PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brendan Conlon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luc Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Conlon comes to the cage accompanied by Ode to joy. 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.

Conlon
vs
Smith

180 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brendan Conlon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luc Smith!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, John Mangel and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Conlon closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Smith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Conlon tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Smith.
Smith wants to control but Conlon passes into side.
Smith is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Conlon off and has taken his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Conlon trying to control the hands but Smith breaks the grip.
Smith just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Conlon staying busy and making it hard for Smith to control.
Conlon tries to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Conlon is defending well though. Smith let's go of the attempt for now.
Conlon turns into Smith and is now in his guard.
Smith tries to strike from the bottom.
Conlon won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Conlon wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Conlon throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Smith controls Conlon momentarily but Conlon frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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.
Conlon's corner is telling him to maintain position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Smith gets a takedown into half guard.
Conlon wants to get back to full guard.
Conlon trying to control from the bottom.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smith wants to take a breather but Conlon is having none of it.
Smith trying to pass the guard but Conlon defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Smith working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Conlon's thigh. Conlon counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Smith stands up and waves to Conlon to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith avoids a kick to the body.
Horrible takedown by Conlon or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith which made him look bad.

Conlon shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Conlon was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Conlon is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Smith can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
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 Brendan Conlon will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
Smith in side control, throwing shots but Conlon defends.
Conlon tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.
Conlon gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Conlon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Conlon is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Luc Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Conlon is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Smith is looking for submissions but instead, Conlon has regained full guard.
Smith won't allow Conlon to sweep him here.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.
Conlon controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Conlon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Luc Smith was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Conlon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Conlon swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.

Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Smith stands up from Conlon's guard - Smith perhaps looking for a knockout.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nice takedown defense from Conlon. No joy for Smith on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Conlon's guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Conlon keeps moving.
Smith wants to stand and escape but instead Conlon has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Conlon sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Smith has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Conlon has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to control Conlon's posture but Conlon avoids it.
Conlon working the head and body with strikes.

Conlon looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Conlon stands up and beckons Smith to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Conlon is defended easily by Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luc 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! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Conlon drives through with a takedown into Smith's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Smith is looking to stand up but Conlon isn't so interested in that idea.
Conlon trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Conlon is proving a slippery customer.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conlon won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.

We're going to have a standup here because Brendan Conlon wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Conlon counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Conlon trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is looking to regain half guard here but Conlon keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conlon looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Smith is avoiding damage well.
Conlon wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Conlon working the ground and pound but Smith is defending the strikes.
Smith is trying to escape the position but Conlon is controlling the position.
Smith tries to escape but Conlon is in control.
Conlon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.
Smith parries the strikes from Conlon easily there. Conlon is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Smith to escape.

Conlon decides to stand back up. Conlon steps back and let's Smith get back to his feet.

Conlon changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Smith is trying to escape the position but Conlon is controlling the position.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Smith is letting Conlon control him for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conlon moves into full mount!
Conlon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smith tries to hold on but Conlon postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Conlon working for a submission but Smith is keeping him at bay.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brendan Conlon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Conlon has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brendan Conlon!
Our winner, Brendan Conlon, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.