PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Filho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tsingtao Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Filho
vs
Smith

178 cm
21
174 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Star & Star .Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Filho!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tsingtao Smith!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filho sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Filho shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith misses with the combination.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Filho pushes him off.
Smith pushes Filho away with a front kick.
Smith wants to clinch up but Filho keeps it at a distance.
Filho is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Smith.
Smith goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a jab to the nose.
Filho circles away from the clinch attempt.
Filho shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Smith with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tsingtao Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Filho takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith throws a head kick that Filho semi-blocks.
A jab lands there for Smith.
Smith tries to clinch but Filho moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filho avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith lands a two punch combo.
Smith throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Smith scores with a nice body kick.
Filho keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with a one two! Filho had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Smith lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Filho backs up against the cage.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Filho swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith tries to clinch but Filho is having none of it.
A jab from Smith does it's job there.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Filho swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith lands a high kick!
Smith tries to clinch up.

Smith clinches up against the cage.
Smith pushes off an throws an elbow but Filho leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Filho stalling.

Filho manages to pull 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Filho is on top in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Filho from controlling successfully.
Filho trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsingtao Smith dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Filho takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Filho pushes him off.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Filho swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Filho keeps the fight on the outside.
Antonio Filho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Filho circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith tries to clinch but Filho moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith fakes the leg kick and cracks Filho in the body.
Smith lands a nice leg kick that just misses Filho's sensitive parts.
Filho avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith wants to clinch up but Filho keeps it at a distance.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Filho circles away.
Smith wants to clinch.
Filho will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Smith. Filho shrugs it off though.

Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Filho, pushing him back against the cage.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Filho wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Filho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Filho avoids it.
Filho managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Filho blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith tries to pull guard but Filho won't allow it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Smith.
With the fighters up against the cage, Smith throws an elbow but misses.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Filho is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Filho avoids the damage to the body.
Filho has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Filho jumps into guard, dragging Smith to the mat.

Filho throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Filho is keeping the position.
Smith thows a big elbow that misses.
Filho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Filho manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.
Filho thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Filho on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Filho blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Filho's brow.
Filho avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Smith misses with an elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Filho blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Filho tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsingtao Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Filho, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Filho swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith lands with a nice combination. Filho backs away looking to recover.

Smith moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filho tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Filho has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smith uses from the top position.
Filho trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Smith thows a big elbow that misses.
Filho is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Filho tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Filho has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Filho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Filho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Filho. 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Filho is keeping the position for now.

Filho throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Filho is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Filho swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith thows a big elbow that misses.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Filho has wrist control.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Filho has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Filho's legs - danger averted.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Filho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Filho is working from the bottom.

Filho has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Filho keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Antonio Filho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Filho trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Filho throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Filho working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith postures up in Filho's guard and throws a big left but Filho blocks it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smith works over Filho's head and body with a nice combination.
Smith lands with a cross.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Filho.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Tsingtao Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Filho is controlling him.
Filho avoids a wild elbow strike from Smith.
Filho missing with knees to the body.

Filho pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith wants to control from the top but Filho keeps moving.

Filho working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Filho showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tsingtao Smith!
Tsingtao Smith is the new welterweight champion!