PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Russell
vs
Smith

192 cm
21
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 Hilo, Jim Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Smith!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Russell.

Smith lands a high kick to the side of Russell's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Smith dives into guard, looking to finish.

Russell is rocked!
Smith trying to control but Russell is working from the bottom.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Russell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Russell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Russell's guard.

Russell has his feet on Smith's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Russell checks the leg kick nicely there.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a wild combination.

Russell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Russell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith pulls Russell in to control the position.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Russell slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Russell decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!
Russell lands with a hook. Smith tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Smith looks gassed!
Russell doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Smith throwing shots but Russell is blocking nicely.
Russell blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
Russell won't allow Smith to pass to mount.
Russell works his way to full guard. Good work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith won't allow Russell to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Russell controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Russell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Russell working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Russell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith is working Russell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Russell has a closed guard, preventing Smith from standing up.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Smith is pushing down on Russell's leg trying to pass to half guard. Russell is fighting to maintain full guard but Smith has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Russell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith is looking to clinch but Russell is avoiding it.
Russell looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Russell has a takedown stuffed.
Russell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Smith in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Russell regains half guard.
Russell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Smith gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Russell is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Russell gets back to full guard.

Russell had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Smith is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Russell Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Smith's back instead.
Smith is in bad spot here.
Russell controlling the position well here. Smith rolled but Russell kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
I really don't envy Smith right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell tries to keep control of the position but Smith is staying busy.
Smith grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Smith wants to control his opponent's hands but Russell gets his hands free.
Smith wants to escape the position.
Mike Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

Smith wants to get back to his feet. He's half way up but Russell drags him back down with a jolt, managing to get his forearm deep under Smith 's chin! Smith is in real trouble! His face is turning bright red and he's forced to tap! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jim Russell!