PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Smitinato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Inspectah Knuckles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smitinato kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Wale - Slight Work feat. Big Sean . I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Smitinato
vs
Knuckles

188 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roberto Smitinato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Inspectah Knuckles!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Knuckles drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Smitinato can't do much from the bottom here.
Knuckles working the ground and pound but Smitinato is defending the strikes.
Smitinato is being controlled here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smitinato tries to buck Knuckles off but Knuckles is having none of it.
Knuckles lands a few punches from side control.
Knuckles working the head with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knuckles working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smitinato holding on.
Knuckles scores with a couple of short elbows.
Knuckles landing strikes.
Knuckles working the body and head with strikes.
Smitinato takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Knuckles throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smitinato is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smitinato manages to get back to half guard.
Smitinato is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles lands strikes from half guard.
Knuckles looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Smitinato throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Knuckles takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Knuckles tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smitinato knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Smitinato is trying to control but can't.

Knuckles is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smitinato defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smitinato blocking the ground and pound attempt from Knuckles.
Knuckles trying to control the action but Smitinato is working from the bottom.

Knuckles is working for a submission of some sort.
Knuckles is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smitinato has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Knuckles is working away from the top position though.
Knuckles wants to take a breather but Smitinato is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smitinato avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Knuckles.
Smitinato is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smitinato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Inspectah Knuckles dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smitinato misses with a two punch combination.

Smitinato gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Knuckles to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Knuckles throwing strikes from guard but Smitinato blocks nicely.
Knuckles not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Knuckles with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smitinato trying to keep a closed guard but Knuckles is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles controlling from the top position.
Knuckles has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smitinato is proving hard to escape from.

Inspectah Knuckles has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Smitinato misses with a takedown

and Knuckles counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Knuckles.
Knuckles throws a big elbow that misses.
Knuckles is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Knuckles has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Smitinato looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Inspectah Knuckles was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A combination from Smitinato does no damage.
Knuckles connects with a nice looking jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Knuckles feints and as Smitinato raises his hands in defense, Knuckles changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Inspectah Knuckles has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smitinato wants to sweep here but Knuckles controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles is working Smitinato over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smitinato trying to keep a closed guard but Knuckles is proving a slippery customer.
Knuckles must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Knuckles works over Smitinato with some ground and pound from guard.
Smitinato can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Knuckles controls the pace.
Knuckles trying to control the position from guard on top but Smitinato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Knuckles's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Knuckles postures up and lands a big shot to Smitinato's brow.
Knuckles sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Knuckles wants to pass the guard but Smitinato is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Smitinato is trying to keep Knuckles in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Inspectah Knuckles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Knuckles shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Knuckles was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Knuckles avoids the attempt from Smitinato to control.
Knuckles cracks Smitinato with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Knuckles putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Smitinato is rocked!
Smitinato is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Knuckles lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smitinato hang on?
Oh Smitinato is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles lands a big elbow - Smitinato is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Smitinato is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Inspectah Knuckles!