PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Iain Durrant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxwell Smart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Durrant
vs
Smart

170 cm
29
145 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

178 cm
24
143 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Iain Durrant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maxwell Smart!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durrant with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Smart to score with a decent uppercut.

Durrant shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Smart is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Durrant looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Durrant is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smart sees it coming and defends easily.
Smart is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Smart is not content to let Durrant control the position.
Smart is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smart is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Durrant trying to mount his opponent but Smart defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smart is trying to get back to full guard.

Durrant is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Durrant tries to pass to full mount but Smart defends it.

Durrant is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smart is pressing down on Durrant's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Smart looking to hit a scissor sweep but Durrant is one step ahead there.
Smart preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Durrant trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Durrant drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Smart dives on top into guard.
Smart wants to pass the guard but Durrant is keeping the position.
Smart throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Durrant looking to control.
Smart postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Durrant keeping full guard, as Smart tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smart pushes down on Durrant's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Durrant is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Durrant wants to control but Smart is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smart perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Smart is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Durrant sees it coming and defends easily.
Smart thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Durrant's head.

Smart is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Smart is looking for a kimura but Durrant is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smart to get the leverage.

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.
Durrant is trying to maintain the position but Smart is very close to passing his half guard.
Smart misses with a head shot. Durrant uses the momentum to regain guard.
Smart missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smart looking to pass the guard.
Smart trying to control but Durrant is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Maxwell Smart will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Durrant avoids the body shot from Smart.
Durrant lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smart circles away quickly and effectively.
Durrant throws a sloppy head kick and Smart moves out of range easily.
Smart fails with a takedown attempt.
Smart tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Durrant swivels and escapes.
Smart shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Smart throws a half hearted mid kick.
Durrant will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Durrant shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Durrant is trying to work for a kimura but Smart is defending well.
Smart tries to get to full guard but Durrant has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrant passes the guard and advances to mount!
Smart can't escape the position.
Smart sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Smart tries to get to full guard but Durrant has control of the leg.
Durrant works his foot free and advances to mount.
Smart is trying desperately to improve position.
Durrant wants to control the pace but Smart is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smart is desperately trying to improve his position but Durrant has a good base and remains in mount.

Durrant looking for a guillotine from mount but Smart is having none of it.
Smart is trying desperately to improve position.
Durrant looking to control but Smart is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smart can't escape the position.
Smart slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Durrant slips a nice elbow through Smart's hands, connecting with Smart's forehead.
Smart blocking the ground and pound attempt from Durrant.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smart is pressing down on Durrant's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Durrant postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Smart is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Durrant, into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Durrant avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Durrant working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smart.
Smart looking to sit in guard and control but Durrant gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Smart working for a triangle but Durrant defends it easily.
Durrant preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Durrant drops back looking for a leg! Smart is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smart manages to kick Durrant off! Durrant jumps back into Smart's guard.
Durrant would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Smart working for a triangle but Durrant defends it easily.

Smart is looking for a triangle but Durrant pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Iain Durrant will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Durrant enables Smart to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Durrant manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Smart preventing the sweep.
Maxwell Smart has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smart postures up in Durrant's guard and throws a big left but Durrant blocks it.
Smart must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smart wants to control from the top but Durrant keeps moving.
Smart works over Durrant with some ground and pound from guard.

Smart postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Durrant is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Smart, into his guard.

Durrant 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Durrant is looking to stand up but Smart won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrant trying to control but Smart is working from the bottom.
Smart bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Durrant's guard.
Durrant bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smart's guard.
Durrant pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smart is keeping the position for now.
Smart avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Durrant is looking to stand up but Smart won't let him.

Smart is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smart is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smart is pressing down on Durrant's thigh, looking to free his foot. Durrant is holding on for now.

Smart is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Durrant defends it well.
Durrant taking some punishment here, with Smart in his half guard.
Smart is looking to take a break and control but Durrant is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Smart stands up out of the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smart jabs Durrant to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smart shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Durrant sprawls well. Durrant wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smart gets slowly back to his feet.
A punch combination from Durrant misses.

Smart gets a takedown into half guard.
Smart throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Smart seems to be looking for submissions.
Smart wants to stand up but Durrant has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Durrant manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smart wants to control from the top but Durrant keeps moving.
Smart postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Durrant pulls Smart in close to his closed guard and prevents Smart from doing any damage or advancing position.
Smart postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smart stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Durrant swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Durrant has control of Smart's left arm, preventing Smart from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maxwell Smart comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smart 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Maxwell Smart!