PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaarel Valtna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Cain Smith has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Smith
vs
Valtna

187 cm
19
240 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

189 cm
26
244 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

HITME! Clothing Line (Chuck Norris Collection)
HITME! Clothing Line (Chuck Norris Collection)

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cain Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Kaarel Valtna!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valtna chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smith can pounce on him.
Valtna tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Valtna shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Valtna sprawls well.
Valtna tries to clinch up.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Valtna pushes him off.

Valtna shoots in and gets a takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Valtna from controlling successfully.

Valtna drops back, looking for a kneebar! Smith looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Smith looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Smith!
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Valtna is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to stand but Valtna is controlling his arm.
Valtna can't do much from the bottom here.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Valtna tries to buck Smith off but Smith is having none of it.
Valtna is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.
Valtna tries to escape but Smith is in control.
Smith staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valtna is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Smith has just dragged him back down to the mat.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Valtna closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Cain Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaarel Valtna.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Valtna darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Valtna sits in half guard.
Smith tries to roll over but Valtna keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valtna thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Valtna trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Valtna on the ground.
Valtna is figuring out what he wants to do next.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Valtna wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Smith uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

Smith has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Valtna off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Smith fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Smith throws and elbow that misses. Valtna uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Valtna!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Valtna!
Smith looking to control but Valtna is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Valtna is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith working Valtna over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cain Smith will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Valtna in a clinch.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Valtna.
Smith is working for takedown but Valtna is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Valtna shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Valtna has Smith pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Smith manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Smith breaks from the clinch.

Valtna clinches.
Valtna jumps guard but Smith stands there with Valtna around his waist. Valtna gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cain Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaarel Valtna.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Valtna saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Valtna gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Smith counters with a nice low kick that buckles Valtna's knee momentarily.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Valtna sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Smith throws a right and a left that Valtna avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valtna gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Valtna is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.
Valtna has a closed guard, preventing Smith from standing up.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Valtna is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
Cain Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Valtna keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valtna working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Valtna looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Valtna controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Valtna keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith postures up in Valtna's guard and throws a big left but Valtna blocks it.
Smith tries to stand but Valtna is controlling from the bottom.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Cain Smith.
Valtna on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sloppy strikes from Smith. Those never looked like landing.
Cain Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valtna shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Valtna didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valtna trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Valtna throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Valtna gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith is trying to hold Valtna in close to prevent damage but Valtna has managed to pass into half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Valtna seems to be working for a kimura but Smith defends the submission attempt.
Valtna looks to land a strike but Smith avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Smith dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Valtna scores with a takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith pulls Valtna in close to prevent any damage.
Valtna stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Valtna wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Valtna being controlled here momentarily.

Valtna thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Valtna from controlling successfully.
Valtna tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.

Valtna decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Valtna pushes him off.

Valtna gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Smith wants to stand but Valtna is controlling his posture from full guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Valtna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Smith wants to stand but Valtna is controlling his posture from full guard.
Smith trying to control but Valtna is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Cain Smith.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith tries to clinch there but Valtna circles away.
Valtna has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith pushes Valtna up against the ropes in a clinch.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Valtna counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Valtna drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Valtna jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Valtna drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Valtna off! Valtna jumps back into Smith's guard.
Valtna takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valtna postures up.
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.
Valtna is trying to control but can't.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith lands strikes from half guard.
Valtna is not content to let Smith control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Valtna is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cain Smith.
Well Smith has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight for Cain Smith!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Cain Smith!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Cain Smith!

Cain Smith wins by unanimous decision!