PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steven Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Potgieter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Potgieter

193 cm
26
197 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

194 cm
26
198 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steven Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gary Potgieter!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Albert Achterberg and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Potgieter avoids the head kick by Smith.

Potgieter closes the distance and clinches.
Potgieter slowing the pace effectively.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Potgieter blocks with his arms.
Potgieter tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.

Potgieter breaks from the clinch.
Steven Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Potgieter misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Potgieter has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.

Potgieter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Smith lands with an uppercut that bounces Potgieter off the cage and back into range.
Potgieter scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Potgieter throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.

Potgieter closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Potgieter manages to break the clinch.
Potgieter avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gary Potgieter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potgieter uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Smith blocks a head kick by Potgieter.

Potgieter closes the distance and clinches.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Potgieter has him pressed against the cage.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Potgieter has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smith is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Potgieter is looking to take this one to the mat.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Potgieter as Smith tries to tie him up.
Smith prevents Potgieter from breaking the clinch.
Smith is trying to maintain a safe position but Potgieter gets an underhook and turns Smith into the cage.
Potgieter has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Smith.
Potgieter is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith displaying some good clinch control by pressing Potgieter up against the cage.
Smith lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Potgieter backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Potgieter is defending well for now.
Potgieter has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.

Potgieter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith throws a combination. Potgieter tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Potgieter closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Smith being controlled against the cage.
Potgieter is trying to stall.
Potgieter is trying to force a seperation but Smith has the dominant position.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Potgieter gets tackled into the cage by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to pull guard but Potgieter holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.

Potgieter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Potgieter moves into the clinch.
Smith gets underhooks to prevent Potgieter's takedown attempt.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Potgieter darts in and clinches Smith up against the cage.
Potgieter tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
Potgieter tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Potgieter just misses with a elbow thrown towards Smith's brow.
Potgieter prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Potgieter's efforts to push away.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
Potgieter trying to control the position but instead, Smith has worked for underhooks and has pushed Potgieter into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Potgieter pulls guard effortlessly.
Smith engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith won't allow Potgieter to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Potgieter working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Smith has passed into half guard!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith tries to clinch up.

Potgieter closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.
Potgieter stalling.
Smith avoids the elbow strike from Potgieter, against the cage.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Potgieter lands a really nice looking cross but Smith seems unphased.

Potgieter clinches.

Smith breaks from the clinch.

Potgieter has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.

Potgieter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Potgieter as he avoids it easily.

Potgieter closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potgieter prevents the takedown attempt.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Smith obliges.
Potgieter is trying to force a seperation but Smith has the dominant position.

Potgieter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Potgieter's waist but Potgieter gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Potgieter closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Potgieter avoids the damage to the body.
Potgieter throws an elbow that misses.
Potgieter lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Steven Smith has been cut.

Potgieter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Potgieter rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.

Potgieter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Potgieter tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Potgieter.
Potgieter avoids the head kick by Smith.
Gary Potgieter seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith lunges at Potgieter with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Potgieter's hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Potgieter fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Potgieter gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Potgieter breaks from the clinch.
Smith tries to clinch but Potgieter is having none of it.

Potgieter pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith is struggling to control the position.

Potgieter pulls Smith into guard.
Smith 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 trying to control but Potgieter is working from the bottom.
Smith postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Potgieter manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Potgieter stands and steps away. Smith gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Potgieter forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
Potgieter lands an elbow inside that Smith shrugs off.

Potgieter jumps guard and drags Smith to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith won't allow Potgieter to get back to his feet.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Smith's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Potgieter is proving hard to escape from.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Steven Smith just wasn't active enough.
Potgieter stuffs the takedown.

Potgieter takes the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Potgieter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smith clinches.
Potgieter fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Potgieter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steven Smith's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith has managed to clinch.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.

Potgieter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Potgieter rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.
Smith softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Potgieter drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smith pulls his leg out and moves away.

Potgieter rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.
Smith makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Potgieter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Potgieter clinches.
Potgieter is trying to pull guard but Smith turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Potgieter avoids the head kick by Smith.

Smith tries to keep at a distance but Potgieter has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potgieter is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith tries a body shot but Potgieter blocks it.

Potgieter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Potgieter has managed to clinch.
Smith creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Potgieter's defenses.
Potgieter looking to slow down the pace here.

Potgieter manages to break the clinch.
Smith tries to clinch up but Potgieter circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Potgieter.
Smith looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Potgieter moves into the clinch.

Potgieter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Potgieter swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.

Potgieter forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Potgieter 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.
Steven Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Potgieter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries for a takedown but Potgieter sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Potgieter gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Smith lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Smith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Potgieter walks away with a smile on his face. Smith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
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!
Potgieter swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.

Potgieter moves into the clinch successfully.

Potgieter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith throws a head kick but Potgieter moves out of range.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Potgieter circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Potgieter tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Potgieter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A jab from Potgieter finds it's way through Smith's defenses.

Potgieter forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
Smith tries for a takedown but Potgieter manages to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potgieter creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Smith's defenses.
Smith misses with a knee strike.

Potgieter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.

Potgieter drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith is working for takedown but Potgieter is calmly controlling the position for now.
Potgieter lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Potgieter is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gary Potgieter seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Smith looking for a takedown.
Potgieter misses with an elbow strike.
Potgieter leaning his opponent against the cage.

Potgieter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Potgieter has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Potgieter blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Potgieter breaks the clinch.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Potgieter circles away from the clinch attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Potgieter rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smith keeps control of Potgieter as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Potgieter stalling in the clinch but Smith improves position.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Potgieter shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Potgieter breaks from the clinch.
Potgieter throws a head kick that Smith semi-blocks.

Steven Smith's cut is getting worse.
Smith throws a leg kick
and Potgieter counters with a thumping low kick.

Potgieter moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Potgieter lands an elbow that stopped Smith in his tracks for a moment.
Potgieter drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Potgieter throws an elbow but it misses.
Steven Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gary Potgieter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary Potgieter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Potgieter 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Potgieter!