PBP Commentary

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

Smith
vs
Marecki

167 cm
29
160 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

182 cm
25
163 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Polskie Odżywki/ Polish Nutrition [PL]

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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marek Marecki!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tests Marecki's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like Marek Marecki has been cut.
Smith throws a jab when Marecki was well out of range.
Marecki slips a jab from Smith.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Marecki counters by moving into the clinch.
Marecki tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Marecki drops back down to his feet.

Marecki successfully pulls guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Marecki is keeping the position.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Marecki has Smith pulled in close to control his posture.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Marecki is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to stand but Marecki has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Marecki is adopting a defensive guard.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Marecki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Marecki landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Marecki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Smith tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Marecki lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to kick Marecki off but Marecki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Marecki is trying to control. Smith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Marecki winds up and cracks Smith with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marecki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smith is trying to stand back up but Marecki is controlling him

Smith pushes Marecki off and gets back to his feet.
Marecki misses with a takedown
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Marecki shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sam Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marek Marecki.
Smith throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Marecki on the side of the head.
Smith throws an off balance right hand

and Marecki counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith pushes Marecki off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Smith blocks a head kick by Marecki.
Smith misses with a hook

and Marecki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Marecki looks gassed!
Marecki stops Smith from getting back to his feet.
Marecki looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Marecki sits in half guard.
Marecki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marecki lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Marecki passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Smith!
Smith regains half guard.
Marecki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smith is looking to escape.
Marecki uses his free foot to push down on Smith's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Smith.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith is working to get back to half guard.

Smith somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marek Marecki will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marek Marecki's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Smith throws an off balance right hand

and Marecki counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Marecki.
Marecki is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Marecki has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Smith works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Marecki misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sam Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marek Marecki.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Marecki.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Marecki saw that one coming.

Marecki shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
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!
Marecki misses with a head shot. Smith uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marecki is standing up over Smith. Smith looks to escape but Marecki dives into side control.
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Marecki has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Marecki lands an elbow.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

Marecki decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Smith misses with a lunging right hand

and Marecki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marecki content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Marecki working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marecki thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Marecki looks to land a strike but Smith avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Smith avoiding any damage from 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.
Marecki wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Marecki is breathing heavily.

Smith is looking for a kimura but Marecki is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smith to get the leverage.

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

Smith is looking for a kimura here.
Marecki wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marecki wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.

Smith is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Marecki is just riding it out for now. Smith eventually gives up the hold.
Smith passes the guard and advances to mount!
Marecki is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith landing punches.

Smith looking to secure an arm triangle but Marecki defends it well.
Smith trying to control but Marecki is having none of it.
Marecki holds on, trying desperately to control.
Poor strikes thrown by Smith there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Smith thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Marecki tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith wants to finish this one by submission but Marecki is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Smith.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Marecki looks a forlorn figure.
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 Sam Smith will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marek Marecki's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith gets caught napping as Marecki dives in and scores a takedown. Smith manages to retain guard.
Marecki throwing strikes but missing.
Marecki content to stall in guard here.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marecki is controlling him.
Marecki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Marecki postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Marecki landing with the ground and pound.

Marecki gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Smith misses with an uppercut.

Marecki gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marecki gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Marecki gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Marecki manages to break the clinch.
Sam Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Marecki.
Marecki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith lands a jab to the head.
Marecki dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Marecki's head and hops out.
Marecki takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Smith misses with the combination.
Nice jab there from Smith.
Smith is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marecki is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Marecki is rocked!
Smith moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Marecki is still on wobbly legs! Can Smith finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws an overhand right from the outside, which connects and sends Marecki stumbling backwards into the cage! Marecki bounces back off the cage towards Smith, who cracks him with a two punch combination that drops him to his knees! Smith lands two more shots before the referee has chance to intervene - what a finish! Smith celebrates with his corner as the crowd cheer loudly.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:10 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Sam Smith!
In his post fight interview, Sam Smith started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.