PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Scott Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Raskolnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raskolnikov has chosen Pendulum as his entrance music. Vladimir Raskolnikov has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Smith
vs
Raskolnikov

180 cm
19
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

SPARTAN FIGHTWARE
SPARTAN FIGHTWARE

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 St Petersburg, Scott Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Raskolnikov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Viktor Lagutenko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith shoots in and bounces Raskolnikov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Raskolnikov drops Smith with a left and a right! Oh, Smith is hurt - Raskolnikov dives into side control looking to finish!

Smith is rocked!

It looks like Scott Smith has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Oh Smith is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Raskolnikov is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith is trying to improve his position.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.

Raskolnikov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Raskolnikov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Raskolnikov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raskolnikov misses with a wild combination.
A combination from Raskolnikov does no damage.
A punch combination from Raskolnikov misses.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Raskolnikov but Raskolnikov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Raskolnikov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Raskolnikov.
Raskolnikov looks gassed!

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Raskolnikov's efforts to push away.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Raskolnikov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scott Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Raskolnikov stops a takedown attempt from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Raskolnikov manages to break the clinch.
Raskolnikov swinging wilding here.

Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Raskolnikov is working an open guard so Smith takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Raskolnikov.

Smith feints and as Raskolnikov raises his hands in defense, Smith changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smith drops back looking for a leg! Raskolnikov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Raskolnikov manages to kick Smith off! Smith jumps back into Raskolnikov's guard.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Raskolnikov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Raskolnikov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
Smith wants to control from the top but Raskolnikov keeps moving.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Smith feints and as Raskolnikov raises his hands in defense, Smith changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith trying to control the position but Raskolnikov is working away.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Raskolnikov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Scott Smith will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Scott Smith's cut.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Raskolnikov gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Smith gets to his feet - Raskolnikov follows without any prompting.
Raskolnikov swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Raskolnikov misses with a wild combination.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.
Smith trying to control the action but Raskolnikov is working from the bottom.
Raskolnikov is breathing heavily.
Smith looks up at the clock and then as Raskolnikov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Smith smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Smith stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Smith scores with a takedown into Raskolnikov's guard.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith prevents Raskolnikov from getting back to his feet.

Raskolnikov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith passes Raskolnikov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smith passes to side control.
Raskolnikov gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The referee warns Raskolnikov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Smith gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Smith 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.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Smith stands up and waves to Raskolnikov to follow him.
Scott Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Smith looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Scott Smith's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Smith stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Smith pushes Raskolnikov up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Raskolnikov just stands there and leans against the cage.

Smith jumps into guard, dragging Raskolnikov to the mat.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Smith holds on and takes a little breather.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Raskolnikov pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raskolnikov wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith seems keen to control Raskolnikov's posture.
Raskolnikov wanted to stand there but Smith had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Raskolnikov defends it easily.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raskolnikov is one step ahead there.
Raskolnikov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Raskolnikov postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Raskolnikov being controlled here momentarily.

That's two 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.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raskolnikov is one step ahead there.
Raskolnikov is fighting to break Smith's control of his arms but Smith is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Raskolnikov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smith is proving hard to escape from.
Smith has control of Raskolnikov's left arm, preventing Raskolnikov from doing any damage.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raskolnikov is one step ahead there.
Smith wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping full guard, as Raskolnikov tries to pass.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smith takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Smith is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Raskolnikov is just riding it out for now. Smith eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith passes the guard and advances to mount!
Vladimir Raskolnikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Scott Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Smith!