PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Enzo Stroke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Owen Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Owen Smith will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Stroke
vs
Smith

193 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Enzo Stroke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Owen Smith!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stroke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stroke fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Stroke throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Stroke has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith jumps guard but Stroke stands there with Smith around his waist. Smith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Stroke manages to break the clinch.
Smith on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Stroke. Stroke obviously looking to wear him down.

Stroke gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Stroke obliges.
Smith is trying to drag Stroke to the mat but Stroke just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Stroke breaks the clinch.

Stroke closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stroke breaks the clinch.
Smith looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Stroke went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Stroke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stroke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Stroke plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Owen Smith has been cut.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Stroke, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Stroke against the cage but Stroke circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stroke half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Enzo Stroke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Owen Smith.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stroke connects with a solid leg kick.
Smith is looking to clinch but Stroke is avoiding it.
Smith stalks Stroke and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stroke's face. Stroke staggers backwards, shaken.
Stroke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Stroke sets himself, and Smith steps forward looking for the clinch! Stroke avoids it this time.
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!
Horrible takedown attempt by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Stroke, which made it look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to clinch.
Stroke appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Stroke clinches with his opponent.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stroke fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Stroke looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stroke misses with a double jab.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith tries for a takedown but Stroke circles away easily

and Stroke holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stroke gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Stroke.

Stroke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice straight punches there by Smith. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Smith.
Smith goes for a double leg but Stroke avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Stroke continues to drive forward.

Stroke gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Stroke breaks the clinch.

Stroke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.

Stroke breaks from the clinch.
A combination from Stroke does no damage.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stroke as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Stroke moves out of range easily.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stroke is looking to land body kicks.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stroke throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith tries to counter with a clinch but Stroke shakes him off and moves away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Stroke, which made it look bad.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith swinging wildly here.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enzo Stroke dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Owen Smith's cut.
That's time! Stroke's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Stroke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stroke misses with the combination.
A punch combination from Stroke misses.
Stroke scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Smith misses with a takedown

and Stroke holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Stroke manages to break the clinch.
Stroke lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Enzo Stroke is winning the standup battle so far.
Stroke keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Enzo Stroke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith tries for a takedown but Stroke circles away easily

and Stroke counters by clinching up.
Enzo Stroke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Owen Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stroke breaks from the clinch.

Stroke moves into the clinch.

Stroke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stroke displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stroke throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Stroke circles away.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stroke misses with a wild body shot.
Smith drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Stroke defends it well.
Smith misses with a takedown

and Stroke counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Stroke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stroke scores with a leg kick.
Enzo Stroke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Stroke moves into the clinch.

Stroke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Stroke sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stroke stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stroke wants it to stay on the feet.
Stroke is looking for a counter combo.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Stroke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
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!
Stroke moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stroke closes the distance and clinches.
Stroke stalling against the cage.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Stroke is controlling the position.
Stroke 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.

Stroke breaks from the clinch.
Stroke is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Smith.
Smith is looking to clinch but Stroke is avoiding it.
Stroke takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stroke gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Enzo Stroke has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stroke breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stroke connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Stroke throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Smith has his takedown stuffed

and Stroke counters by moving into the clinch.
Smith wants to stall.

Stroke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stroke misses with the combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enzo Stroke dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Owen Smith's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stroke pinned against the cage. Stroke gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stroke throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Stroke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith misses with a takedown
and Stroke counters with a left and a right that stings Smith.
Smith tries to clinch up but Stroke circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stroke counters by moving into the clinch.
Enzo Stroke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Owen Smith.

Stroke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith dives in and grabs Stroke's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stroke pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Stroke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Stroke closes the distance and clinches.

Stroke manages to break the clinch.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Stroke sprawls well.
Stroke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith blocks a head kick by Stroke.
Smith unleashes a big counter combination but Stroke bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Stroke rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And Smith tries to counter it with a takedown but Stroke pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Stroke.
Stroke feints and then cracks Smith's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smith down.
Smith throws the left hand but Stroke avoids the punch easily.
Stroke swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith falls off balance throwing a combination

and Stroke moves into the clinch.
Smith misses with a knee strike.

Stroke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoids the head kick by Stroke.
Stroke circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith lands with a right hand.
Stroke throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Smith throws a counter combo.
Smith is looking to clinch but Stroke is avoiding it.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stroke pinned against the cage. Stroke gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smith tries to clinch but Stroke moves out of range.
Stroke throws a combination that misses
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Stroke backing up. Stroke nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
Stroke stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stroke wants it to stay on the feet.
Smith misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroke fakes the leg kick and cracks Smith in the body.

Stroke moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Stroke turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Stroke breaks from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stroke counters by clinching up.
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Stroke has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the cage.
Smith tries to break free but Stroke pushes him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Enzo Stroke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stroke 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Enzo Stroke!