PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Vernon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Smitinato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smitinato has chosen Wale - Slight Work feat. Big Sean as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Roberto Smitinato is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Vernon
vs
Smitinato

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Vernon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roberto Smitinato!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smitinato 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 claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Vernon keeping full guard, as Smitinato tries to pass.

Smitinato stands up from Vernon's guard - Smitinato perhaps looking for a knockout.
Vernon is looking to clinch but Smitinato is avoiding it.
Vernon wants to clinch up but Smitinato keeps it at a distance.

Vernon has managed to clinch.
Vernon tries to circle away but Smitinato has him pinned against the cage.
Smitinato has Vernon pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Vernon manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Vernon tries to throw a body punch but Smitinato avoids it by throwing Vernon back against the cage.

Vernon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smitinato closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vernon circles away.

Smitinato closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Vernon's guard.
Smitinato stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vernon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smitinato postures up in Vernon's guard and throws a big left but Vernon blocks it.
Smitinato trying to control but Vernon is working from the bottom.
Vernon is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smitinato is controlling him.
Smitinato wants to control from the top but Vernon keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Roberto Smitinato hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vernon. Smitinato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smitinato circles away from the clinch attempt

and Smitinato counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smitinato pushes down on Vernon's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smitinato prevents Vernon from improving his position.
Smitinato controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vernon tries to roll over but Smitinato keeps him under control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smitinato moves into full mount! Vernon won't be happy about that!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Smitinato dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smitinato fails with the takedown
and Vernon counters with a nice leg kick.
Vernon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smitinato shoots in but Vernon avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smitinato looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vernon is fending him off so far but Smitinato persists. Nope, Vernon circles away and we're back to standing.
Chris Vernon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Smitinato.
Vernon tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smitinato manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vernon tries to score with a low kick but Smitinato moves his leg out of the way.
Smitinato tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vernon swivels and escapes.
Vernon misses with the combination.
Smitinato throws a sloppy head kick and Vernon moves out of range easily.
Chris Vernon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vernon wants to clinch.
Vernon is looking to clinch but Smitinato is avoiding it.
Vernon moves in looking to clinch but Smitinato pushes him off.
Smitinato takes a swing at Vernon's ribcage but misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smitinato.

Vernon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Vernon is looking to break free of the clinch but Smitinato has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Vernon misses with a body punch.

Vernon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smitinato tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Vernon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Smitinato gets in close and instigates a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vernon creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Smitinato jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vernon walks away with a smile on his face. Smitinato gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vernon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smitinato looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vernon is fending him off so far but Smitinato persists. Nope, Vernon circles away and we're back to standing.
Vernon wants to clinch up but Smitinato keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon tries to bum rush Smitinato with a series of wild strikes but Smitinato uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smitinato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smitinato lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Vernon tried to score with a low kick but Smitinato checks it.
Vernon is looking to clinch but Smitinato is avoiding it.
Vernon wants to clinch up but Smitinato keeps it at a distance.
Vernon tries to clinch up

and Smitinato counters with a single leg into guard. Vernon didn't expect that.
Vernon wants to stand up but Smitinato is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smitinato trying to control but Vernon is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Smitinato prevents Vernon from getting back to his feet.

Roberto Smitinato has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Smitinato throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vernon's waist but Vernon gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smitinato off to one side.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Vernon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smitinato, pushing him back against the cage.
Vernon could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Vernon throws a head punch that misses.
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 Chris Vernon will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Smitinato dives in and scores a takedown into Vernon's guard.
Smitinato passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Smitinato trying to control the action but Vernon is working from the bottom.
Vernon struggling a bit here.
Roberto Smitinato has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vernon is working to avoid the ground and pound but Smitinato connects with a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smitinato trying to control the action but Vernon is working from the bottom.

Smitinato decides to stand back up.
Vernon throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smitinato wants to clinch up but Vernon keeps it at a distance.
Vernon wants to clinch up but Smitinato keeps it at a distance.
Smitinato fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smitinato closes the distance and clinches up with Vernon, looking for a takedown. Smitinato pushes Vernon against the cage but Vernon circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon is looking to clinch.
Roberto Smitinato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vernon tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Smitinato counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vernon tries to bum rush Smitinato with a series of wild strikes but Smitinato uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smitinato is defended easily by Vernon.
Chris Vernon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Smitinato.
Smitinato takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vernon closes the distance but Smitinato moves to the side
and Smitinato counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Vernon is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Smitinato with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sloppy strikes from Vernon. Those never looked like landing.
Smitinato closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vernon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smitinato throws a head kick that misses.
Vernon tries to close the distance and clinch but Smitinato swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vernon tries to clinch there but Smitinato circles away.
Smitinato shoots in and drives through. Vernon sprawls well.
Smitinato throws a head kick but Vernon moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Vernon there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Smitinato fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vernon avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vernon tries to clinch but Smitinato moves out of range.
Vernon throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smitinato shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vernon pinned against the cage. Vernon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vernon doesn't manage to clinch there - Smitinato circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vernon doesn't manage to clinch there - Smitinato circles away.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Roberto Smitinato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smitinato has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roberto Smitinato!
Roberto Smitinato decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.