PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Maples (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Maples

175 cm
22
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

178 cm
22
156 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bobby Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Maples!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Jorge Garcia and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith swings for the body but Maples moves out of range.
Maples connects with a solid leg kick.
Maples throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Maples throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
That kick from Maples tenderised Smith's leg. Smith is trying to keep his angry face on.
Smith takes a swing at Maples's ribcage but misses.
Maples tries to score with a low kick but Smith moves his leg out of the way.
Maples throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Maples takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Maples sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maples chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Smith takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Maples swings away with a body shot that misses
and Maples takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Maples throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Maples.
Maples misses with a double jab
and Smith counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Maples thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maples is looking to land body kicks.
Maples swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maples sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maples is looking to score with low kicks.
Maples lands a nice leg kick that just misses Smith's sensitive parts.
Smith tries to clinch up but Maples circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith scores with a punch to the head.
Smith misses with a looping right.
Maples lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Smith at a distance.
Maples misses with a wild body shot.
Maples misses with a body shot.
Both fighters circling a little - Maples finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Smith misses with a combination
and Maples counters with a two punch combo.
A combination from Smith does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maples lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Maples scores with a kick to the midsection.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith avoids the head kick by Maples.
Maples ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Maples tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Maples to counter with a crisp jab.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Maples uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Maples.
Maples fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Maples works over Smith's head and body with a nice combination.
Bobby Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maples pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maples throws out a leg kick but Smith moves out of range and Maples only half commits.
Some wild striking there from Maples.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Maples.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maples drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith is trying to force a seperation but Maples has the dominant position.

Maples manages to break the clinch.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Maples counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A low kick from Maples is predictable there
enabling Smith to counter with a crisp jab.
Maples swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Maples misses with a wild body shot.
Maples's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Maples duly obliges.
Maples misses with a takedown

and Smith counters by clinching up.
Maples scores with a shoulder strike.
Maples lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maples throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Maples throws a series of strikes that have Smith backpedaling.
Maples on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Smith wants to clinch
and Maples makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Maples goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Maples throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Maples sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maples fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Smith drives through and clinches with Maples against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Maples manages to break the clinch.
Smith misses with a combination

and Maples counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Maples 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.

Maples swings away with a body shot that misses
and Smith counters with a series of strikes. Maples will be more careful next time no doubt.
Maples ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bobby Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maples looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Maples throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Maples uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith wants to clinch
and Maples counters with a nice body kick.
Maples looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
Maples is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Smith rather than just go for the knockout.
Maples on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith connects with a crisp jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maples.
Maples takes one on the button.

Maples is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maples ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Maples cracks Smith with a right hand to the side of the head.
Maples throws a head kick that half lands.
No joy there for Maples, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maples counters with a head kick. That will keep Smith thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A head kick misses from Maples.
Maples needs to keep his hands up - Smith had a free shot at his head there.
Smith tries to clinch
and Maples counters with a two punch combo.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maples circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Danga de danga de dang - Maples scores with a four punch combination!
Maples connects with a body shot.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maples circles away quickly and effectively.
Maples thuds his right hand into Smith's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith closes the distance but Maples moves to the side
and Maples counters with a series of strikes. Smith will be more careful next time no doubt.
Maples displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.
Smith darts in trying to clinch
and Maples counters with an outside leg kick.
Bobby Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith throws the left hand but Maples avoids the punch easily.
Maples misses with a double jab
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Maples backing up. Maples nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
Maples circles away from the clinch attempt
and Maples counters with a slapping leg kick.
Maples has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Smith finds it's way round the side to connect with Maples's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Smith gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maples to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Maples postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Smith is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Maples, into his guard.
Smith postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maples controlling the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith wants to get up but he can't break Maples's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Maples trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith wanted to stand there but Maples had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith won't allow Maples to sweep him here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ben Maples wasn't active enough on the ground.
Smith tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Maples counters with a three punch combo that has Smith backing up. Smith nods at Maples to acknowledge the strikes.
Maples slips under a jab.
Smith dips to his left and cracks Maples with an uppercut!
Ben Maples seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maples uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith looks to land a combination. Maples sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Maples plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith closes the distance but Maples moves to the side
and Maples counters with a straight right hand.
Maples looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Smith misses with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ben Maples will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Maples throws a leg kick that misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maples.
Maples uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith wants to clinch but Maples slips to the side
and Maples counters with a slapping leg kick.
Maples lands a nice leg kick that just misses Smith's sensitive parts.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch
and Maples counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Maples takes the fight into the clinch.

Maples's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maples lands a jab to Smith's midsection.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Maples thumps Smith with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith avoids the head kick by Maples.
A good leg kick by Maples.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Maples has managed to clinch.
Maples prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Maples.
Smith can't break the clinch.
Maples lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Smith bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Good leg kick by Maples there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Maples cracks the inside of Smith's front leg.
That kick from Maples tenderised Smith's leg. Smith is trying to keep his angry face on.
Maples tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maples throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maples throws a combination. Smith tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Maples throws a nice outside leg kick.
Maples fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith.

Maples clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Maples lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Maples wants the takedown. Smith is fighting it off but Maples persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Smith's guard against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maples wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.

Maples is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Smith looking to control.
Maples trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maples looking to pass the guard.
Maples throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Maples throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maples slips nicely into half guard.
Smith is in trouble now - Maples has advanced to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Maples looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Bobby Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith wants to control but Maples is having none of it.
Maples thowing shots but they're missing.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maples working the ground and pound effectively.
Ben Maples is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maples looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Maples comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maples has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Maples!