PBP Commentary

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

Bonds
vs
Smith

164 cm
25
139 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
26
135 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Barry Bonds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tj Smith!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith takes one on the button.
Bonds throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Bonds tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bonds tries a head kick but it misses.
Bonds misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Smith misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
An elbow from Smith crashes against the mat.
Bonds manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bonds 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.
Bonds prevents Smith from improving his position.
Smith trying to control but Bonds postures up.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Bonds has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonds tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Smith.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bonds tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Smith felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Bonds trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.

Smith manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Bonds keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Bonds fails to land.

Smith wants the takedown. Bonds is fighting it off but Smith persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Bonds's guard against the cage.
Bonds looking for a sweep. Not yet Bonds, not yet.
Bonds controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonds is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Bonds is keeping the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bonds has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bonds keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Bonds avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bonds not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Smith prevents Bonds from getting back to his feet.
Bonds definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Bonds is keeping the position.
Smith passes Bonds's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Smith is trying to control. Bonds wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bonds is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bonds avoid being mounted?
Bonds looks like he's trying to stand up.

Bonds is defending against the submission attempts here by Smith.
Bonds has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonds trying to hold on to Smith's head to control him but Smith postures up.
Ground and pound from Smith.
Smith content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Smith working Bonds over with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith is pressing down on Bonds's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bonds is holding on for now.
Bonds is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Smith cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Bonds is trying desperately to improve position.
Bonds is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tj Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Bonds's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bonds is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bonds 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 stands up over Bonds, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bonds trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Barry Bonds just wasn't active enough.

Smith manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bonds on his heels. He'll look to pass Bonds's guard now, I'm sure.
Bonds keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Bonds is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith trying to control but Bonds is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonds has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
Tj Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith is in close to Bonds's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bonds is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonds is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bonds controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Smith stops Bonds from standing up.
Smith stands up over Bonds, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bonds wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonds is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith wants to control but Bonds is keeping busy.
Bonds wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bonds trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Smith lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Smith can't keep his opponent in guard - Bonds advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Bonds is very close to passing his half guard.
Bonds prevents Smith from improving his position.
Bonds trying to mount his opponent but Smith defends it.
Smith works his way to full guard. Good work.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bonds is aware though and is defending well.
Bonds tries to stand but Smith is controlling from the bottom.
Bonds stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Bonds pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonds being controlled here momentarily.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smith throwing shots but Bonds is blocking nicely.
Bonds is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith is nestled in close to Bonds, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bonds taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.
Bonds wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Smith trying to pass the guard but Bonds defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tj Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bonds dips to his left and cracks Smith with an uppercut!
Bonds throws a combination. Smith tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Smith clinches up with Bonds and pushes him back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

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

Bonds gets caught napping as Smith dives in and scores a takedown. Bonds manages to retain guard.
Bonds keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Bonds is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bonds is looking to improve his position.
Smith is nestled in close to Bonds, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bonds's head.
Bonds tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bonds defending well though.
Bonds is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.
Smith prevents Bonds from improving his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Smith looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bonds wants to get back to full guard.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith winds up and cracks Bonds with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smith winds up and cracks Bonds with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smith works his way into side control.
Smith landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonds is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smith works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith scoring with punches and elbows.
Smith slows the pace down.
Smith works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Smith working the ground and pound from side control.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bonds is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Bonds taking punishment in the form of punches.
Smith lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonds is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smith lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Smith looking to control but instead Bonds has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Bonds wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Barry Bonds has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith working Bonds over with strikes.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Smith in particular looking to stall.
Bonds taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bonds keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bonds actively working from the bottom here.
Bonds trying to control here.
Bonds throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bonds is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.
Smith controlling the pace.
Smith is thwarting Bonds's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ground and pound from Smith.
Bonds has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tj Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Bonds's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tj Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

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