PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cubensis Azul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paavo Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paavo Smith acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Azul
vs
Smith

174 cm
29
156 lbs
20 - 10 - 1

180 cm
29
180 lbs
20 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

- - - - - All Nutrients 160 - - - - -

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 20 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cubensis Azul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Paavo Smith!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a hook but Azul blocks it.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice defenses there by Smith.
Smith tries for a takedown but Azul sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smith bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Azul's head.
Azul ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Cubensis Azul seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Azul counters with a stiff right hand.
Azul is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Azul is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Azul circles away and we're back to standing.
Cubensis Azul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paavo Smith.
Smith on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Azul. Azul obviously looking to wear him down.
Azul with a body punch. A glancing blow.

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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Azul working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azul keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azul has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Azul working a defensive guard here.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Azul utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Azul can't keep his opponent in guard - Smith advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Azul is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Azul!
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!
Smith is landing with some decent strikes but Azul is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Azul is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Azul wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Smith pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azul takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Smith misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Smith trying to control but Azul is having none of it.
Smith prevents Azul from getting the reversal.
Smith punishing his opponent with strikes.
Smith trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Smith avoids the attempt from Azul to control.
Smith is landing with some decent strikes but Azul is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith wants to control the pace but Azul is squirming around nicely.

Smith wants to finish this one by submission but Azul is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Smith.
Azul keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Azul gets back to half guard.
Smith working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Smith prevents Azul from improving his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Azul keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Azul to regain full guard.
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!

Azul fails to land with a series of punches.
Azul takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Smith throws a body punch but Azul moves out of range.
Smith takes one to the chin there.
Smith scores with a hook.
Azul swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.
Smith avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Smith avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Azul uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Some wild striking there from Azul.
Azul scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Azul does a little dance to reset his feet.
Azul lands a right hook to the body.
Smith stuns Azul with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Azul throws a wild body kick that Smith sees coming a mile off.
A telegraphed right hand from Azul misses the target.
Smith takes a swing at Azul's ribcage but misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Azul lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Smith has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Smith and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Smith slips under a jab from Azul.
A slapping body kick lands there for Azul.
Azul uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Smith swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Azul loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Azul moves away from the strike by Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azul swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith slips under a jab from Azul.
Azul will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Azul misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Azul fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Smith throws a body punch but Azul moves out of range.
A jab from Smith misses.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azul walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Smith checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Azul throws a chopping leg kick but Smith manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Azul throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cubensis Azul is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big left from Smith misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith moves out of range as Azul strikes.
Azul cracks Smith with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Azul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Smith scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Azul lands a nice shot that snaps Smith's head back.
Nice shot by Azul.
Smith thows a body shot but no joy.
Azul throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith moves out of range as Azul throws a body kick.
Azul misses the shot to the body.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Azul.
Smith scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azul buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Azul throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Smith slips a straight right by Azul.
Azul scores with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Azul loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Azul shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Azul throws a shot to the body.
Azul connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Azul takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith needs to keep his hands up - Azul had a free shot at his head there.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Azul uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Azul counters with a slapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cubensis Azul dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters circling a little - Azul finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Smith throws a hook to the side of Azul's head but Azul sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Azul uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azul displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Azul thows a body shot but no joy.
Smith blocks a head kick by Azul.
Smith scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Smith scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Azul uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Azul scores with the left hand. Smith knows he should have avoided that one.
Azul lands with an overhand left.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Azul sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azul goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Azul misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Azul does a little dance to reset his feet.
Azul throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Smith.
A decent looking cross lands there for Azul.
Smith blocks the body kick.
Smith moves out of range of the leg kick from Azul.
Azul is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Azul avoids the body shot from Smith.
Smith swings away with a body shot that misses
and Azul makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Azul throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Azul thuds his right hand into Smith's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Azul.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Azul as he avoids it easily.
Cubensis Azul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paavo Smith.
Azul throws a body kick that misses.
Azul lands a leg kick that knocks Smith off balance momentarily.
Azul misses with a kick to the body.
Azul paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Azul shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith misses with a looping right.
Azul misses with a low kick.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith misses with a body shot
and Azul counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Azul is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Azul swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Azul stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azul swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Azul throws a nice outside leg kick.
Azul feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Smith's calf.
Azul misses with a series of wild punches.
Azul scoring well with a low kick there.
Smith wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
Azul throws a shot to the body.
A big right from Smith misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Azul does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Azul connects with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
Smith looks to throw the jab but Azul is out of range.
Azul fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith.
Azul uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Azul sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azul throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Smith takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Azul avoids the body shot from Smith.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cubensis Azul showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Azul has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cubensis Azul!
Cubensis Azul bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.