PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between vv vv (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zion 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.

vv
vs
Smith

190 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, vv vv!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zion Smith!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Daniel Franklin and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Smith connects with a leg kick. vv looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with vv, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes vv against the cage but vv circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
vv vv has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zion Smith.
vv darts in trying to clinch
and Smith counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
vv tries a head kick but it misses.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

vv takes the fight into the clinch.

vv decides to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
vv keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith forces his way into half guard.
vv trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Smith prevents vv from getting the reversal.
vv tries to hold on but Smith postures up.
vv is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
vv tries to control Smith's body but Smith pushes him off. vv squirms to his side and now Smith has his back!
Smith throwing sloppy strikes.
Smith looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Smith controlling from the back.

Smith is persistently looking for the submission but vv is defending it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
vv tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for the choke from the back position but vv is controlling his hands well.
Smith keeps control of the position as vv tries to break free.
vv is working hard here to advance position.

Smith is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. vv is defending well though. Smith let's go of the attempt for now.
vv has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Will Smith go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Smith misses with a punch to the head.
vv is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
vv is trying to stand back up.
Good control from Smith.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

vv tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
vv fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Horrible takedown by vv or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith which made him look bad.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged vv in a clinch.

Smith pulls vv into guard.
Smith managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
vv sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is trying to hold vv in close to prevent damage but vv has managed to pass into half guard.
vv trying to mount his opponent but Smith defends it.
Smith tries to kick vv off but vv keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Smith is staying active underneath vv, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smith moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but vv is one step ahead there.
Zion Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and vv defends well.
vv trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to control.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
vv is looking to stand up but Smith won't let him.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because vv vv just wasn't active enough.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
vv has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for vv vv. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
vv throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with vv but vv pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has vv pinned against the cage. vv gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - vv sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
vv doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
vv shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed vv's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zion Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! vv's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Smith shoots in and drives through. vv sprawls well.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but vv shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
vv tries to clinch up.
vv scores with a jab to the body.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Horrible takedown by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by vv which made him look bad.
vv vv has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zion Smith.
A nice inside leg kick there by vv. That's going to slow Smith down.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smith.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
vv dives in for a single leg takedown but Smith sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Smith leaning his opponent against the cage.
Smith is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
vv stalls.
vv can't get the takedown.
vv tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.
vv tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually vv drops back down to his feet.
vv is stalling here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. vv gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. vv is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
vv tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smith just leaning against vv, taking a breather.

vv escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Smith tries for a takedown but vv sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
vv avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
vv throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from vv.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

vv clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite vv's efforts to push away.
Smith is working for takedown but vv is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smith tries to pull guard but vv won't allow it.
Smith is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables vv to keep the fight standing.
vv looking to stall.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but vv keeps him there for the moment.
Smith has vv pressed against the cage, preventing vv from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

vv breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
vv circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around vv's waist but vv gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
vv shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
vv tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith goes for a double leg but vv avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as vv continues to drive forward.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith wants to take the fight to the mat but vv manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
vv lands with a short head shot on the inside.
vv vv has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zion Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
vv can't break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
vv vv showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

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