PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mani Smithens (ranked 4776 p4p, 4802 weight class) and Le Chez (ranked 0 p4p, 427 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Smithens
vs
Chez

170 cm
24
130
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
130
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mani Smithens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Le Chez!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Steve Montenegro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smithens misses the body punch
and Chez counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Smithens moves into range and clinches up with Chez.
Chez throws an elbow but it misses.
Chez is trying to break the clinch but Smithens has him pressed against the cage.

Smithens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smithens misses with a straight left.

Chez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Chez keeps control of Smithens as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smithens wants to break free but Chez has control.
Chez is trying to break free.
Smithens with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Chez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Chez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chez is looking to break free of the clinch but Smithens has double underhooks.
Chez swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Smithens pulls guard successfully.

Chez stands and steps away. Smithens gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Nice sprawl there from Chez as Smithens shoots in.
Chez swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Smithens throws a predictable looking body shot
and Chez counters with a right hand to the body.
Mani Smithens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smithens wants to clinch.

Chez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Smithens tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Chez is in Smithens's guard.

Chez stands up from Smithens's guard - Chez perhaps looking for a knockout.

Chez shoots in and gets a takedown into Smithens's guard.

Chez gets to his feet. Smithens looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Chez tries to close the distance and clinch but Smithens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smithens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Chez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smithens tries to clinch up but Chez circles away and keeps his distance.
Smithens throws a lazy right hand but Chez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Chez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smithens.
Smithens doesn't manage to clinch there - Chez circles away.

Chez closes the distance and pushes Smithens back into the cage.
Chez is trying to push Smithens away but Smithens has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Smithens creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A frustrated look appears on Smithens's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Smithens.
Smithens tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Chez tries to break free but Smithens pushes him back against the cage.
Chez keeps control of Smithens as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Chez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Smithens fails to pull guard.
Smithens working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smithens.

Chez gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Smithens regains guard.
Chez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smithens is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Chez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smithens.

Chez kicks off Smithens and gets to his feet.

Chez clinches.

Chez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Smithens is trying to keep an underhook but Chez manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Chez decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smithens connects with a single shot there.

Smithens tries to sprawl but Chez drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Chez stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Smithens to get to his feet.
Smithens rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Chez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smithens tries to bum rush Chez with a series of wild strikes but Chez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smithens smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The fight stays on the outside here - Chez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smithens's jab looks to have found its range, popping Chez under the eye.
Chez tries to clinch but Smithens moves out of range.
Smithens pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Chez back to the cage. Smithens follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Le Chez has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smithens misses with a double jab.

Chez moves into range and clinches up with Smithens.
Chez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smithens's efforts to push away.
Chez can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Smithens after a bit of a struggle.
Chez swings wildly with an uppercut but Smithens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chez throws a head punch that misses.
Chez is looking to break free of the clinch but Smithens has double underhooks.
Smithens tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smithens is pressed up against the cage. Chez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smithens down to the mat. Smithens avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mani Smithens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Le Chez.
Chez moves out of range of the strikes.
Smithens tries to clinch but Chez moves out of range.
Chez looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Chez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Chez stands up from half guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Chez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Chez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smithens's efforts to push away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mani Smithens will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Le Chez's cut.
That's time! Smithens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Chez ducks under a wild hook from Smithens.
Chez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smithens.

Chez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smithens, pushing him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Chez fails to land.
Chez blocking some punches.
Smithens blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smithens lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Chez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smithens gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Chez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smithens has him pressed against the cage.
Chez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Chez blocks an uppercut.
Smithens fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chez working aggressively here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Chez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Smithens wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Chez is trying to drag Smithens to the mat but Smithens just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Chez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smithens is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mani Smithens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Le Chez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chez has Smithens pressed against the cage, preventing Smithens from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Smithens pulls guard effortlessly.
Smithens has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Chez gets to his feet - Smithens follows without any prompting.
Chez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smithens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Chez wants to clinch.
Smithens misses with a double jab.
Mani Smithens is winning the standup battle so far.

Chez drives through with a takedown into Smithens's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Chez stands up from Smithens's guard - Chez perhaps looking for a knockout.

Chez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Chez is looking to break free of the clinch but Smithens has double underhooks.
Smithens misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Chez throws an elbow but misses.
Chez keeps control of Smithens as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Chez is working for takedown but Smithens is calmly controlling the position for now.
Chez misses with some punches.
Smithens swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smithens softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smithens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Chez blocking some punches.
Smithens with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Chez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smithens is defending well.

Smithens jumps guard.

Chez stands and steps away. Smithens gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Chez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Smithens manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mani Smithens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Chez closes the distance and pushes Smithens back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smithens prevents Chez from breaking the clinch.
Chez is working for takedown but Smithens is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smithens is trying to force a seperation but Chez has the dominant position.
Smithens lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Smithens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Chez fails with an attempt to clinch.

Chez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Smithens manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Chez prevents Smithens from getting back to his feet.
Smithens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Chez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smithens, up you get!

Chez feints and as Smithens raises his hands in defense, Chez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Chez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smithens, up you get!
Smithens darts in looking for a takedown but Chez gets double underhooks and turns Smithens into the cage.
Mani Smithens has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Chez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chez is looking to take this one to the mat.
A short right from Smithens on the inside.
Chez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Smithens breaks the clinch.

Chez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Chez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Chez decides to stand back up. Chez steps back and let's Smithens get back to his feet.
Chez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Smithens swings for the body but Chez moves out of range.
Chez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Chez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Smithens on his heels. He'll look to pass Smithens's guard now, I'm sure.

Chez gets to his feet. Smithens looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Smithens throws a shot from downtown. Chez moves away and avoids it.
Chez appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mani Smithens will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Le Chez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Chez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smithens sprawls well initially but Chez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Smithens kicks Chez off and gets back to his feet.

Chez forces Smithens back against the cage and clinches.
Chez tries to circle away but Smithens has him pinned against the cage.
A short right from Smithens.
Smithens lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Chez backwards.
Smithens with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smithens misses with a knee to the head.
Chez is trying to drag Smithens to the mat but Smithens just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Smithens pulls guard effortlessly.

Chez stands up and waves to Smithens to follow him.
Smithens tries to clinch up but Chez circles away and keeps his distance.
Smithens throws a good cross that connects.

Chez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smithens sprawls well initially but Chez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chez stands up from half guard.

Chez has Smithens up against the cage in a clinch.
Chez wants to take the fight to the mat but Smithens manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smithens.
Chez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Chez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Smithens wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smithens.
A nice left hand lands by Smithens.
Smithens blocks the elbow strike.
Chez stalling.
Smithens is trying to break the clinch but Chez is controlling him.
Chez throws a punch but it's blocked by Smithens.
Chez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smithens pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mani Smithens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Le Chez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Smithens tries to clinch up.
Smithens misses with a takedown attempt
and Chez counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Chez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Smithens!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Chez has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Chez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Chez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Chez stands up and beckons Smithens to his feet.
Smithens misses with a jab, cross combination.

Chez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smithens is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chez has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Smithens wants to clinch.

Chez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Chez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Smithens misses with an uppercut
and Chez counters with a nice uppercut.
Smithens misses with a jab, cross combination.

Chez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Smithens did well to prevent Chez getting side control.

Chez postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Smithens to stand up.
Mani Smithens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smithens fails in his attempt to clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smithens enables Chez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smithens manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Chez stands up from Smithens's guard - Chez perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Smithens quickly recovers to half guard.

Chez stands up out of the half guard.
Chez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smithens.

Chez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Chez escapes and gets back to his feet.
Smithens swats away the attempt to clinch by Chez.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smithens.

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 Mani Smithens.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smithens, 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mani Smithens!