur King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Smeshomedov!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King misses with a left hand

and Smeshomedov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Smeshomedov is looking for a kimura here.
King's coaches at Triumph Over Fear have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Smeshomedov wants to control but King is keeping him busy.
King is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smeshomedov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed King's head.
Smeshomedov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smeshomedov connects with a nice short shot to King's temple.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Smeshomedov working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
King wants to sweep but Smeshomedov has passed to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
King is looking for a sweep.
King manages to work his way to half guard, despite Smeshomedov's best efforts.
Smeshomedov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
King is trying to control but can't.
King is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
King blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smeshomedov.
King slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smeshomedov distracts King with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Smeshomedov lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King trying to keep a closed guard but Smeshomedov is proving a slippery customer.
King trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Smeshomedov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Smeshomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King controlling the position.
King bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smeshomedov's guard.

Smeshomedov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smeshomedov looking to hit a scissor sweep but King is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King trying to control but Smeshomedov is working from the bottom.

King drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and King jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
King makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
King trying to control but Smeshomedov is working from the bottom.
Smeshomedov 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.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smeshomedov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Smeshomedov throwing strikes from guard but King blocks nicely.
Smeshomedov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

King is looking for a triangle but Smeshomedov pushes his legs off easily.
King is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smeshomedov connects with a couple of short punches.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as King holds on and takes a little breather.
Smeshomedov is in close to King's body, working some short punches and elbows.
King trying to control the position.
Smeshomedov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
King keeping full guard, as Smeshomedov tries to pass.
King looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smeshomedov is one step ahead there.
Smeshomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Smeshomedov preventing the sweep.
King is working hard here to advance position.
Smeshomedov trying to control but King is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Smeshomedov with a poor takedown

and King decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smeshomedov's guard.
Smeshomedov 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.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Smeshomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King connects with a couple of short punches.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Smeshomedov has momentary wrist control but King slips an elbow through the middle.
Smeshomedov seems keen to control King's posture.
Smeshomedov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smeshomedov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from King.
King wants to control from the top but Smeshomedov keeps moving.
King makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smeshomedov is controlling King's posture.
King throws a big elbow that misses.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smeshomedov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as King controls the pace.
King preventing the sweep.
King with a flurry of punches that miss.

Smeshomedov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smeshomedov looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A cross from Smeshomedov lands.
King lands with a straight right. Smeshomedov didn't see that one coming.
Smeshomedov drops his hands momentarily and King takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
King tests Smeshomedov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
King takes a swing at Smeshomedov's ribcage but misses.
Smeshomedov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but King paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smeshomedov fails with an attempt to clinch.
King half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
King defending well as Smeshomedov loads up on a big left hand.
King tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Smeshomedov defends well and King ends up having to push Smeshomedov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Smeshomedov is pressed up against the cage. King has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smeshomedov down to the mat. Smeshomedov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smeshomedov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smeshomedov throws a right and a left that King avoids nicely.

King shoots in and bounces Smeshomedov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Smeshomedov can't keep his opponent in guard - King advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smeshomedov trying to hold on to King's head to control him but King postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Smeshomedov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smeshomedov wants to clinch up but King keeps it at a distance.
King attempts a counter takedown but Smeshomedov avoids it well and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smeshomedov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
King appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
King fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Smeshomedov misses with an uppercut

and King counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
King working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Smeshomedov has hold of King's hands but King slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smeshomedov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but King scores with a couple of nice shots.

Smeshomedov is rocked!
King lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Smeshomedov quite badly. Smeshomedov pulls King in close trying to recover. King postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Smeshomedov on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Smeshomedov doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Arthur King!
A relieved looking Arthur King thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.