PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Owen Schmitt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paavo Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Schmitt comes to the cage accompanied by In God We Trust - Stryper. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Schmitt
vs
Smith

182 cm
27
171 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
180 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Owen Schmitt!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Paavo Smith!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Colin Fotheringham and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schmitt stuffs the takedown.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Smith working the body and head with strikes.

Smith tries for a kimura but Schmitt is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
You can see the frustration on Schmitt's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Schmitt manages to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schmitt is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smith's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smith's back!
Smith covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Schmitt missing with strikes.
Schmitt is controlling the position but Smith somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Schmitt wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Schmitt wants to free his trapped foot but Smith is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmitt wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Schmitt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Schmitt!

Smith is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Schmitt to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Schmitt shrugs it off.
Smith connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Schmitt keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Schmitt is bucking up trying to escape but Smith cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmitt working to try and regain half guard.
Smith controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schmitt is looking to get to half guard.
Schmitt is just holding on here. Smith manages to take his back.
Schmitt grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Smith controlling well, preventing Schmitt from escaping the position.

Smith looking for the choke from the back.
Smith is punishing Schmitt with some ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Schmitt manages to reverse the position and now he's in Smith's guard. Nice work there by Schmitt.

Smith has his foot on Schmitt's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Schmitt works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Schmitt preventing the sweep.
Schmitt trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schmitt is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Schmitt landing with the ground and pound.
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 is working for a submission of some sort.
Smith is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmitt holds on to Smith around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Smith putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Schmitt tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Schmitt is trying desperately to improve position.
Schmitt regains half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schmitt won't allow Smith to pass to mount.
Schmitt is not content to let Smith control the position.
Schmitt is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Smith dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Schmitt throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Schmitt throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Schmitt takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Schmitt misses with a low kick.
Smith throws a leg kick but Schmitt checks it.
Smith takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Paavo Smith has been cut.
Schmitt scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Smith throws a hook but Schmitt blocks it.
Schmitt pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice defenses there by Smith.
Schmitt misses with a straight left.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmitt is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Schmitt moved out of range.
A combination from Schmitt does no damage.
Schmitt swings widly with a right hand

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Schmitt wants to get back to full guard.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

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.
Schmitt is looking to improve his position.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Schmitt has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmitt manages to get to full guard.
Schmitt looking for a sweep. Not yet Schmitt, not yet.
Schmitt lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smith!
Schmitt working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Schmitt punching from mount but Smith doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Smith is working to get back to half guard.
Schmitt 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.
Schmitt lands a nice shot to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Schmitt tries to control but Smith wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working to get back to half guard.
Schmitt punching from mount but Smith doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Schmitt thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Schmitt looking to finish Smith with some ground and pound. This is bad for Smith!
Schmitt cracks Smith with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Schmitt looking to ground and pound but Smith is blocking nicely.
Paavo Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

Schmitt goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Smith turns into him and now he's in Schmitt's guard.
Smith preventing the sweep.

Schmitt had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Schmitt tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Smith is trying to get an arm triangle but Schmitt is defending well.
Schmitt 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.
Smith wants to control but Schmitt is keeping him busy.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schmitt is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Owen Schmitt dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Paavo Smith's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Schmitt throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Schmitt's guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Schmitt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Schmitt isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Smith stacks Schmitt 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 Smith!
Smith controlling from side mount.
Schmitt 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.
Smith landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Schmitt is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smith lands a nice forearm strike.
Smith wants to control but Schmitt is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith is trying to get an arm triangle but Schmitt is defending well.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Smith controlling the position from side mount.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Schmitt struggling a bit here.
Schmitt manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Schmitt moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith pushing down on Schmitt's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Schmitt defends it.
Schmitt is in trouble now - Smith has advanced to mount!

Smith working for a guillotine from mount but Schmitt is in no mood to give up.
Schmitt is looking to get to half guard.
Smith punishing his opponent with strikes.
Smith lands with some strikes.
Smith wants to control the pace but Schmitt is squirming around nicely.
Schmitt is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Schmitt keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Smith working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Schmitt is working to get back to half guard.
Smith landing strikes from the mount.
Schmitt tries to hold on but Smith postures up.
Schmitt can't escape the position.

Smith looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Schmitt looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmitt is trying to break free.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Schmitt preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Smith.
Schmitt turns into Smith and is now in his guard.
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 throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Smith really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paavo Smith's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith lands with a good body shot.
Schmitt throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Schmitt stuns Smith with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Smith drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Schmitt finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Schmitt throws a leg kick

and Smith counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Schmitt's guard now.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Schmitt has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Schmitt's legs - danger averted.
Schmitt wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Schmitt wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Schmitt 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 pushing down on Schmitt's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Smith seems to be looking for submissions.
Smith is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Schmitt!
Schmitt regains half guard.
Schmitt pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura but Schmitt is defending well.
Schmitt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmitt slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith advances to half guard.
Schmitt is trying to get back to full guard.
Schmitt moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smith postures up.
Schmitt wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Schmitt's guard.
Smith is taking a breather. Schmitt says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Smith trying to pass the guard but Schmitt defending well.
Smith trying to control the action but Schmitt is working from the bottom.
Schmitt tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Schmitt is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Paavo Smith has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.

Schmitt moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmitt lands a body shot in the clinch.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Schmitt lands with a short shot to the head.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Schmitt won't allow it.
Schmitt prevents a takedown attempt there.
Schmitt slows down the pace here.
Schmitt is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Schmitt breaks the clinch.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Schmitt sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Owen Schmitt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paavo Smith.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Schmitt throws a right hand that misses

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schmitt keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Smith dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Paavo Smith's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

The fighters circling - Schmitt throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Schmitt throws an overhand right that lands on Smith's shoulder, as Smith tries to avoid the shot.
Schmitt misses with a hook.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Schmitt.
Smith moves out of range of the body kick.
Smith misses with a low kick.
A slow jab from Schmitt misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schmitt misses with a body shot
and Smith counters with a nice body shot.
Schmitt throws a nice inside leg kick.
Smith avoids the body shot from Schmitt.
Smith slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmitt moves away from the strike by Smith.
The fight stays on the outside here - Schmitt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Schmitt jabs Smith right on the nose. Smith blinks but takes it well.
Schmitt attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Smith is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Schmitt's half guard.

Schmitt is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.
Schmitt is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.
Schmitt wants to get back to full guard.
Smith is just content to waste time from the top position. Schmitt takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Schmitt is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Schmitt manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith is pulling down on Schmitt's head. It's preventing any offense from Schmitt, at least for the moment.
Schmitt working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Schmitt from controlling successfully.
Paavo Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schmitt drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smith manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Schmitt has Smith in his guard.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smith trying to control but Schmitt is working from the bottom.
Smith forces his way into half guard.

Schmitt looking for submissions off his back.
Schmitt is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Owen Schmitt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith sitting in guard here, content to control.
Smith slips nicely into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Smith in particular looking to stall.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Schmitt knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Schmitt looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Schmitt is in trouble now - Smith has advanced to mount!
Smith is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Schmitt is in real trouble.
Well, with Smith on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Schmitt is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Smith is not going to allow Schmitt to sit and survive in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paavo Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 46:49
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 46:49
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paavo Smith!
Paavo Smith is the new welterweight champion!