PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Deniz Koc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Smithers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan Smithers has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Koc
vs
Smithers

185 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Deniz Koc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan Smithers!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smithers closes the distance and clinches up with Koc, looking for a takedown. Smithers pushes Koc against the cage but Koc circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jab by Smithers.
Koc doesn't manage to clinch there - Smithers circles away.
Smithers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Koc manages to avoid it.
Nice takedown defense from Koc. No joy for Smithers on that attempt.
Smithers will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Deniz Koc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Smithers.

Koc closes the distance and clinches.
The referee calls for Koc to work.
Smithers tries for a takedown. No joy.
Smithers tries to pull guard but Koc won't allow it.

Koc escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smithers shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smithers showed some decent athleticism there.
Koc avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smithers.
Koc makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Koc.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koc keeping moving, preventing Smithers from controlling successfully.
Smithers looking to sit in guard and control but Koc gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Koc slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smithers keeping full guard, as Koc tries to pass.
Koc stands and throws Smithers's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Koc is breathing heavily.
Smithers can't do much from the bottom here.
Smithers is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

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.
Smithers struggling a bit here.
Smithers is not content to let Koc control the position.
Smithers lands a little strike from the bottom.
Koc in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smithers is looking to clinch.
Smithers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smithers tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Koc counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Smithers tries to get to full guard but Koc has control of the leg.

Smithers is defending against the submission attempts here by Koc.
Smithers trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koc seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Smithers is looking to improve his position.
Smithers is looking to get back to full guard here but Koc has managed to pass to side control instead.
Smithers is squirming around, avoiding Koc's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koc throwing strikes here but Smithers is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Koc takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koc with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koc with the ground and pound from mount.
Koc forces the positional change into back control.
Koc lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Koc is riding his opponent, not letting Smithers buck him off.
Smithers is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Smithers just looking to survive in the bad position.
Koc 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.
Koc avoiding Smithers 's attempts to control his hands.
Smithers trying to get back to his feet but Koc is in full control for now.
Smithers is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deniz Koc dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Koc tries to keep at a distance but Smithers has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smithers.
Smithers drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Koc gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Smithers goes for a takedown in the clinch but Koc prevents it.
Smithers is working for takedown but Koc is calmly controlling the position for now.
Deniz Koc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Smithers.
Smithers prevents Koc from breaking the clinch.

Smithers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smithers closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smithers lands in his opponent's guard.
Smithers trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Koc manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smithers manages to get himself to full guard.
Smithers tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smithers keeping moving, preventing Koc from controlling successfully.
Koc is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Smithers is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Smithers trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Smithers is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Koc is controlling him.
Smithers keeping moving, preventing Koc from controlling successfully.
Smithers controlling the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Koc looks to clinch

and Smithers counters by moving into the clinch.
Smithers keeps control of Koc as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Koc tries a body shot but Smithers blocks it.

That's two 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.
Koc wants a takedown but no success here.
Smithers is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Koc gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Koc crunches a lovely knee into Smithers's ribcage.
Koc is trying to maintain a safe position but Smithers gets an underhook and turns Koc into the cage.
Koc fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smithers doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Koc drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smithers gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Smithers leaning his opponent against the cage.
Smithers gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Koc is working for takedown but Smithers is calmly controlling the position for now.
The is referee keeping an eye on Smithers - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Koc jumps guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koc is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smithers preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Koc is on top in guard.
Koc trying to control the position from guard on top but Smithers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koc sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Smithers's guard.
Koc slows the pace down in half guard.
Koc not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smithers is looking to improve his position.
Smithers is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smithers has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Koc is working away from the top position though.
Smithers punching from the bottom.
Smithers trying to control but Koc postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smithers tries for a takedown but Koc circles away easily

and Koc counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Koc.

Smithers has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Koc regains guard immediately.
Smithers wants to control from the top but Koc keeps moving.
Smithers looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Smithers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Smithers shoots for a takedown but Koc saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Koc closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smithers to the mat! Smithers manages to get full guard.
Smithers wants to sweep but no luck.
Koc controlling from the top position.
Smithers keeping moving, preventing Koc from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smithers wants to sweep but no luck.
Smithers trying to keep a closed guard but Koc is proving a slippery customer.
Smithers really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Koc. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Koc passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koc performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Koc's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Koc is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Smithers is looking to improve his position.
Koc performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Koc wants to pass to mount but Smithers is defending the position.

That's two 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.
Smithers is refusing to be controlled, as Koc sits in half guard.
Koc controlling the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Deniz Koc just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Koc feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Koc stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smithers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smithers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Koc slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smithers is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smithers trying to control from half guard but Koc is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smithers takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Smithers passes into side control, despite Koc's attempt to control the position.
Koc is not content to let Smithers control the position.
Smithers lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

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.
You can see the frustration on Koc's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Koc manages to work his way to half guard, despite Smithers's best efforts.
Smithers is tying to control. Koc wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Koc is controlling Smithers's trapped leg to prevent Smithers from advancing to side control.
Koc is staying active underneath Smithers, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smithers lands with a punch from half guard.
Smithers is looking to advance position but Koc won't allow it.
Koc tries to roll over but Smithers keeps him under control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smithers connects with a nice short shot to Koc's temple.

Koc actively working from the bottom here.
Koc is trying to maintain the position but Smithers is very close to passing his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Deniz Koc showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Koc has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Deniz Koc!