PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bob Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Stroud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lee Stroud is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Smith
vs
Stroud

175 cm
22
223 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
220 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bob Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lee Stroud!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Franklyn Lucas and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A lazy left from Smith finds it's target.

It looks like Lee Stroud has been cut.

Stroud closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Smith is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stroud off and has taken his back!
Smith struggling to land strikes to the head as Stroud covers up.
Stroud tries to escape but Smith has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Smith is trying to stick to Stroud's back but Stroud is turning into Smith. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Smith's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Stroud.
Stroud tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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.
Smith wants to control but Stroud passes easily into half guard.
Smith gets back to full guard.
Stroud won't allow Smith to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stroud thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stroud throwing strikes but missing.
Stroud trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Stroud throwing strikes but missing.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stroud wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stroud is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Stroud lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith misses with a looping right.
A big left from Smith misses.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stroud.
Stroud dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Stroud's head and hops out.
Smith throws a series of punches but Stroud moves out of range.
Smith comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Bob Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stroud looks gassed!
A jab from Smith finds it's way through Stroud's defenses.
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A jab lands there for Smith.

That has opened up Lee Stroud's cut even more.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with a jab to the head.
Stroud is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Smith ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Smith missing with a left hand there. Stroud was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A shot to de liver by Smith. Beautiful body shot.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss

and Stroud moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith can't break the clinch.
Smith is trying to break free.

Stroud breaks from the clinch.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stroud sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Stroud moved out of range nicely.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stroud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stroud thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Stroud misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Stroud wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stroud tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stroud has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lee Stroud's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stroud.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Stroud bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice defenses there by Stroud.
Stroud bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stroud avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stroud closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Stroud displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.
Smith is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stroud.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Stroud scores a takedown into full mount!
Stroud is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Smith can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith blocking the ground and pound.
Stroud postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Smith looks a forlorn figure.
Stroud throws a strike there. Smith manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.

Stroud is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Stroud is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stroud 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 tries to get to full guard but Stroud has control of the leg.
Stroud is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Smith reverses the position - he's now on top in Stroud's guard.
Smith postures up.
Stroud 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.
Stroud has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stroud wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stroud shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stroud staying out of range there.

Stroud throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Smith was covering up waiting for the punch and Stroud finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Stroud wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Stroud stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Stroud wants to stand but Smith is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroud trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith is looking to sweep but instead, Stroud has passed into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stroud is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.
Stroud missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Stroud showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lee Stroud's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Smith misses with a hook. Stroud ducked under it nicely.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Stroud.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stroud rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.
Stroud fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith with a hook.

Stroud closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smith to the mat! Smith manages to get full guard.
Stroud postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lee Stroud has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stroud drops back, looking for a kneebar! Smith looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Smith looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Smith!
Smith scoring with punches and elbows.
Smith cracks Stroud with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Stroud manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Stroud thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stroud sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Stroud works his foot free and advances to mount.

Stroud is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Smith has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Smith!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stroud tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Stroud is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Stroud is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stroud's head.
Stroud tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Stroud gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stroud is one step ahead there.
Stroud in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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 trying to keep a closed guard but Stroud is proving a slippery customer.
Stroud throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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 Bob Smith.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bob Smith!