PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Staver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Staver
vs
Smith

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
195 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Samuel Staver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Justin Smith!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Staver thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Staver sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Staver struggling a bit here.

Smith tries for a kimura but Staver is defending well.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Staver is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Smith goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Staver rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Smith's guard! Nice work there by Staver!
Staver trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Staver from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Staver thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Staver sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Staver makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Staver.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Staver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.
Smith trying to control but Staver is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Staver looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Staver tries to strike from the bottom.
Smith trying to control but Staver is working from the bottom.
Staver working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Smith looks gassed!
Staver shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Staver didn't expect that.
Staver being controlled here, momentarily.
Staver tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Staver keeps moving.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Staver's head.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Smith drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Staver dives on top into guard.
Staver stands and throws Smith's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Staver is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Staver working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Staver is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Smith really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Smith tries to lock up and control but Staver gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith is working to get back to half guard.
Staver scoring with strikes but Smith is staying in there.
Smith can't escape the position.
Staver wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Staver fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Smith tries for a takedown but Staver circles away easily

and Staver counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Staver trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Staver tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Staver slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Staver tries to score with some ground and pound. Smith controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Staver working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Staver wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staver working away.
Smith controls the position for a moment.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smith drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Smith working the ground and pound but Staver is defending the strikes.
Staver manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Staver punching from the bottom.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staver manages to get to full guard.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Staver. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Staver trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.

Staver is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Staver is retaining full guard.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Staver looking for a sweep. Not yet Staver, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith pushes down on Staver's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smith is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Staver slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.
Staver is controlling Smith's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staver looking for a sweep. Not yet Staver, not yet.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith trying to control but Staver is working from the bottom.
Staver keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Staver trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.

Staver is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Staver dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Staver manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Staver wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Staver lands a nice short elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Staver wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Justin Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith wants to control but Staver is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt

and Staver counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Staver is trying to drag Smith to the mat but Smith just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Smith tries to pull guard but Staver holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Smith fails to pull guard.
Samuel Staver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Smith.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Staver.

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 Staver uses from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith has his foot on Staver's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Staver works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Staver forces his way into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smith can do anything to dispel that myth.
Staver prevents Smith from improving his position.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.

Staver stands up out of the half guard.
Smith avoids a kick to the body.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Staver closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Staver 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.
Smith trying to control here.
Staver blocks the strikes from Smith.

Smith actively working from the bottom here.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Staver working Smith over with strikes.

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.
Staver prevents Smith from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Staver counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Staver trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Staver postures up.
Staver trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Staver won't allow Smith to sweep him here.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Staver gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Staver trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuel Staver showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Staver 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samuel Staver!