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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Luke Smith (ranked 939 p4p, 705 weight class) and Flynn Knightley (ranked 86 p4p, 62 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!
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| 171 cm
25
135
13 - 7 - 0 |
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170 cm
26
135
10 - 7 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luke Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Flynn Knightley!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurstr�m, Anni Minnem�ki and Matti Vanhoillinen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knightley moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Knightley misses with an uppercut.
Knightley goes for a double leg but Smith avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Smith continues to drive forward.
Knightley tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've been told by Smith's head coaches at Ze Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Knightley.
A momentary lapse in concentration from Smith enables Knightley to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smith manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Knightley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Knightley with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knightley wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith has Knightley pulled in close to control his posture.
Knightley pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Knightley is controlling the pace.
Knightley thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Knightley.
Knightley not landing any meaningful shots this time.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith is not content to let Knightley control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ground and pound from Knightley.
Knightley working the head and body with strikes.
Knightley not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Knightley throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Smith manages to get to full guard.
Knightley has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knightley controlling from the top position.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Knightley moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
That's four 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.
Knightley swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Smith creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Knightley controls his hands.
Smith working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Smith takes a shot to the head.
Knightley working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Knightley tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith blocks an uppercut.
Knightley tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Knightley lands a right hand.
Nice body punch from Smith - that landed with a thud.
Knightley has a couple of punches blocked by Smith.
Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Knightley.
Luke Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Knightley looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Flynn Knightley dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Knightley closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smith to the mat! Smith manages to get full guard.
Knightley throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Knightley trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Knightley looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Flynn Knightley has got the better of the ground game so far.
Knightley is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Our spies down at at Alpha Brasil inform us that Knightley has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knightley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Knightley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Knightley has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Knightley's legs - danger averted.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Knightley is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Knightley thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Knightley is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knightley thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Knightley not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smith has hold of Knightley's hands but Knightley slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Knightley sits in half guard.
Knightley sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Knightley prevents Smith from improving his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knightley works his way into side control.
Knightley working the ground and pound but Smith is defending the strikes.
Knightley wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Knightley.
Knightley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Knightley wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith tests Knightley's chin there with a solid looking shot.
It looks like Flynn Knightley has been cut.
Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.
Knightley looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Smith ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Knightley needs to keep his hands up - Smith had a free shot at his head there.
Knightley gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Smith manages to break the clinch.
Knightley throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
Smith misses with a looping left.
Knightley wants to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knightley shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Knightley bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Knightley looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Knightley drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Flynn Knightley will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Flynn Knightley's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
Knightley slips under a jab.
Luke Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A cross from Knightley lands.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Smith lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Smith swings for the body but Knightley moves out of range.
Smith throws a hook but Knightley blocks it.
Knightley avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Knightley connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Knightley lands a nice shot that snaps Smith's head back.
Knightley changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Knightley manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Knightley saw that one coming.
Knightley tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Knightley closes the distance and clinches.
Knightley misses with a punch to the body.
Knightley can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Knightley tries to clinch up.
Knightley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Knightley off to one side.
Smith throwing a counter right hand but Knightley manages to avoid it.
Luke Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Flynn Knightley.
A big right from Smith misses.
Knightley tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Knightley somewhat.
Knightley on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knightley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Knightley was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knightley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knightley with a poor takedown
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Flynn Knightley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knightley defending well as Smith loads up on a big left hand.
Knightley shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Knightley is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knightley fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Knightley manages to avoid it.
Smith scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Knightley fails with the takedown
and Smith counters with a nice body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knightley fails to land the takedown.
Knightley fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Smith was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Knightley.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Knightley fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Knightley gets a takedown into half guard.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knightley is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.
That's four 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.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Knightley.
Knightley trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Knightley tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Knightley somewhat.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Knightley moved out of range.
Luke Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith stuffs the takedown.
Knightley changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Knightley manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Knightley shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Knightley missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Knightley has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurstr�m scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnem�ki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Flynn Knightley!
Flynn Knightley seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
39% |
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