PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Ray Miranda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Miranda comes into a darkened arena with his song building. I'm Not Alright from Shinedown kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Jeff Smith had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 137.7lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Smith
vs
Ray Miranda

165 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
130 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jeff Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnny Ray Miranda!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miranda misses with a body kick.

Miranda moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Miranda is controlling the position.
Smith stalling against the cage.
Miranda wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Miranda gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Smith makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smith.
Miranda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Miranda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Miranda wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Miranda is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Miranda throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Miranda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Miranda slips an elbow through the middle.
Smith looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Miranda with a nice head shot there.
Miranda is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith wants to sweep here but Miranda controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda tries to stand but Smith is controlling from the bottom.
Miranda looking to pass the guard.
Miranda is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Miranda trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Miranda.
Miranda trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Johnny Ray Miranda has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Miranda throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Miranda checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miranda closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.
Miranda gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Miranda trying to land knees to the body.
Miranda throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Miranda has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Smith regains guard immediately.
Smith keeping full guard, as Miranda tries to pass.
Miranda stops Smith from standing up.
Miranda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miranda 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.
Miranda lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Miranda defends well.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Miranda trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miranda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith controls Miranda momentarily but Miranda frees himself.
Miranda trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Miranda drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Smith dives on top into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miranda wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Ray Miranda dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Miranda fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smith sprawls well initially but Miranda persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Miranda.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.
Miranda is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Miranda is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Smith is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Smith has escaped and now he's on top!
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda wants to sweep but no luck.

Miranda is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Smith wants to stall.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Miranda has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Miranda lands with a shot to the body.
Miranda throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Miranda closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Miranda pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Smith gets a double leg takedown into Miranda's guard.
Smith prevents Miranda from getting back to his feet.
Smith stays in close to Miranda's body and controls the position.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Miranda trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jeff Smith just wasn't active enough.

Smith dives in and scores a takedown into Miranda's guard.
Miranda keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Miranda pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.
Miranda closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Smith working away.
Miranda tries to improve position but can't.
Smith is trying to ground and pound but Miranda uses the momentary lack of control by Smith to regain half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
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 Jeff Smith will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Miranda tries to buck Smith off but Smith is having none of it.
Miranda is trying to get back to his feet.
Miranda is looking for a sweep.
A control attempt from Miranda but he's now mounted!
Smith is trying to take his opponent's back.
Miranda tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Miranda wants to control but Smith is having none of it.
Miranda might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smith haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Miranda keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws some wild stikes that Miranda manages to avoid easily.
Smith throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Miranda manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Miranda pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.
Miranda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Miranda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Miranda throws a chopping leg kick but Smith manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Miranda closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Smith did well to prevent Miranda getting side control.
Smith controlling the position well.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Miranda's guard.
Smith is looking to stand up but Miranda won't let him.
Miranda bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miranda drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Miranda off! Miranda jumps back into Smith's guard.
Miranda working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
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 big thud reverberates around the arena there as Miranda accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Miranda not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Miranda is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Johnny Ray Miranda.
Well Miranda has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Ray Miranda!
An out of breath Johnny Ray Miranda thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.