PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Abednego Smiff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smiff
vs
Smith

168 cm
21
160 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

180 cm
27
166 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Abednego Smiff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Smith!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith checks a leg kick nicely.
Smiff catches Smith with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Smiff keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Smith takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
Smiff trying to control but Smith postures up.

Smith is looking for a kimura here.
My spies in Hilo Training Center inform me that Smith has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smiff trying to control from the bottom.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smiff tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Smith is looking to advance position but Smiff won't allow it.

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

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Smith is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is pressing down on Smiff's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smiff is holding on for now.

Smiff is defending against the submission attempts here by Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith trying to control the action but Smiff is working from the bottom.
Smith trying to pass the guard but Smiff defending well.
Smith is thwarting Smiff's attempts to control the position.
Smiff is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Smith seems to be working for a kimura but Smiff defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smiff takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Smiff has managed to clinch.
Smiff pushes Smith back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Smiff breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Smiff lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Smith misses with a takedown
and Smiff counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smiff throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smiff changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith walks into a stiff left hand from Smiff.
Smith takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Smiff counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smiff.
Abednego Smiff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smiff pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Smith wants to take the fight to the mat but Smiff manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Smiff's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smiff works the jab nicely.

Smiff fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.

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

Smiff shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Smith is trying to defend but Smiff finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Smiff is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is not content to let Smiff control the position.
Smiff is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Smith is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Smith is doing well to control the position and prevent Smiff from advancing to side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Abednego Smiff.
Nice straight punches there by Smiff. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Smiff.
Smiff scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smiff counters with a three punch combo that has Smith backing up. Smith nods at Smiff to acknowledge the strikes.

Smiff has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Smiff drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smiff misses with a body punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smiff makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Smiff manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abednego Smiff 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!

Smiff fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Smiff fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.
Smiff lands a left hand.
Smiff digs a right hand into Smith's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Smith's gas tank.

Smiff has clasped his hands together around Smith's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Smith is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Smith is trying is best to control the position here.
Smiff wants to stand up but Smith has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Smith controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smiff is trying to control. Smith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smiff frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Smith tries to hold on but Smiff pushes him away.
Smiff sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smiff trying to control but Smith is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smiff lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Smiff controlling from mount.
Smiff throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Smith can't escape the position.
Smiff is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Smith can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Smiff avoids the attempt from Smith to control.
Smiff lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smiff wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Smiff scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Smith tries to hold on but Smiff pushes him away.
Smiff tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Smith tries to lock up and control but Smiff gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smiff unloads with some shots from mount but Smith bucks and avoids them well.
Smiff tries to control but Smith wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smiff lands a big shot there that rocks Smith but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Smiff dominating with strikes here.
Smiff tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Smiff controlling the position easily from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abednego Smiff showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smiff has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abednego Smiff!