PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Owen Xenon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Xenon

200 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

190 cm
23
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Alex Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Owen Xenon!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Xenon tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Xenon just stands there and leans against the cage.
Smith jumps guard but Xenon stands there with Smith around his waist. Smith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xenon wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A shot in the inside from Xenon.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Xenon misses with a head kick.
Smith fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Xenon fails with a takedown attempt.

Smith forces Xenon back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xenon is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Smith with a knee to the head.
Xenon is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Xenon tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.

Xenon tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch.

Xenon gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Xenon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith wants to stand but Xenon has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Xenon is keeping the position for now.
Xenon trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Xenon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Owen Xenon.

Smith shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Xenon napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Xenon is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Xenon manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Xenon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Xenon keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xenon trying to control the position.

Xenon 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 got a little sloppy there for a moment and Xenon has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Xenon's legs - danger averted.
Xenon looks winded!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xenon keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Xenon escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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 Alex Smith will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Xenon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Smith gets a clinch.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Xenon is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Xenon just stands there and leans against the cage.
Smith using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Smith lands a takedown into guard.
Smith looking to pass the guard.

Xenon is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Xenon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith pushing down on Xenon's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Xenon on the ground.
Xenon works his way to full guard. Good work.
Xenon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Xenon working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith gets to his feet - Xenon follows without any prompting.
Xenon stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Xenon tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Xenon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Xenon throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Xenon tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with an inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Xenon manages to avoid it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xenon avoids the elbow strike from Smith, against the cage.

Smith has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Xenon uses from the top position.

Xenon gets to his feet. Smith looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Xenon shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Xenon thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Xenon is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Xenon 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 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xenon scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Xenon tries to stand and escape but Smith is controlling the position.
Xenon prevents Smith from improving his position.
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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alex Smith will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Smith lands with a cross.

Smith tries to keep at a distance but Xenon has taken the fight into the clinch.
Xenon throws a knee to the head but misses.
Xenon with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Xenon just stands there and leans against the cage.
Smith avoiding damage as Xenon throws knees to the body.
Xenon tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.
Xenon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Smith has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Xenon regains guard immediately.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Xenon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xenon looking to control.

Xenon had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.

Xenon is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Xenon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Xenon isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Smith stacks Xenon on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Smith!
Smith is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xenon taking a bit of punishment here - Smith scoring with strikes.

Smith tries for a kimura but Xenon is defending well.
Smith lands some shots froms side control.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Xenon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xenon takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Xenon is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xenon is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smith off and has taken his back!

Xenon looking to break Smith's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Smith remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Xenon will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Smith looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Xenon is hanging on to Smith's back as he tries to escape.
Smith trying to control the hands but Xenon won't let him.
Xenon is trying to control but Smith is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alex Smith.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

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