PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saleem Ritte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ritte has chosen Hell's Bells as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Smith
vs
Ritte

210 cm
22
274 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
23
215 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Heavy Weight Nutrition (*Recovery 152 $50!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saleem Ritte!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith wants to clinch.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ritte.
Ritte throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ritte misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith wants to clinch up but Ritte keeps it at a distance.
Ritte avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith tries to clinch up but Ritte circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Ritte.
Ritte cracks a nice hook into Smith's ribs.
Smith misses with a body shot

and Ritte counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!
Smith tries to buck Ritte off but he can't manage it.
Ritte content just to control the position here.
Smith is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritte putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Ritte dominating with strikes here.
Ritte looking to finish Smith with some ground and pound. This is bad for Smith!
Ritte looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ritte is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Smith can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A nice elbow there by Ritte.
Smith wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Ritte landing strikes from the mount.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Ritte working for a guillotine from mount but Smith is in no mood to give up.
Ritte scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritte is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Smith can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith is in a horrible position here. Ritte smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Ritte working for a guillotine from mount but Smith is in no mood to give up.
Ritte is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Ritte wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Ritte working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
BOOM! Ritte connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Smith wants to try and get back to his feet.

Ritte is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Smith can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Ritte looking to finish Smith with some ground and pound. This is bad for Smith!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Ritte has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Smith's face.
BOOM! Ritte connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Smith squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Ritte looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ritte landing strikes from the mount and Smith is in trouble!
Ritte working Smith over with strikes here.
Ritte landing strikes, looking to finish!
Smith is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Ritte raining down shots from the mount!
Ritte punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ritte lands a big elbow.
The referee warns Smith that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Ritte working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Smith's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ritte landing shots from mount.
Ritte controlling his opponent.

Ritte working for a guillotine from mount but Smith is in no mood to give up.
Ritte looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Ritte punishing his opponent with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith tries to buck Ritte off but he can't manage it.
Ritte landing shots from mount.
Ritte scoring with strikes but Smith is staying in there.
Ritte lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saleem Ritte dominated that round.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith is looking to clinch but Ritte is avoiding it.
Ritte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ritte was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Ritte shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ritte looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ritte lands strikes from half guard.

Ritte stands up and beckons Smith to join him on the feet.
Aaron Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ritte takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Ritte. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Ritte misses with a few strikes there.
Smith scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

It looks like Saleem Ritte has been cut.
Smith misses with a double jab

and Ritte counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smith's guard now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritte working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Ritte thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smith wants to stand up but Ritte is controlling him.

Ritte gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Smith lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Ritte dodges the punch combination from Smith.
Ritte has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ritte tries to clinch up.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ritte drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ritte is controlling him.
Ritte scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritte prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
Ritte working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ritte looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smith wants to stand and escape but Ritte is having none of it.

Ritte stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.
Ritte rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ritte misses with a straight left.
A combination from Ritte does no damage.
Smith wants to clinch.
Smith throws a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ritte counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smith's guard now.
Ritte has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ritte with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ritte postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ritte cracks Smith with a solid left hand.

Smith is working an open guard so Ritte takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ritte counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
You get the feeling that Smith really doesn't like being in this position too much.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ritte cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Smith is trying to stand.
Ritte working Smith over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ritte looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Ritte is landing with some decent strikes but Smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Ritte's attempts to control the action.
Ritte won't let Smith get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Ritte sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ritte lands a heavy elbow.
Ritte landing punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ritte with the ground and pound from mount.
Ritte won't let Smith get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Ritte can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smith is looking to escape.
Smith is bucking up trying to escape but Ritte cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saleem Ritte showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Saleem Ritte's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Ritte fails to land with a series of punches.
Ritte misses with a combination
and Smith counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ritte thinking.
Smith tries to clinch there but Ritte circles away.
Smith is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ritte.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Smith bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ritte's head backwards.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ritte throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Ritte drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith wants to stand up but Ritte is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ritte trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ritte advances position into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritte misses with the ground and pound.
Saleem Ritte has got the better of the ground game so far.

Smith bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Aaron Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ritte shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ritte showed some decent athleticism there.
Smith is trying to stand back up but Ritte is controlling him
Nice strikes from Ritte there.
Smith taking some punishment here, with Ritte in his half guard.
Smith is trying to stand.
Ritte seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.

Ritte stands up and beckons Smith to join him on the feet.
Aaron Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritte cracks Smith with a good jab.
A right-left combo lands from Smith.

Ritte closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Ritte is looking for a kimura here.
Smith tries to kick Ritte off but Ritte keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ritte takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ritte looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

Ritte decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Ritte throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Ritte pushes him off.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith throws a combination that misses

and Ritte counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.
Ritte wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Ritte drags him back down.
Smith wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Ritte drags him back down.
Ritte scoring with punches and elbows.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet here but Ritte is keeping cool and he's managed to take Smith's back.

Smith is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoids the strikes from Ritte.

Smith is trying to shake Ritte off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Ritte won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Ritte looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
Ritte moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Aaron Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ritte tries to clinch up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ritte counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
Saleem Ritte is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Smith working for a triangle but Ritte defends it easily.

Ritte gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saleem Ritte comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ritte winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saleem Ritte!