PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mufasa Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Smitty Smithers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smithers has chosen Ironman - Black Sabbath as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Taylor
vs
Smithers

190 cm
21
193 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

190 cm
27
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Black Belt Nutrition #=========||=========#

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mufasa Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Smitty Smithers!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor takes one on the button.
Smithers lands a body shot.
Smithers thows a body shot but no joy.
Smithers tests Taylor's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Taylor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smithers sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taylor somewhat.
Taylor ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smithers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smithers's waist but Smithers gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taylor off to one side.
Smithers misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taylor.
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!
Smithers misses with a straight right.
Taylor chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Taylor gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Taylor slips under a jab from Smithers.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smithers swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Taylor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Smithers wants to break the clinch but can't.
A frustrated look appears on Smithers's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Smithers lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Smithers scores with a hook to the body.
Taylor jumps guard but Smithers turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mufasa Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor blocking some punches.
Taylor jumps guard but Smithers stands there with Taylor around his waist. Taylor gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Taylor is trying to trip Smithers. He has hold of a leg but Smithers is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Taylor persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Smithers pulls Taylor in close to prevent any damage.
Taylor postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smithers looking for a sweep. Not yet Smithers, not yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Smitty Smithers wasn't active enough on the ground.
Smithers connects with a crisp jab.
Taylor staying out of range there.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Smithers circles away.
Taylor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smithers circles away.
Smithers throws an overhand right that lands on Taylor's shoulder, as Taylor tries to avoid the shot.
Smithers throws a jab when Taylor was well out of range.
Taylor blocks a jab.
Smithers throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A decent looking cross lands there for Smithers.
Smithers lands with a straight right. Taylor didn't see that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smithers throws a push kick but Taylor slaps the foot to one side.
Taylor slips under a jab.
Taylor dives in and grabs Smithers's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smithers pushes down on Taylor's head and hops out.
Smithers cracks Taylor with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Smithers circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smithers connects with a right hand. Taylor shakes it off.
Smithers is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Taylor had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
A solid body kick from Taylor.
Smitty Smithers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smithers lands a head shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taylor.
Smithers looks to throw the jab but Taylor is out of range.
Smitty Smithers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smithers lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Taylor gets a double leg takedown into Smithers's guard.

Smithers had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Taylor defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taylor accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Taylor postures up.
Taylor slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Smithers parries the strikes from Taylor easily there. Taylor is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Smithers to escape.
Taylor tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Taylor is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smithers is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Taylor is trying to get an arm triangle but Smithers is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Smitty Smithers dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smithers looks to land a right hand but Taylor moved out of range.
Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Smithers.

Taylor scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Smithers is not content to let Taylor control the position.

Taylor tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Taylor has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smithers is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Taylor is controlling him well.
Smithers is looking for a sweep.
Smithers takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Taylor has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Smithers is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Smithers has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taylor is working away from the top position though.
Smithers wants to improve his position but Taylor is controlling well.
Taylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Taylor throwing shots but Smithers is blocking nicely.
Smithers moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smithers avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smithers keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mufasa Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Smithers working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Taylor doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Smithers is tightening it up a little... Taylor has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Taylor reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Taylor taps out! Nice BJJ there by Smithers!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Smitty Smithers!
Smitty Smithers took some time post fight to say the following; 'When you get caught between The Blacksmith and the anvil, your ass will get smashed!'.