PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Adam Rubio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heath Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith has chosen Wild International as his entrance music. Adam Rubio has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rubio
vs
Smith

180 cm
27
165 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

177 cm
30
162 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150
Brute

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 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Adam Rubio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Heath Smith!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rubio is looking to clinch.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rubio is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rubio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith wants to control from the top but Rubio keeps moving.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rubio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rubio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rubio not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith looking to pass the guard.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rubio has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Rubio's legs - danger averted.
Smith stands up over Rubio, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smith lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Rubio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rubio keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smith is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Rubio has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubio is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rubio manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Rubio goes for an armbar but Smith turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Smith.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Rubio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith won't allow Rubio to get back to his feet.
Smith wants to control from the top but Rubio keeps moving.
Rubio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith landing some decent shots from guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rubio keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heath Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Smith fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rubio on the side of the head.

Rubio moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith wants to take the fight to the mat but Rubio manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rubio misses with an elbow over the top.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rubio gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rubio lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Adam Rubio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Smith.
Smith wants a takedown.
Smith is trying to drag Rubio to the mat but Rubio just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rubio lands an uppercut.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rubio avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rubio is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rubio misses with a body punch.
Smith is looking to take this one to the mat.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rubio avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rubio breaks the clinch.
Rubio avoids the body shot from Smith.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Rubio.
Rubio fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith throws a low kick but Rubio moves out of range easily.
Rubio tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rubio counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Smith displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Heath Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Smith misses with a body shot.

Rubio clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith is looking for a takedown.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rubio.
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 avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rubio.
Smith thows a leg kick but Rubio checks it
and Rubio counters with a left to the body.
Rubio misses with the combination.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Rubio wants to clinch.
Rubio keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Good shot there by Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith fails with the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rubio looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rubio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rubio doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith throws a series of punches but Rubio avoids them all with ease.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Smith swings away with a leg kick 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 Adam Rubio will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rubio moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Rubio gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Rubio stops a takedown attempt from Smith.
Rubio is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Adam Rubio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Smith.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rubio is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rubio tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Rubio tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Rubio manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rubio tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rubio.

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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rubio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rubio keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Rubio can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
Rubio is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Smith trying to move into half guard but instead Rubio has managed to sweep!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
Rubio can't do much from the bottom here.
Smith trying to control the action but Rubio is working from the bottom.
Smith wants to take a breather but Rubio manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Smith.
Rubio working a defensive guard but Smith passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubio tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rubio taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rubio to regain full guard.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rubio keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Rubio looking for a sweep. Not yet Rubio, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith is in close to Rubio's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rubio keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Rubio.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith is working Rubio over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heath Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heath Smith!
A relieved looking Heath Smith thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.