PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Diego Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gonzalez might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to eye of the tiger. Diego Gonzalez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gonzalez
vs
Smith

186 cm
18
182 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
192 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Diego Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Smith!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith scores with a takedown into Gonzalez's guard.
Smith stops Gonzalez from standing up.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Gonzalez is retaining full guard.
Gonzalez wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Gonzalez pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Gonzalez wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Gonzalez is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smith is looking to advance position but Gonzalez has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Smith gets back to half guard.
Gonzalez not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gonzalez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gonzalez's back!
Gonzalez is breathing heavily.

Smith has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Smith looking for the RNC.
The referee is taking a good look at Gonzalez as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Smith!

Gonzalez is having to fend off submission attempts from Smith, who is looking to sink in the choke. Smith doesn't have the hooks in though and Gonzalez manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gonzalez manages to get himself to full guard.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Gonzalez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Smith puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Smith is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gonzalez is just riding it out for now. Smith eventually gives up the hold.
Smith wants to control but Gonzalez is keeping him busy.

Smith is working for a kimura but Gonzalez is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is working for a kimura but Gonzalez is defending it quite comfortably.
Smith content to control rather than advance.
Gonzalez pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Gonzalez's hands, connecting with Gonzalez's forehead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gonzalez missing with punches from the bottom.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gonzalez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gonzalez is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.

Smith has hold of Gonzalez's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gonzalez manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith working for a guillotine from mount but Gonzalez is in no mood to give up.
Smith lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gonzalez hang on?

Gonzalez defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Smith.
Smith misses with a head shot.
Gonzalez is in a horrible position here. Smith smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Smith looking for a guillotine from mount but Gonzalez is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smith looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith throws a nice outside leg kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.

Smith wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gonzalez, who protects the arm well.
Smith trying to control the action but Gonzalez is working from the bottom.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gonzalez struggling a bit here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gonzalez keeps working.
Gonzalez is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith grinds an elbow into Gonzalez's temple.
The ground and pound from Smith seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Smith wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gonzalez, who protects the arm well.
Gonzalez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gonzalez wants to control but Smith passes into side.
Gonzalez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
James Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gonzalez is working hard here to advance position.
Gonzalez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Smith has hold of Gonzalez's hands but Gonzalez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gonzalez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Smith wants to improve his position but Gonzalez is controlling well.
Gonzalez working over Smith with some ground and pound. Smith looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is controlling the pace.

Gonzalez is working for a submission of some sort.
Gonzalez is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith tries to roll over but Gonzalez keeps him under control.

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

Gonzalez drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith looking to slow down the pace here.
Gonzalez lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Gonzalez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Smith wants to control from the top but Gonzalez keeps moving.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gonzalez's head.
Smith stands and throws Gonzalez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Smith trying to control the position but Gonzalez is working away.
Gonzalez manages to get back to half guard.
Smith trying to control from Gonzalez's half guard. Gonzalez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Smith drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gonzalez dives on top into guard.
Gonzalez wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Gonzalez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Gonzalez from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gonzalez!
Smith wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Gonzalez is just holding on here. Smith manages to take his back.
Gonzalez manages to reverse the position and now he's in Smith's guard. Nice work there by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith wants to sweep here but Gonzalez controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James 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 to land the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gonzalez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gonzalez moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Gonzalez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gonzalez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gonzalez's guard.

Gonzalez 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.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Gonzalez working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gonzalez is keeping the position for now.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Gonzalez is retaining full guard.

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gonzalez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gonzalez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gonzalez!
Gonzalez takes a little break here. Smith wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Smith is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gonzalez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gonzalez trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Gonzalez connects with a couple of short punches.
Gonzalez pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gonzalez trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Gonzalez prevents Smith from improving his position.
Gonzalez wants to pass the guard but Smith is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith works his way to full guard. Good work.

Smith isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Gonzalez stacks Smith on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Gonzalez!
Gonzalez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Gonzalez wants to stand but Smith is controlling his arm.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Smith is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Gonzalez pulls his head out easily.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gonzalez is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.

Gonzalez stands up and beckons Smith to join him on the feet.

Smith decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Gonzalez has one foot on Smith's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Gonzalez shoots in but no luck this time.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.
Gonzalez wants to get back to his feet but Smith drags him back down.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gonzalez throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

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