PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Digby Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Number Eight (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
Eight

185 cm
18
258 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
274 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

On Tap (160Q & Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Digby Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Number Eight!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, John Mangel and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eight throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Eight misses with a wild combination.
Smith misses with a combination
and Eight counters with a series of strikes. Smith will be more careful next time no doubt.
Eight looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eight keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
Eight shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eight shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Digby Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Number Eight.
Smith misses with a combination
and Eight counters with a one-two to the body.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Eight tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Smith takes a swing at Eight's ribcage but misses.
Eight is looking for the big counter here.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Eight throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith pivots, looking for a leg kick but Eight is out of range and Smith settles back down.
Eight throws a counter combo.
Eight scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Eight closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Eight tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Eight is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smith misses with a short punch on the inside.
Smith looking to stall.
Smith taking a breather.
Smith can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Eight controls his hands.
Smith tries to work over Eight's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Eight blocking some punches.
Smith presses Eight against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Smith effectively controlling the action here.
Smith lands with a left to the head.
Eight is trying to break the clinch but Smith is controlling him.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Eight.
Eight lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith keeps control of Eight as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smith scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Eight blocks a body shot from Smith.
Smith tries a body shot but Eight blocks it.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Eight controls his hands.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Smith tries to work over Eight's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Eight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Eight working aggressively here.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Eight.
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 Digby Smith will probably get the nod.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Eight sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Number Eight is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith throws a leg kick but Eight sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Eight ducks right into an uppercut from Smith.
Eight gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Smith takes a swing at Eight's ribcage but misses.
Digby Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eight shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eight avoids the body shot from Smith.
Nice sprawl there from Smith as Eight shoots in.
Smith wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Smith throws a solid leg kick but Eight takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Eight.
Eight avoids the body shot from Smith.
Smith misses with the combination.
Eight tries to counter by closing the distance.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.

Eight moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith misses with some punches.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short right from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a punch to the body.
Digby Smith has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Smith misses with a body punch.
Eight managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Eight is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short right from Smith.
Smith misses with a punch to the body.
Eight prevents a body shot from Smith.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Eight has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the cage.
Eight blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Smith tries to work over Eight's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Eight is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smith manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Smith lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Eight tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the cage.
Smith has Eight pressed against the cage, preventing Eight from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Eight tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Smith smiles and moves away.
Eight lands with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Eight moves away.
Eight lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Eight lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Eight.
Eight scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Eight is defended easily by Smith.
Digby Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Number Eight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Eight defending well as Smith loads up on a big left hand.
A countering left hand to the body from Eight misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Digby Smith dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Eight missing with a left hand there. Smith was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jab, jab by Smith - just one landing.
Eight checks a low kick from Smith.
Eight doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Eight misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith misses with a left hand

and Eight counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Eight.
Eight is trying to break the clinch but Smith is controlling him.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Smith here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Eight blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Eight can do to turn this around?
Smith has Eight pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smith is pushing Eight up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Eight blocking some punches.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smith lands a left hand.
Eight can't break the clinch.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Eight blocks with his arms.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Smith.
Smith lands a right hand.
Smith working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith leaning against his opponent.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Smith takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Smith for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Smith misses with the head strike.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
Eight blocks a body shot from Smith.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Eight up against the cage.
Number Eight has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Eight controls the action.
Eight wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a punch to the body.
Smith misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Eight jumps guard but Smith stands there with Eight around his waist. Eight gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Eight escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Eight manages to avoid it.
Eight misses with the combination.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Eight manages to avoid it.
Eight looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Digby Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Eight moved out of range.
Eight unleashes a big counter combination but Smith bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Eight.
Eight displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Smith is looking to wear down Eight with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Smith throws a wild body kick that Eight sees coming a mile off.
A telegraphed right hand from Eight misses the target.
Eight bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Smith's head backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith misses with an uppercut. Eight saw that one coming.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Eight manages to avoid it.
Eight is looking for the big counter here.
Digby Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Digby Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Digby Smith!
After winning the bout, Digby Smith thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.