PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stratovarius Smiff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Owens has chosen Thunderstruck by AC/DC as his entrance music. Joseph Owens told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Smiff
vs
Owens

170 cm
27
177 lbs
9 - 13 - 0

180 cm
26
177 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

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 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stratovarius Smiff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joseph Owens!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Skip Squint and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smiff fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Owens clinches with his opponent.
Owens is trying to push Smiff away but Smiff has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Owens prevents Smiff from breaking the clinch.

Owens jumps guard.
Owens can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smiff controls the pace.
Smiff trying to control but Owens is working from the bottom.
Smiff working some strikes from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smiff throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smiff forces his way into half guard.
Owens won't allow Smiff to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smiff passes to full mount!
Smiff has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Owens regains half guard.
Smiff not doing much here.
Smiff trying to control from half guard but Owens is working away.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smiff tries to pass to full mount but Owens defends it.
Owens wants to control but Smiff is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smiff is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Owens trying to control but Smiff postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens is holding on to half guard well.
Owens slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smiff is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Owens trying to keep a closed guard but Smiff is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Owens throws a nice looking combination but Smiff bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Owens swinging wildly here.
Owens closes the distance and clinches up with Smiff, looking for a takedown. Owens pushes Smiff against the cage but Smiff circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Owens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Owens tries to clinch up but Smiff circles away and keeps his distance.
Smiff fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Owens tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Smiff counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smiff.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Owens trying to keep a closed guard but Smiff is proving a slippery customer.
Owens can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smiff controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stratovarius Smiff dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smiff throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Owens tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Smiff defends well and Owens ends up having to push Smiff into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Smiff throws a right and a left that both miss.
Owens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Owens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Owens looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stratovarius Smiff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Owens.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smiff paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smiff attempts a counter takedown but Owens avoids it well and moves away.

Owens shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Owens showed some decent athleticism there.
Smiff trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smiff looking for submissions off his back.
Owens trying to pass the guard but Smiff defending well.
Smiff is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Owens's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Owens's back!
Stratovarius Smiff overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Owens looking very determined here, making life difficult for Smiff.

Smiff looking for the choke from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smiff lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Owens hold on?!

Owens fending off the submission attempt from Smiff.
Owens is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Smiff.

Smiff sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Owens taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Stratovarius Smiff!
During a confident post fight interview, Stratovarius Smiff thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Joseph Owens was interviewed post fight and said 'I deserve a title shot! NOW!'.