PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gary Grice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Grice might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to GZA - Shadowboxin'. Smith has chosen frenzal rhomb - Mum changed the locks as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Grice
vs
Smith

184 cm
28
195 lbs
9 - 0 - 1

186 cm
23
199 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Project Mayhem

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 9 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Gary Grice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Smith!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Bruno Hogan and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grice keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Grice.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Grice, right into the meat.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith lands with a hook. Grice tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Smith throws a right and a left that Grice avoids nicely.
Grice moves out of range as Smith strikes.
A big right from Smith misses.
Grice feinted with a counter takedown.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Grice feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick from Smith misses.
A swing and a miss from Smith.
Smith throws a right hand that Grice ducks under and follows up with a left that Grice also avoids with ease.
Smith wants to land a leg kick but Grice is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Grice there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Smith throws a hook to the side of Grice's head but Grice sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Grice changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Grice has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Razor Sharp Training Systems in the buildup to the fight.
Smith misses with a double jab

and Grice counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
Grice wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Grice slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Grice from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grice trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Grice throwing strikes but missing.
Grice pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Grice slips nicely into half guard.
Grice trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grice stalling away here and it's allowed Smith to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Grice from controlling successfully.
Grice is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Grice throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith misses with a leg kick

and Grice counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Smith!
A lull in the action here.

Grice is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grice tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Grice controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grice misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Grice dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Grice throws a leg kick but Smith sees it coming and moves out of range.
Grice lands with a thumping leg kick.
Grice looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Grice has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Grice checks a leg kick nicely.
Smith throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Grice is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith lands with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grice moves away.
Grice keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Grice tries to counter by clinching up but Smith breaks away and moves out of range.
Smith blocks the body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Grice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Joe Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grice moves away.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Grice slips the punch.
Grice throws a leg kick which misses Smith's front leg but catches the back leg as Smith tries to avoid it.
Smith jabs Grice right on the nose. Grice blinks but takes it well.
Smith throws a nice outside leg kick.
Smith buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Smith digs a good hook to Grice's body.
A right-left combo lands from Smith.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grice.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grice moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Grice feinted with a counter takedown.
Grice throws a leg kick which misses Smith's front leg but catches the back leg as Smith tries to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Smith bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Grice's head backwards.
Grice attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Smith feints a counter leg kick.
Grice moves out of range of the leg kick from Smith.
Grice seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A nice combination there by Smith.
Grice cracks the inside of Smith's front leg.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Grice cracks the inside of Smith's front leg.
Smith jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Smith lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grice moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Smith throws a leg kick

and Grice counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Smith wants to sweep here but Grice controlling him for the moment.
Grice trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Grice looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Grice from controlling successfully.
Grice is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Grice with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith falls off balance throwing a combination

and Grice counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Grice.
Smith's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Grice lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Smith will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grice moves away.
Smith dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Grice's calf.
Smith misses with a double jab

and Grice counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Grice.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Smith takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Grice misses with a hook from the clinch.
Grice swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice left hand lands by Grice.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Grice.
Grice lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Grice presses Smith against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Grice tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Grice back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Smith slips a straight right by Grice.
Smith scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Grice doesn't seem bothered though.
Grice lands a nice shot that snaps Smith's head back.
Grice turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A big left from Smith misses.
As Smith tries to get set, Grice tries to push him back and clinch up but Smith manages to avoid the attempt.
Smith throws a body punch but Grice moves out of range.
Grice changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Grice is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.
Smith feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Grices jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Smith throws a leg kick but Grice sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Grice drops down looking for a counter takedown but Smith sprawls and moves away.
Smith changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grice lands with an uppercut that bounces Smith off the ropes and back into range.
Grice uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Grice attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Grice avoids a punch combination nicely.
Grice takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Smith feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Grices jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Smith takes one on the button.
Grice stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grice finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Grice wants to clinch.
Grice throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Grice uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.
A bone on bone clash there as Grice blocks the leg kick.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Grice is just out of range.
Joe Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Grice eats them both and turns towards Smith to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Grice throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Grice swings widly with a right hand
and Smith counters with a nice low kick that buckles Grice's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grice tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith digs a good body shot into Grice's ribs.
Smith lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
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 misses with a double jab

and Grice counters by moving into the clinch.
Grice goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Smith blocks a body shot from Grice.
Grice is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
Grice lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Grice misses with a punch to the body.
Grice working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joe Smith.
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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Smith!
Joe Smith managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Valhalla Fight Wear, into his post fight interview.