PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gabriele Ghiotto (ranked 2693 p4p, 2112 weight class) and Dylan Smith (ranked 186 p4p, 151 weight class). Smith has chosen Heave Away- The Fables as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ghiotto
vs
Smith

165 cm
24
135
8 - 1 - 0

155 cm
21
138
6 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gabriele Ghiotto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dylan Smith!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ghiotto looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ghiotto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.

Smith looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith throwing shots but Ghiotto is blocking nicely.
Ghiotto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith stops Ghiotto from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ghiotto's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ghiotto's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throwing shots but Ghiotto is blocking nicely.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Ghiotto makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Ghiotto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriele Ghiotto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ghiotto dives in for a single leg takedown but Smith sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A short right from Ghiotto on the inside.
Ghiotto swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.

Smith works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Smith stops Ghiotto from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith throws a strike but Ghiotto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ghiotto is looking to stand up but Smith won't let him.
Smith pulls Ghiotto in to control the position.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Ghiotto is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghiotto wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ghiotto shoots in looking for a takedown but Smith manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ghiotto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Smith fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ghiotto to the ground. Smith is now in Ghiotto's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith stops Ghiotto from standing up.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ghiotto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith won't allow Ghiotto to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ghiotto.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
Ghiotto avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Smith.
Smith throwing strikes but Ghiotto manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Smith gets back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ghiotto tries to stand and escape but Smith is controlling the position.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Ghiotto wants to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dylan Smith will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Smith closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ghiotto's guard.
Dylan Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ghiotto wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ghiotto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith prevents Ghiotto from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Ghiotto blocks nicely.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ghiotto shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Ghiotto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ghiotto shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ghiotto was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ghiotto working away.
Smith tries to bench press Ghiotto off him but Ghiotto keeps the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smith can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smith wants to control but Ghiotto postures up.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.
Smith is holding Ghiotto down, trying to stall.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ghiotto decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Smith drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Smith throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Ghiotto is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Smith asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The ground and pound from Smith seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Smith lands some shots froms side control.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Ghiotto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Smith.
Smith creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ghiotto sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Smith throws a strike aimed at the side of Ghiotto's head but Ghiotto avoids it well.
Smith tries to score with some ground and pound. Ghiotto controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Smith scoring with punches from side control.
Smith scores with punches from side control.
Smith tries to score with some ground and pound. Ghiotto controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Ghiotto defending against the ground and pound.
Smith fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The strikes coming from Smith are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Smith throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Ghiotto works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghiotto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ghiotto to regain full guard.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ghiotto's head.
Smith won't allow Ghiotto to get back to his feet.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ghiotto seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smith scores with a takedown into Ghiotto's guard.
Ghiotto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dylan Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ghiotto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Smith drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gabriele Ghiotto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith with the ground and pound but Ghiotto regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Ghiotto is looking to escape.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ghiotto to regain full guard.
Ghiotto keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith throws an elbow that misses. Ghiotto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Ghiotto!

Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ghiotto preventing the sweep.
Smith wants to control but Ghiotto passes easily into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith wants to get back to full guard but Ghiotto has mounted him!
Smith tries to hold on but Ghiotto postures up.
Ghiotto lands a big shot there that rocks Smith but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to get to half guard.
Smith tries to control the position but Ghiotto now has his back.
Smith tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Smith tries to improve his position but instead Ghiotto has taken his back!
Smith tries to escape the position.
Good control from Ghiotto.
Smith is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Ghiotto off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Ghiotto has managed to slip his arm under Smith's chin. This could be all over... yep, Smith is tapping out! Submission win for Ghiotto.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Gabriele Ghiotto!
During a confident post fight interview, Gabriele Ghiotto thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.