PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fraklin Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leland Ralph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Leland Ralph was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Smith
vs
Ralph

190 cm
25
192 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

175 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fraklin Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leland Ralph!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ralph misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ralph misses with a wild combination.
Ralph will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ralph tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Smith is able to avoid easily.
Ralph misses with a jab, cross combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Ralph.
Ralph lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ralph throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Ralph moves into range and connects with a jab.
Smith avoids the head kick by Ralph.
Ralph swinging wilding here.
Ralph leaves Smith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ralph is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Ralph tests Smith's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ralph throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
Ralph will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ralph misses with a few strikes there.
Ralph drops Smith with a left right combo! Ralph follows him down to the ground into side control.
Smith manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Smith is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ralph is just riding it out for now. Smith eventually gives up the hold.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ralph pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to pass to mount but Ralph is defending the position.
Smith wants to advance to full mount but Ralph doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Smith stays in close to Ralph's body and controls the position.
Ralph pulls Smith in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Ralph keeps moving.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ralph is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ralph pulls Smith in to control the position.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Ralph really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ralph keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ralph throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smith throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Horrible takedown by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Ralph which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fraklin Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ralph lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Ralph fails to land with a series of punches.
Ralph throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Smith is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ralph is out of range and Smith settles back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leland Ralph 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.

Ralph misses with a few strikes there.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ralph lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Ralph fails to land with a series of punches.
Ralph throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
No joy there for Ralph, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ralph.
Ralph looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
Smith tries to advance to mount but can't.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ralph can do anything to dispel that myth.

Smith tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ralph is not content to let Smith control the position.
Ralph has one of Smith's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith wants to stand but Ralph has his arm trapped.
Ralph is looking for a sweep.
Ralph is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ralph keeps working.
Ralph tries to buck Smith off but Smith is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ralph tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Ralph. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Ralph swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Ralph sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fraklin Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ralph misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Ralph throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
A combination from Ralph does no damage.
Ralph misses with a body shot.
Smith looks for a takedown but Ralph sprawls well.
Ralph throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
A jab from Ralph misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Some wild striking there from Ralph.
Smith blocks a leg kick.
Smith gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ralph.
Leland Ralph is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith shoots in but Ralph avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ralph fails to land with a series of punches.
Fraklin Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ralph tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ralph throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Ralph drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leland Ralph showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ralph scores with a three punch combo!
Smith misses with a double jab

and Ralph counters with a series of strikes that sends Smith to the canvas! Ralph follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!

Smith is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ralph controls the pace.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Smith has his foot on Ralph's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ralph works his way back into a safe position though.
Ralph controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Let's hope that Ralph has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Ralph pushing down on Smith's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ralph is working away from the top position though.
Ralph sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ralph controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Smith manages to get to full guard.
Ralph slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Ralph pushes his legs off easily.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ralph is aware though and is defending well.
Fraklin Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ralph controls from within his opponent's guard.
Leland Ralph is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ralph pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smith gets full guard.
Ralph looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leland Ralph comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ralph 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leland Ralph!