PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis International (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Smith
vs
International

160 cm
26
153 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

186 cm
25
169 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

BioLuvoil

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Travis International!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
International fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
International throws a leg kick but Smith moved away.
International scores with a leg kick.
International thuds a left hand into Smith's body.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
International cracks Smith with a good jab.
Smith avoids a kick to the body.
International uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
International throws a hook but Smith avoids it easily.
Smith walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Travis International seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith avoids the body shot from International.
Smith closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith slips a jab from International.
Smith thows a body shot but no joy.

International closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by International as Smith tries to tie him up.
International misses with a knee strike.
International lands a good knee to the midsection. Smith won't want to take too many of those.
International pushes Smith back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
International doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short uppercut from International.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith blocking some punches.
International misses with a punch to the body.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
International misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
International thows a left - swing and a miss!
International uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
International explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith connects with a crisp jab.
International bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Smith's head backwards.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but International moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

International moves into range and clinches up with Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
International can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from International.
International taking a breather.
Smith can't break the clinch.
International lands with a short head shot on the inside.
International with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith is trying to force a seperation but International has the dominant position.
International stalls.
Smith blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
International can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Smith is looking to take this one to the mat.
International will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Smith up against the cage.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but International is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
International is stalling here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis International dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

International on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
International tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
International misses with a looping left.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by International.
Smith takes a shot to the body in his stride.
International misses with a straight left.
International misses with a double jab
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Smith connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed International momentarily.

International is rocked!
Smith misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looks to land a right hand but International moved out of range.
International scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Smith doesn't seem bothered though.
International scores with a shot to the body.
International uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith throws a hook but International blocks it.
Good exchange - Smith coming out on top.
International is still on wobbly legs! Can Smith finish him?
International uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith lands an overhand right.
Travis International seems to be getting the better of the standup.
International avoids the body shot from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for International.
International thumps Smith with a low kick.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but International moves away.
International misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
International seems to have recovered his senses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
International connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Smith momentarily.
International jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. International does a little dance to reset his feet.
International is looking to clinch.
International avoids the body shot from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
International misses the shot to the body.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
International scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
International avoids the body shot from Smith.
International scores with a one two! Smith had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
International moves away from the strike by Smith.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
International digs a good body shot into Smith's ribs.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from International finds it's way round the side to connect with Smith's head.
Smith has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from International finds it's way round the side to connect with Smith's head.
International throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
International misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
International tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from International.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Travis International will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice shot by International.
Smith scores with a sloppy right hand. International should have avoided that one.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but International is just out of range.
International dips to his left and cracks Smith with an uppercut!
Smith takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
International thows a body shot but no joy.
International takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
International lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
International connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
International works Smith's body with a nice hook.
International throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Smith on the side of the head.
International paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
International throws a nice outside leg kick.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but International was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Smith is looking to wear down International with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
International listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
International throws a head kick that misses.
International throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
International looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Steve Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands an overhand right.
International moves out of range as Smith strikes.
International thuds a left hand into Smith's body.
International misses the shot to the body.
Smith lands a slapping body shot.
International takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith throws a body punch but International moves out of range.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
A big right from Smith misses.
International paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from International misses.
Smith thuds a left hand into International's body.
International works the jab nicely.
Smith misses with a hook to the body
and International counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Smith takes a swing at International's ribcage but misses.
Smith misses with a jab to the body
and International counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
International connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but International ducks down to avoid it.
Smith on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
International throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.

Smith cracks International with a big right hand and International goes down!

It looks like Travis International has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith wants to control from the top but International keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
International can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but International manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Smith has International in his guard.

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 Steve Smith.
I think International 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!