PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Jefferson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jefferson comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Metallica - Enter Sandman kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these fighters had to take extra time to make weight as they missed the initial 205lb limit. Mike Smith came in at 206.3 and James Jefferson came in at 207.7 but after the extra two hours, both guys managed to get within the one pound allowance. No doubt it will have affected them physically though, so let's see if that has an impact on the fight. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Smith
vs
Jefferson

185 cm
22
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Jefferson!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jefferson is looking to clinch.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
Jefferson moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Jefferson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Jefferson counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith goes for a takedown attempt but Jefferson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Jefferson gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Jefferson working a defensive guard here.

Jefferson has his feet on Smith's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Smith to counter with a crisp jab.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Jefferson is rocked!
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith taking a break here but Jefferson is having none of it and regains half guard.
Jefferson is trying to control but can't.
Jefferson manages to get to full guard.
Jefferson is controlling Smith's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.

Jefferson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Jefferson is retaining full guard.

Jefferson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jefferson is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.

Smith gets to his feet - Jefferson follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Jefferson counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Smith trying to control the position.
Jefferson passes Smith's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Jefferson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jefferson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.
Jefferson wants to pass the guard but Smith is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Jefferson seems content to control.
Smith holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith is trying to stand back up but Jefferson is controlling him
Jefferson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Jefferson moves out of range easily.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Jefferson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Jefferson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith digs a good body shot into Jefferson's ribs.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jefferson circles away.

Jefferson has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Jefferson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jefferson prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Smith is working for takedown but Jefferson is calmly controlling the position for now.

Jefferson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jefferson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Jefferson is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jefferson is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson trying to control from the bottom.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Jefferson wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jefferson on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jefferson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Smith lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Jefferson wants to control but Smith is having none of it.
Jefferson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Smith landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Smith connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Jefferson is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.
Jefferson wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Smith looking to control but Jefferson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Smith stands up from mount. Strange move.
Jefferson shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Mike Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Jefferson.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Jefferson pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jefferson is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smith tries to pull guard but Jefferson holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Smith dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Jefferson shoots and misses

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jefferson moves into full guard.
Smith wants to stand but Jefferson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jefferson wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Smith wants to control from the top but Jefferson keeps moving.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith is pushing down on Jefferson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Jefferson is fighting to maintain full guard but Smith has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson is not content to let Smith control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jefferson gets full guard.
Smith tries to stand but Jefferson is controlling from the bottom.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Jefferson tries to clinch up

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jefferson won't be happy with that.
Jefferson can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Jefferson actively working from the bottom here.
Mike Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith is stalling here. Jefferson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Smith seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Jefferson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Jefferson working away.
Jefferson is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Jefferson is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stops Jefferson from passing to mount.
Smith regains half guard there - taking advantage of Jefferson's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Jefferson is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jefferson but Jefferson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

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.
Jefferson shoots and misses

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Jefferson didn't expect that.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Jefferson controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Jefferson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jefferson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Jefferson has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Jefferson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jefferson is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Smith!