PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Fernandes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Fernandes acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Smith
vs
Fernandes

178 cm
23
182 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

181 cm
26
165 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rafael Fernandes!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandes swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Fernandes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fernandes moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fernandes misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Fernandes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rafael Fernandes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Fernandes throws a combination. Smith tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Smith is rocked!

It looks like John Smith has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fernandes wants to clinch
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Smith fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Fernandes on the side of the head.
Fernandes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fernandes tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fernandes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fernandes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Fernandes tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fernandes wants to clinch
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Fernandes tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Fernandes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith.
Fernandes takes a jab right on the kisser.
Smith throws a body punch but Fernandes moves out of range.
Fernandes moves to clinch but Smith breaks away
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fernandes darts in trying to clinch
and Smith counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fernandes thinking.
Fernandes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fernandes wants to clinch but Smith slips to the side
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fernandes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fernandes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Fernandes.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A swing and a miss from Smith.
Smith with a jab.
Smith is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Fernandes tries to clinch up.
Fernandes misses with a double jab.
Fernandes tries to clinch
enabling Smith to counter with a crisp jab.
Smith is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes wants to clinch but Smith slips to the side
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fernandes tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Fernandes's head.
Fernandes tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Good exchange - Smith coming out on top.
Fernandes darts in trying to clinch
and Smith counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A punch combination from Fernandes misses.
Fernandes lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Fernandes misses with a two punch combination.
Fernandes closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smith counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fernandes thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes misses with a series of wild punches.
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!
A jab from Smith misses.
Fernandes moves to clinch but Smith breaks away
and Smith counters with a left and a right that stings Fernandes.
Fernandes needs to keep his hands up - Smith had a free shot at his head there.
Fernandes tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fernandes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Fernandes takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Fernandes is rocked!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fernandes tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fernandes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Smith's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fernandes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fernandes throws a combination that misses
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Smith moves into range and connects with a jab.
John Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
A punch combination from Fernandes misses.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Fernandes moved out of range nicely.
Smith comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fernandes doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Fernandes lands a jab.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Fernandes.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Fernandes moved out of range.
Fernandes throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Fernandes swinging wildly here.
Fernandes tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Fernandes is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Smith misses with a looping left.
Fernandes blocks a jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Smith. That snapped Fernandes's head back.
Fernandes tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.

Fernandes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the ropes.
Fernandes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Fernandes has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.
Smith keeps control of Fernandes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fernandes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fernandes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith won't allow it.
Fernandes has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Smith keeps control of Fernandes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fernandes is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Fernandes rushes Smith and presses him up against the ropes.
Smith prevents Fernandes from breaking the clinch.
Fernandes wants to break free but Smith has control.

Fernandes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fernandes tries to clinch up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A combination from Fernandes does no damage.
Fernandes slips under a jab.
Fernandes closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Nice cross by Fernandes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Fernandes moved out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Smith. That snapped Fernandes's head back.
Fernandes throws a poor cross that misses
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Fernandes swinging wildly here.
Fernandes looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Smith misses the jab.
Fernandes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smith counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Fernandes is breathing heavily.
Fernandes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fernandes looks to clinch
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fernandes wants to clinch
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Fernandes is still on wobbly legs! Can Smith finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fernandes seems to have recovered his senses.
Fernandes uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Fernandes goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Fernandes is just out of range.
Fernandes moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fernandes.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith misses with a looping right.
Jab from Smith.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fernandes misses with a double jab
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Smith connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Smith's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Fernandes is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Fernandes lands with a nice combination. Smith backs away looking to recover.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fernandes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fernandes wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Fernandes misses with a double jab
and Smith counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fernandes thinking.
Fernandes ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith throws a right and a left that Fernandes avoids nicely.
Rafael Fernandes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fernandes moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Fernandes wants to clinch but Smith slips to the side
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A big right from Smith misses.
Smith misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with an uppercut
and Fernandes counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Fernandes.
Fernandes tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fernandes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fernandes tries to clinch up
and Fernandes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice uppercut lands for Fernandes. That snapped Smith's head back.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fernandes lands a two punch combo.
Fernandes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fernandes tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Smith counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Fernandes.
Smith cracks Fernandes with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fernandes.
Smith scores with a decent looking hook.
Fernandes moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Fernandes tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fernandes tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fernandes misses with a few strikes there.
Fernandes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smith cracks Fernandes with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Fernandes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fernandes looks to clinch
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Fernandes.
Fernandes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fernandes throws a combination that misses
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Fernandes throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fernandes shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Smith scores with a nice head shot.
Fernandes throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Fernandes looks to clinch
and Smith counters with a series of strikes. Fernandes will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big left from Smith misses.
Smith connects with a body shot that sends Fernandes's belly button to the back.
Smith misses with a hook. Fernandes ducked under it nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fernandes avoids the body shot from Smith.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Fernandes.
John Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fernandes tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fernandes tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith misses with a hook.
Fernandes tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Rafael Fernandes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Fernandes misses with a two punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John Smith.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Smith!