PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ladanian Peterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Peterson
vs
Smith

184 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
185 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ladanian Peterson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Smith!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith clinches up against the cage.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Peterson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith wants a takedown but no success here.
Ladanian Peterson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Smith.
Peterson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Smith in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Smith has Peterson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Peterson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Peterson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Some bone on bone action there as Smith checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Peterson throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith tries to clinch there but Peterson circles away.
Peterson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Smith tries to keep at a distance but Peterson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Smith can't get the takedown.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Peterson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Peterson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Peterson with a nice cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peterson connects with a crisp jab.
Smith closes the distance but Peterson moves to the side

and Peterson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Peterson.
Smith looks gassed!

Smith is working an open guard so Peterson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Smith is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Peterson.

Smith is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Peterson wants to land a leg kick but Smith is out of range.
Peterson lands a nice looking kick to the body. Smith takes a step back to recover.

Peterson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smith pushes Peterson off looking to stand but Peterson dives back in and keeps control.
Smith wants to control but Peterson is keeping busy.
Smith is trying to stand up here but Peterson is controlling him well.

Peterson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Smith to get to his feet.
Peterson feints and then cracks Smith's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smith down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peterson shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Peterson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Peterson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Peterson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Smith is working an open guard so Peterson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Smith fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Peterson sprawls well initially but Smith persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Smith is trying to control. Peterson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Peterson to regain full guard.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Peterson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Peterson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working Peterson over with strikes here.
Smith thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Peterson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
A nice elbow there by Smith.
Peterson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Poor strikes thrown by Smith there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Smith throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Peterson is trying to stand.
BOOM! Smith connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Peterson is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Smith landing shots from mount.
Smith lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Peterson hang on?
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith lands a big shot there that rocks Peterson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith lands a nice shot to the head.
Smith sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Smith with shots to the head and body - Peterson looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ladanian Peterson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Peterson gets a clinch.
Smith can't get the takedown.

Peterson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Peterson swinging wildly here.
Ladanian Peterson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.
Peterson fails with the takedown
and Smith counters with an inside leg kick.
Peterson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Smith slips under a jab.

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Smith decides to return to a standing position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Peterson throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Smith takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Peterson.

Smith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Peterson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Peterson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Peterson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smith's guard now.
Peterson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Peterson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Peterson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ladanian Peterson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Peterson is just out of range.
Peterson digs a good body shot into Smith's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peterson throws a leg kick which misses Smith's front leg but catches the back leg as Smith tries to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Peterson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Peterson lands a lovely overhand right.
Peterson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Peterson misses with a double jab

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into side control. Peterson won't be happy with that.

Smith stands up.

Peterson pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Peterson is controlling the position.

Peterson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Peterson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Peterson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peterson throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Peterson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Smith stuffs the takedown.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Peterson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Peterson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Peterson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Peterson wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Peterson has a closed guard, preventing Smith from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a strike but Peterson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Peterson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Smith dives in and grabs Peterson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Peterson pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Smith tries a low kick but Peterson avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Peterson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Peterson didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Peterson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith distracts Peterson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Peterson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Peterson.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Ladanian Peterson is winning the standup battle so far.
Peterson throws out a leg kick but Smith moves out of range and Peterson only half commits.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Peterson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Peterson swivels and escapes.
Peterson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Peterson!
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Peterson.

Peterson instigates a clinch.
Peterson lands a shot to the body.
A short uppercut from Peterson.
Smith goes for a takedown in the clinch but Peterson prevents it.
Ladanian Peterson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Smith.

Peterson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Peterson but Peterson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Peterson with a poor takedown

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smith passes to full mount!
Peterson tries to hold on but Smith postures up.
Smith throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Joe Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith landing strikes, looking to finish!
Peterson wants to try and get back to his feet.
Smith is landing with some decent strikes but Peterson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peterson wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Smith looking to ground and pound but Peterson is blocking nicely.
Peterson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith dominating with strikes here.
Smith lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Smith avoids the attempt from Peterson to control.
Smith with the ground and pound from mount.
Smith unloading with bombs!
Peterson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith working for a submission but Peterson is keeping him at bay.
Peterson is in a horrible position here. Smith smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Peterson tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.
Peterson is trying to stand.
Smith looking to finish Peterson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Peterson!
Smith in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

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.
You get the feeling that Peterson really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Peterson tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Peterson squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Smith cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Peterson really wants to buck Smith off and get back to his feet.
Peterson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Smith is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Peterson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Smith landing strikes from the mount and Peterson is in trouble!

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Joe Smith!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Ladanian Peterson!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!