PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Smith (ranked 1196 p4p, 2278 weight class) and Gustavo Fring (ranked 168 p4p, 267 weight class). Gustavo Fring told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Smith
vs
Fring

176 cm
41
164
33 - 22 - 0

185 cm
39
154
24 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 33 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Gustavo Fring!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Hugh Johnson and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like James Smith has been cut.
Fring tests Smith's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A head kick misses from Fring.
Smith is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Smith jabs Fring to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smith lands a lovely overhand right.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Smith throws a hook but Fring blocks it.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fring.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Fring! But no joy.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Fring was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Fring stuffs the takedown.
Fring swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Fring.
Fring lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Smith backs up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fring lands a head shot.
Fring moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Smith is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fring as he avoids it easily.
Oh Smith is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith avoids the head kick by Fring.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fring tries a head kick but it misses.
Fring lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Fring connects with a leg kick.
Smith takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith misses the shot to the body.

Fring drops Smith with a beautiful combination! Smith stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Fring is looking for the KO!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Fring gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fring pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a strike but Fring rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Fring controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fring tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Smith looking to control.
Fring is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Fring is stalling in the full guard.
Fring pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Smith jabs at Fring's body.
Smith cracks a nice hook into Fring's ribs.
Fring pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith is looking to wear down Fring with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fring sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Fring is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Fring.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Fring dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Smith's cut.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith misses with a shot to the body
letting Fring counter with a right hand.
Fring cracks Smith with a good jab.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Fring sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gustavo Fring seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fring tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fring connects with a crisp jab.
Smith takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fring has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Fring manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A little jabbing left from Fring on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Fring works Smith's body with a nice hook.
Fring misses with a head kick.
Smith swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A punch combination from Fring misses.
Smith throws a poor cross that misses
and Fring counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fring throws a sloppy head kick

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fring keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Fring has wrist control.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith trying to control but Fring is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Fring.
Fring has his hands on Smith's head, controlling the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fring looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fring sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

James Smith's cut is getting worse.
Fring throws a leg kick
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Fring backing up. Fring nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
Fring misses with a few strikes there.
Fring lands a jab.
Smith blocks a head kick by Fring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fring lands a big right hand that sends Smith crashing to the mat! Fring stays standing though and waves Smith back to his feet!
Fring slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
and Fring scores with a counter punch that sends Smith to the canvas! Fring smells blood - he's punishing Smith with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Smith has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gustavo Fring!
During a confident post fight interview, Gustavo Fring thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.