PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brutus Stokes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Stokes
vs
Smith

188 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

[MMABR] Killer Bee Supplements

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brutus Stokes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve Smith!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Eddie Farnsworth and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stokes moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Smith avoids the head kick by Stokes.
Smith cracks Stokes with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Stokes wants to clinch.
Stokes avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Smith tries to score with a low kick but Stokes moves his leg out of the way.
Stokes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Stokes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith wants to control but Stokes is keeping busy.
Stokes throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stokes trying to advance position but Smith counters by regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stokes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stokes passes Smith's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Smith wants to improve his position but Stokes is controlling well.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Stokes sits in half guard.
Stokes looks to land a strike but Smith avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stokes passes into side control.
Stokes lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokes working away.
Stokes works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Stokes tries for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Smith taking a bit of punishment here - Stokes scoring with strikes.
Smith manages to work his way to half guard, despite Stokes's best efforts.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Stokes wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Stokes drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smith manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Stokes has Smith in his guard.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stokes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stokes's head.
Stokes trying to control the position.
Stokes is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith trying to control but Stokes is working from the bottom.
Smith distracts Stokes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Stokes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stokes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Stokes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Smith throws a good cross that connects.
Stokes dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Stokes's head and hops out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Brutus Stokes will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stokes wants to clinch.
Stokes closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Smith motions for Stokes to come forward. Smith throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Smith lands with a straight right. Stokes didn't see that one coming.
A decent looking cross lands there for Smith.
Smith stuffs the takedown.
Stokes takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Smith swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Smith tries to pull guard but Stokes won't allow it.

Smith gets control of Stokes's arms and successfully pulls guard. Smith will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Smith looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Stokes puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.
Stokes drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith gets back to full guard.
Stokes controls from within his opponent's guard.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stokes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith controls Stokes momentarily but Stokes frees himself.
Stokes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stokes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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.

Stokes stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith lands the left hand.
Smith looks to clinch

and Stokes counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stokes trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

Stokes stands and steps away. Smith gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Stokes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Stokes closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.

Smith pushes Stokes up against the cage in a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Stokes pulls guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Stokes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith wants to control from the top but Stokes keeps moving.

Stokes 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.
Stokes wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stokes's head.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Stokes is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Stokes circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Brutus Stokes will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stokes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stokes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Stokes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stokes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stokes controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stokes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Smith's guard.
Stokes is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Stokes lands a nice short elbow.
Smith should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Stokes lands a nice short elbow.
Stokes trying to control the pace.
Stokes has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokes seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Stokes not doing much here.
Brutus Stokes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith wants to control but Stokes is keeping busy.
Smith tries to roll over but Stokes keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to full guard but Stokes has passed into side control.
Stokes is landing with some decent strikes but Smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Stokes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
Smith tries to hold on but Stokes pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stokes lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smith hang on?
Smith tries to hold on but Stokes postures up.
Stokes controlling the pace for now.
Steve Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stokes working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Smith is looking to improve his position but Stokes isn't that keen on the idea.
Stokes controlling from the full mount.
Stokes prevents Smith from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brutus Stokes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stokes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brutus Stokes!