PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and CJ Dozer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Smith
vs
Dozer

186 cm
26
182 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
26
183 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Worldwide Nutrition (160q)

Namunamu Clothing

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 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, CJ Dozer!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Dozer's hands.
Dozer lands a jab to Smith's midsection.
Dozer falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters with a nice body shot.
Smith takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Dozer misses with a hook.
Dozer's jab looks to have found its range, popping Smith under the eye.
Dozer bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Smith's head backwards.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dozer.
Dozer connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Smith shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Smith was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Smith tries for a kimura but Dozer is defending well.
Dozer is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dozer knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dozer is not content to let Smith control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dozer tries to escape but Smith is in control.
Dozer struggling a bit here.
Dozer is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smith off and has taken his back!
Dozer looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Dozer throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Dozer gets his hands free as Smith looks to control.

Smith preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Dozer.

Dozer is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Smith has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dozer has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Dozer working for the choke.
Smith manages to reverse the position and now he's in Dozer's guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Dozer keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

Dozer 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.

Dozer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dozer isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Smith stacks Dozer 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 tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Smith tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dozer is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but CJ Dozer will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dozer.
Dozer misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like CJ Dozer has been cut.
Dozer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dozer feints the counter takedown.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dozer.
Dozer lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Dozer misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Smith appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Good exchange - Dozer coming out on top.
Dozer bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Smith's head.
Dozer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dozer scores with a nice strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith wants to control from the top but Dozer keeps moving.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Dozer is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Dozer keeps moving.
Dozer is trying to hold Smith in close to prevent damage but Smith has managed to pass into half guard.

Dozer looking for submissions off his back.
Dozer is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dozer avoid being mounted?
Smith seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dozer tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dozer wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dozer gets full guard.
Ricky Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Dozer is retaining full guard.

Dozer is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.

Dozer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dozer is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.

Dozer working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Smith has passed into half guard!
Smith works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Dozer is trying to get back to half guard.
Dozer is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dozer tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dozer knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Smith is trying to get an arm triangle but Dozer is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smith is trying to get an arm triangle but Dozer is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on CJ Dozer's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dozer.
It looked like Smith wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Smith drops his hands momentarily and Dozer takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Dozer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith dives in and grabs Dozer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dozer pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Dozer's corner calls for a 1-2. Dozer obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A shot to the liver by Smith. Beautiful body shot.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Dozer tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dozer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dozer drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Smith defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith slips under a jab.
It looked like Smith was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dozer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Dozer throws out a counter right but Smith avoids it with no problem.
Some wild striking there from Dozer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dozer throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
Smith was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Dozer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Dozer is looking for a sweep.

Smith is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dozer has escaped the position, nice work there.
Dozer manages to get back to half guard.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Dozer is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Dozer gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dozer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dozer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith trying to control but Dozer is working from the bottom.
Dozer trying to control the position.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Dozer is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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.

Dozer looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Smith passes into half guard.
Dozer tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
Smith is trying to control. Dozer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dozer wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.

Dozer looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dozer wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Smith tries to pass to full mount but Dozer defends it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dozer is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Smith!
A victorious Ricky Smith thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.