PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Branko Butic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Garry Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Butic comes to the cage accompanied by Groove Addicts- Wages of Sin. Branko Butic could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Garry Smith's chin.

Butic
vs
Smith

176 cm
18
167 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

165 cm
21
130 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 Rio de Janeiro, Branko Butic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Garry Smith!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Butic moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Smith on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Butic. Butic obviously looking to wear him down.
Butic shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Butic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Butic lands with a thumping leg kick.
Butic takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Butic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Butic misses with a takedown

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Butic fights it but they end up in guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Smith passes Butic's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smith with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butic is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.
Smith looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Garry Smith was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Butic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Butic connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Butic moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Branko Butic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Butic feints and then cracks Smith's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smith down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butic shoots and misses

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Branko Butic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith won't allow Butic to get back to his feet.
Butic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Butic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Butic working for submissions but it's allowed Smith to get to half guard.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura but Butic is defending well.
Butic wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garry Smith dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A chopping leg kick lands by Butic.
Butic cracks Smith with an open hand slap.
Butic jabs Smith to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Butic on that attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Butic.

Smith shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Butic is trying to defend but Smith finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Smith is taking a breather. Butic says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butic is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith stops Butic from getting back to his feet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Butic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Butic trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Smith manages to pass to mount!
Smith controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Smith 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.
Butic is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to control and managing it successfully.
Butic can't escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith controlling from mount.
Butic is trying to reverse the position but instead Smith has taken his back - oops!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garry Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Butic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Butic off to one side.
Smith on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Butic. Butic obviously looking to wear him down.
Butic lands a slapping body shot.
Butic is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Butic.
Butic shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Branko Butic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice leg kick lands there from Butic.
Butic motions for Smith to come forward. Butic throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Butic throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butic has a takedown stuffed.
Butic clobbers Smith with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Smith takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Branko Butic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Butic tries a head kick but it misses.
Butic punishes Smith's body with a nice straight punch.
Butic misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Butic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Butic tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Butic tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Butic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Smith tries to move into range but Butic moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Smith takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Butic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Butic closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Butic pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Smith is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Butic defends it well.
Butic is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Garry Smith wasn't active enough on the ground.
Butic throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith stuffs the takedown.

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 Branko Butic.
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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Garry Smith!
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Garry Smith!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Garry Smith!

Garry Smith wins by unanimous decision!
Garry Smith was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.