PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mr Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taji Bolo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Smith
vs
Bolo

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

157 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mr Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taji Bolo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bolo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Bolo moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith tries to pull guard but Bolo won't allow it.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Bolo. Bolo gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith tries to clinch there but Bolo circles away.

Bolo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smith's guard.
Bolo is stalling in the full guard.
Smith is trying to control the position but Bolo postures up.
Bolo trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Bolo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bolo trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith is trying to control the position but Bolo postures up.
Bolo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Bolo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Bolo 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.
Smith trying to control but Bolo is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith stands up from Bolo's guard - Smith perhaps looking for a knockout.

Bolo closes the distance and clinches.
Bolo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Smith smiles and moves away.
Bolo shoots and misses

and Smith moves into the clinch.
Mr Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taji Bolo.
Bolo prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Bolo has him pressed against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Smith wants to break free but Bolo has control.
Bolo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Smith prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to break free but Bolo has control.

Smith decides to pull guard.
Bolo won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Smith has his hands on Bolo's head, controlling the position.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bolo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith is wriggling around but Bolo manages to pass to half guard.
Bolo passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolo sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Bolo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Bolo trying to control but Smith is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith is looking to improve his position but Bolo isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mr Smith will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bolo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bolo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Bolo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Bolo controlling his opponent.

Bolo get's back to his feet.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Smith gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith is working an open guard so Bolo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Smith takes the fight into the clinch.

Bolo manages to break the clinch.
Bolo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Bolo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bolo is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolo trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bolo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bolo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bolo wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

Smith is working an open guard so Bolo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Bolo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Bolo trying to control the position but Smith is working away.
Bolo postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Bolo tries for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Smith throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Smith is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Smith gets full guard.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bolo preventing the sweep.
Bolo wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Smith holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taji Bolo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Bolo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smith to the mat! Smith manages to get full guard.
Smith wants to sweep here but Bolo controlling him for the moment.
Bolo trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith controls Bolo momentarily but Bolo frees himself.
Bolo looking to pass the guard.
Bolo trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bolo but Bolo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mr Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bolo looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Bolo clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith tries to pull guard but Bolo won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mr Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bolo smiles and moves away.
Smith closes the distance but Bolo moves to the side
and Bolo finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Bolo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bolo is proving hard to escape from.
Bolo wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.
Taji Bolo has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bolo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Bolo uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Bolo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Bolo pushes him off.

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.
Smith misses with a takedown

and Bolo counters by moving into the clinch.

Bolo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bolo scores a takedown into full mount!
Smith working to try and regain half guard.
Bolo looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bolo throwing strikes but Smith bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taji Bolo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bolo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taji Bolo!