PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Heath Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paavo Perkules (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Perkules is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Carlo Siliotto : The Punisher. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Perkules

177 cm
21
162 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
164 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Heath Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paavo Perkules!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith lands a jab to Perkules's midsection.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Perkules.
Perkules slips a jab from Smith.
Perkules looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Perkules looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Perkules.
Perkules throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Perkules is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Perkules misses with a jab to the body
enabling Smith to counter with a crisp jab.
Smith blocks the body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Perkules.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

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.
Perkules connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Smith misses with a straight right.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Perkules's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Perkules duly obliges.
A big left from Perkules misses.
Perkules throws a half hearted mid kick.
Perkules throws and low kick but Smith moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Perkules moves out of range of the leg kick from Smith.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Perkules is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Perkules tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Perkules will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
An inside leg kick lands from Perkules.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Perkules feints and then cracks Smith's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smith down.
Perkules closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Paavo Perkules seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good work by Perkules as he checks the leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith staying out of range there.
Perkules has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Perkules swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Both fighters circling a little - Perkules finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Perkules wants to clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Perkules. That's going to slow Smith down.
Perkules misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looks to throw the jab but Perkules is out of range.
Smith keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Perkules pivots, looking for a leg kick but Smith is out of range and Perkules settles back down.
Heath Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
Perkules tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Perkules looks to land a body kick but Smith moved away.
Perkules is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Paavo Perkules is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith misses with a body shot
and Perkules counters with a nice leg kick.
Perkules wants to clinch.
Smith checks the leg kick nicely there.
Perkules tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Perkules but Perkules pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith thows a body shot but no joy.
Smith keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Smith tries for a takedown but Perkules sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heath Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Perkules sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Smith gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith prevents Perkules from improving his position.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Perkules is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Perkules 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!

Perkules tries a low kick but Smith avoids it.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Perkules wants to land a leg kick but Smith is out of range.
Smith checks the leg kick nicely there.
Perkules tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perkules tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Perkules manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Perkules is just out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Smith.
A left lands for Smith.
Perkules tries to clinch up
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Smith on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Perkules. Perkules obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkules wants to clinch.
Smith shoots and misses
and Perkules counters with an outside leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Perkules, right into the meat.
Good leg kick by Perkules there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Smith is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Smith takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Perkules fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Smith checks it well.
Smith cracks Perkules with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkules misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smith avoids a kick to the body.
Perkules tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Perkules blocks a leg kick.
Smith thows a leg kick but Perkules checks it
and Perkules counters with a nice body kick.
Perkules throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
No joy there for Perkules, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Perkules is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Perkules closes the distance but Smith moves to the side
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Heath Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Perkules, right into the meat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Perkules misses with a low kick.
Paavo Perkules is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Perkules defending well as Smith loads up on a big left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paavo Perkules comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Perkules 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paavo Perkules!