PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paavo Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Perko Late (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Late is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: No Easy Way Out . Perko Late has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Smith
vs
Late

180 cm
27
180 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

178 cm
32
183 lbs
19 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Fight Club Clothing est. 09™
Fight Club Clothing est. 09™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Paavo Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Perko Late!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Late looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Late looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Late displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Smith takes a swing at Late's ribcage but misses.
Smith throws a low kick but Late avoids it.
Late ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Late.
Late uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Smith has time to react.

Late gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Late has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Late's legs - danger averted.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Late is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Late works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith trying to control but Late is working from the bottom.

That's two 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 Late's guard.
Smith working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Late's thigh. Late counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Late utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith trying to control but Late is working from the bottom.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to advance position but Late has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Late landing strikes, looking to finish!
Late working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Smith is trying to escape the mount.
Late looking to finish with strikes here!
Late thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Smith is in all sorts of trouble here.
Late lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Late wants to take Smith's back but he can't do it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is desperately trying to improve his position but Late has a good base and remains in mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Late's attempts to control the action.
Late unloading with bombs!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith tries to hold on but Late postures up.
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 Paavo Smith will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Late misses with a hook.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Late is just out of range.
Late tries a head kick but it misses.
Late connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

It looks like Paavo Smith has been cut.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Late.
Late throws an overhand right that lands on Smith's shoulder, as Smith tries to avoid the shot.
Late tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith wants to slow Late down by chopping away at his legs.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith throws a leg kick
and Late counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Late bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Late finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Late moved out of range nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Late does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith throws an overhand right that lands on Late's shoulder, as Late tries to avoid the shot.
Smith fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Smith connects with a crisp jab.
Late misses with a head kick.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Late pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Late gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Late putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Smith in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Late has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smith uses from the top position.
Smith passes Late's left leg - he's now in half guard.

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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Late's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Late knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Late is working away.
Smith misses with a head shot. Late uses the momentum to regain guard.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Late swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is pushing down on Late's leg trying to pass to half guard. Late is fighting to maintain full guard but Smith has managed to sneak the leg through.

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.
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Late is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Late is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
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 Paavo Smith will probably get the nod.
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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Late loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Late looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Late avoids it really well and circles away.
Late takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Late tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Late is just out of range.
Late misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Late scores with a shot to the body.
Smith wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Smith takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Smith fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Late to the ground. Smith is now in Late's guard.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Late is retaining full guard.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Smith postures up.
Late wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith throws an elbow that misses. Late uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Late!
Perko Late has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith working for a triangle but Late defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Late postures up.
Smith wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Paavo Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Late stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Late wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Late looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.
Smith throws a hook but Late avoids it easily.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Late.
Late displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Late ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A telegraphed right hand from Late misses the target.
Late blocks a jab.
A swing and a miss from Smith.
Late throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Late tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Late throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smith sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith leaves Late with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Late takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Late will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

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 Paavo Smith.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Paavo Smith!
A relieved looking Paavo Smith thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.