PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steve Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Graciej (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Smith has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Smith
vs
Graciej

170 cm
25
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
138 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Steve Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Royce Graciej!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Winston Alpacca and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graciej showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Graciej looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Graciej looking to control but Smith passes into half guard.
Graciej keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Graciej wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graciej wants to get back to his feet.
Smith is taking a breather. Graciej says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Smith looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Smith content to control rather than advance.
Smith wants to pass to mount but Graciej is defending the position.
Graciej trying to control but Smith postures up.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Graciej has eaten all the pies!

Smith is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Graciej has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to pass the guard but Graciej defending well.
Still in half guard, Smith seems content to control.
Graciej wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smith throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Steve Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Graciej lands with a left to the head.
A short right from Graciej.
Graciej lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Smith or not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes a shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Graciej.
Graciej lands a body punch in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Graciej scores with a nice short uppercut.
Graciej makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Graciej scores with a nice short uppercut.
Graciej gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Graciej lands with a right to the head.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Graciej has double underhooks.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Graciej has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Graciej.
Smith fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graciej makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Graciej lands a nice shot to the body.
Graciej stalling.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Graciej turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Smith is trying to break free.
A short uppercut from Graciej.
Smith tries to pull guard but Graciej won't allow it.
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!
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Graciej's elbow.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Graciej creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Graciej lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Graciej lands with a left to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Graciej.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Steve Smith will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Graciej rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smith fails to pull guard.
Graciej working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Graciej lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Graciej lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Graciej scores with a shoulder strike.
Graciej lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Graciej lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Graciej lands with a left to the head.
Graciej presses Smith against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Graciej lands a body punch.

Smith has Graciej pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Smith pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Graciej tumbling to the mat - Smith dives into Graciej's guard.
Graciej is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Graciej working a defensive guard here.
Graciej 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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Royce Graciej hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
The fight stays on the outside here - Graciej looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Smith pushes Graciej up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
Graciej digs a right hand underneath Smith's ribcage. Smith let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Graciej dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Graciej turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Graciej scores with a nice hook to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Graciej.
Graciej presses Smith against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Graciej.
Graciej lands a hook to the side of the head.
Graciej prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Graciej scores with a nice hook to the head.
Royce Graciej seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graciej lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Graciej prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graciej working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Graciej is working Smith over against the cage.
Graciej working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A right hand to the body from Graciej.
Nice body punch from Graciej - that landed with a thud.
Graciej lands with a right to the head.
Graciej scores with a shoulder strike.
Graciej lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Graciej working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Graciej is defending well for now.
Graciej lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Graciej has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Graciej.
Graciej lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Graciej softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Graciej scores with a nice hook to the head.
Smith misses with a punch to the body.
Graciej keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A right hook to the body lands for Graciej.
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.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Graciej.
Graciej digs a right hand into Smith's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Smith's gas tank.
Graciej presses Smith against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Smith taking a breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Graciej showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Graciej tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A cross from Graciej lands.
Smith throws a body punch but Graciej moves out of range.
Graciej wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Graciej tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Graciej does a little dance to reset his feet.
Graciej takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Graciej avoids it really well and circles away.
Graciej thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graciej pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Graciej won't allow it.
Graciej lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Graciej scores with a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Graciej creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Graciej lands a left hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Graciej throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Graciej softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Graciej lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Graciej throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Smiths head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Graciej creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Smith tries to stall but Graciej uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Smith is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graciej lands with a left to the head.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Graciej has him pressed against the cage.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Graciej scores with a nice hook to the head.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Graciej stalling in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Graciej.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Graciej.
Graciej scores with a shot to the side of Smith's head.
Graciej scores with a shoulder strike.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Graciej lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Graciej lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graciej lands with a left to the head.
Graciej pushes Smith back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Graciej works on Smith's body with a couple of short punches.
A short right from Graciej.
Graciej lands a left hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Graciej avoids the elbow strike from Smith, against the cage.
Smith jumps guard but Graciej turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Graciej manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A short left from Graciej.
Still in the clinch, Graciej scores with a nice short uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Graciej.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graciej lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Still in the clinch, Graciej scores with a nice short uppercut.
Graciej is leaning against Smith and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Graciej lands a nice shot to the body.
Graciej lands a shot to the body.
Graciej pushes Smith back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Graciej lands a shoulder strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Graciej.
Graciej scores with a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Graciej lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Graciej just leaning against Smith, taking a breather.
Smith is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Graciej to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graciej throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Smiths head.
Graciej lands a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royce Graciej comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Graciej 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royce Graciej!