PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rob Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Smithers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gracie might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Apaga Nao Bate. Rob Gracie has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Gracie
vs
Smithers

188 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

160 cm
22
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Breeze
Elemental Fightwear

Breeze

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nick Smithers!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smithers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smithers wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Smithers stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Smithers from controlling successfully.
Smithers is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gracie striking off his back but it's not causing Smithers any problems.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Smithers tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smithers tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Gracie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Gracie is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Smithers can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Smithers sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Smithers defends the submission attempt.
Smithers is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Smithers has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Smithers wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smithers works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smithers 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.
Smithers passes Gracie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Smithers looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smithers looking to pass the guard.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smithers manages to get himself to full guard.
Gracie is fighting to break Smithers's control of his arms but Smithers is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie gets to his feet. Smithers looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Smithers closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gracie circles away.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Smithers circles away easily

and Smithers counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Smithers pushes down on Gracie's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smithers is controlling the pace.

Smithers decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Smithers scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Smithers works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Smithers.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.

Smithers wants to finish this one by submission but Gracie is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Smithers.

Smithers gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Smithers closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smithers trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Smithers pulls his head out easily.

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

Smithers 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smithers fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.

Smithers pulls guard successfully.

Smithers is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie prevents Smithers from getting back to his feet.
Smithers is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smithers has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smithers tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smithers sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracie wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Smithers.
Smithers tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Smithers sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.

Smithers looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Smithers stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Smithers.

Smithers feints and as Gracie raises his hands in defense, Smithers changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smithers controls the pace.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smithers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smithers is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie 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.
Smithers is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smithers passes Gracie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Smithers looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Smithers should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Smithers seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smithers with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Smithers is tying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Smithers 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.
Gracie is staying active underneath Smithers, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Smithers tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie fails with the takedown

and Smithers decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gracie's guard.

Smithers thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Gracie stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Gracie with a poor takedown

and Smithers counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smithers sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smithers performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Smithers missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smithers is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Smithers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Smithers shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smithers was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Smithers throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Nick Smithers has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.

Smithers is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Gracie is surviving well by controlling Smithers's body position as best he can.
Gracie blocking the ground and pound.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Smithers has a good base and remains in mount.
Gracie regains half guard.
Smithers wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie wants to control but Smithers is keeping busy.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Smithers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Gracie is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Smithers has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Gracie trying to control but Smithers is having none of it.

Gracie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Smithers manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smithers has escaped the position, nice work there.
Smithers tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Smithers is defending well.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smithers, who protects the arm well.
Smithers sneaks back into half guard.
Smithers trying to control from the bottom.
Smithers works his way to full guard. Good work.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Smithers dives on top into guard.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smithers trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Smithers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Gracie working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Smithers has passed into half guard!

Smithers seems to be looking for submissions.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Smithers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smithers slips nicely into half guard.
Smithers is looking to advance position but Gracie won't allow it.

Smithers seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.
Smithers is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.

Smithers is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rob Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smithers looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Smithers is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nick Smithers.
I've got Smithers 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Smithers!