PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rebel Smith (ranked 2681 p4p, 2429 weight class) and Xavier Lane (ranked 312 p4p, 281 weight class). Rebel Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Lane

175 cm
26
162
6 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
163
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Conquer
Threads of HARDCORE

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rebel Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Lane!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a hook but Lane blocks it.
Lane jabs at Smith's body.
Smith connects with a body shot.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lane.

Lane forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
Lane lands with a light punch inside.
Smith keeps control of Lane as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lane's coach down at Hardcore Boxing & MT was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lane's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Lane blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Lane manages to break the clinch.
Smith throws a hook to the side of Lane's head but Lane sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lane throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Lane ducks down to avoid it.
Lane throws out a counter right but Smith avoids it with no problem.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Lane saw that one coming.
Smith throws a poor cross that misses
and Lane connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lane tests Smith's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lane lands with a cross.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Lane saw that one coming.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lane.
Lane unleashes a big counter combination but Smith bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Lane.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lane clinches.
Smith lands a body punch.
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lane's efforts to push away.
Smith misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lane blocks an uppercut.
Smith misses with a punch to the body.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.
Smith lands an uppercut.
Smith blocks a body shot from Lane.
Smith tries to work over Lane's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right handed body shot lands from Smith.

Lane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lane thuds a left hand into Smith's body.
Rebel Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lane misses with a body shot.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lane moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Smith moves out of range as Lane strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lane takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A big right from Smith misses.
Lane lands a jab to Smith's midsection.
Smith throws a hook but Lane blocks it.
Lane looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Lane.
Lane throws a big shot that misses.

Lane clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.

Lane breaks the clinch.
Smith misses with a hook.
Lane's corner calls for a 1-2. Lane obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Lane lands with a good body shot.
Lane slips a straight right by Smith.

Lane gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lane prevents a body shot from Smith.
Lane lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Smith.

Lane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Lane moved out of range.
Smith is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a looping right.

Lane has managed to clinch.
Smith pushes Lane back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Lane blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lane backwards.
Lane lands a left hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith misses with some punches.
Lane blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from Lane.
Lane blocking some punches.
A right hand to the body from Lane.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lane creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Smith's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith prevents a body shot from Lane.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lane lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lane lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.
Smith misses with a punch on the inside.

Lane breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lane lands a body shot.

Lane rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.

Lane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lane's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Smith connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lane scrambles back to his feet.
Smith takes one on the button.
Lane lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Lane is just out of range.
Smith with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lane to score with a decent uppercut.

Lane takes the fight into the clinch.
A short left from Lane.
Smith digs a right hand into Lane's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lane's gas tank.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lane lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lane.

Lane's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith throws a body punch but Lane moves out of range.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lane.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Lane 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.

Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Lane moved out of range.
Smith misses with a straight left.
A little jabbing left from Lane on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lane connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Smith momentarily.
Lane throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smith sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smith misses the shot to the body.

Lane takes the fight into the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Lane goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Smith breaks the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Lane does a little dance to reset his feet.

Lane forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lane.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lane's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith misses with an uppercut
and Lane makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lane displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.

Lane closes the distance and clinches.
A body shot lands from Lane.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith misses with a hook to the body
and Lane counters with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lane gets a clinch.
Lane prevents a body shot from Smith.

Lane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lane throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Smith on the side of the head.
Smith takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lane jabs Smith right on the nose. Smith blinks but takes it well.
Lane uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Lane moved out of range nicely.
Lane bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Smith's head backwards.
Lane connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Lane rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smith misses with some punches.
Lane works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Xavier Lane seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lane breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lane fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smith looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lane listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Smith moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Smith misses with a left hand
and Lane counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lane lands a slapping body shot.
Smith clobbers Lane with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Lane bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A countering left hand to the body from Lane misses.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Lane jabs Smith to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smith misses with a lunging right hand
and Lane counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Lane rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.
Smith misses with a punch to the body.
Smith misses with some punches.

Lane breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lane misses with a few strikes there.
An attempted straight right counter from Smith misses the target.
Lane connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Smith's hands.
Lane lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Smith misses with a jab to the body
letting Lane counter with a right hand.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
A little jabbing left from Lane on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lane scores with the left hand. Smith knows he should have avoided that one.
Lane lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Smith backs up against the cage.
Lane cracks Smith with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lane blocks a jab.
Smith walks into a straight right hand from Lane.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Decent striking displayed by Lane there.
Smith throws a sloppy body shot
and Lane counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith throws a hook to the side of Lane's head but Lane sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Lane drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lane misses with a hook to the ribs.

Lane breaks the clinch.
Lane lands with a cross.
Smith takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Lane darts in and clinches Smith up against the cage.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lane blocks a body shot from Smith.
Lane blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lane's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith walks into a left hand.
Lane uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Smith misses.
Smith takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lane moves away from the strike by Smith.
Smith ducks right into an uppercut from Lane.
Lane throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Lane misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Lane scores with a jab to the head.
Lane ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Xavier Lane seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith misses with a hook. Lane ducked under it nicely.
Lane uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.

Lane has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Lane doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Lane manages to break the clinch.

Lane has managed to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Lane.
A shot in the inside from Lane.

Lane's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Lane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lane with a nice cross.
Smith walks into a straight right hand from Lane.
A cross from Lane lands.
Lane misses with a two punch combination.
Nice shot lands for Smith.
Lane staying out of range there.
Lane will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lane scores with a body shot.
Smith swings for the body but Lane moves out of range.
Lane scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Lane uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Lane uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lane swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Smith throws a jab when Lane was well out of range.
Lane swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Smith throws a hook but Lane blocks it.
It seemed like Lane was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lane keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Good exchange - Smith coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lane throws a shot to the body.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lane.
Lane fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Lane lands an overhand right.
Lane cracks Smith with an open hand slap.
Lane scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Lane ducks down to avoid it.
Lane misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Smith connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lane lands a nice looking body shot.
Lane's jab looks to have found its range, popping Smith under the eye.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith misses the jab.

Lane moves into the clinch.
Lane misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lane blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smith misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lane.
Rebel Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lane breaks from the clinch.
Lane lands with an overhand left.
Lane jabs Smith to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smith throws a jab when Lane was well out of range.
Smith misses with a hook. Lane ducked under it nicely.
Lane throws a counter combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lane scores with a shot to the body.
Lane closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Smith misses with a shot to the body
and Lane makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Smith takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lane dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lane fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Smith rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lane counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lane lands with a cross.
Lane connects with a nice looking jab.
Smith misses with a jab to the body
and Lane counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lane scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Smith throws a jab when Lane was well out of range.
Lane scores with a nice head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lane shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Smith eats them both and turns towards Lane to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Lane jabs at Smith's body.

Lane moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smith tries to circle away but Lane has him pinned against the cage.
Smith tries a body shot but Lane blocks it.
Smith working aggressively here.
A short right from Smith.

Lane manages to break the clinch.
Lane ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smith throws a body punch but Lane moves out of range.
Lane with a hook.

Lane takes the fight into the clinch.
Lane throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Smiths head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lane breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Lane.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lane sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lane slips under a jab from Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lane changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Lane closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Lane ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.

Lane takes the fight into the clinch.

Lane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lane's jab looks to have found its range, popping Smith under the eye.
Lane fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smith looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
Smith misses with a looping right.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Lane forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
A short right from Lane on the inside.
Xavier Lane is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Lane.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Lane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lane 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier Lane!