PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sambo Smith (ranked 7931 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Joel (ranked 5186 p4p, 0 weight class). Bob Joel has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Sambo Smith's chin.

Smith
vs
Joel

166 cm
25
143 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

166 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sambo Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bob Joel!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joel shoots in and gets a takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Joel content to stall in guard here.
Smith has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Joel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Joel seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joel throwing strikes but missing.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Joel controls the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Joel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Joel postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Joel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Joel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Joel makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Joel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two 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.
Joel stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sambo Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Joel on that attempt.
Joel shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Joel eats them both and turns towards Smith to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Joel shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
Sambo Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Joel.
Joel throws a right hand that misses
and Smith counters with a one-two to the body.
Smith moves away from the strike by Joel.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Joel shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
Smith leaves Joel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Smith tries to bum rush Joel with a series of wild strikes but Joel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joel throws a hook but Smith blocks it.
Joel has his takedown stuffed
and Smith counters with a one-two to the body.
Joel looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Smith works the jab nicely.
Joel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Joel.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Joel appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Joel circles away quickly and effectively.
Joel looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Joel throws a hook but Smith avoids it easily.
Smith throws a series of punches but Joel avoids them all with ease.
Joel feints the counter takedown.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Joel looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Smith lands a nice leg kick that just misses Joel's sensitive parts.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joel looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Joel.
Joel on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Joel catches Smith with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Joel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Smith is looking for a counter combo.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Joel throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
Joel swings away with a body shot that misses
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Joel backing up. Joel nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
Joel looks winded!
Smith moves away from the strike by Joel.
Joel misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Smith throws a right hand that Joel ducks under and follows up with a left that Joel also avoids with ease.
Smith stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Smith lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Joel takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Joel misses with a jab to the body
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sambo Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Joel checks a low kick from Smith.
It seemed like Joel was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Smith motions for Joel to come forward. Smith throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice shot lands for Smith.
Smith misses with the combination.
A big left from Joel misses.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Joel misses the jab.
Smith seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Joel throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Smith tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Joel is in Smith's guard.
Joel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Joel won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Joel throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joel trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joel with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Joel's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Joel landing some decent shots from guard.
Joel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Joel pushing down on Smith's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Smith has hold of Joel's hands but Joel slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bob Joel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joel passes to full mount!
Joel postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Smith looks a forlorn figure.
Joel fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joel scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Smith is rocked!
Joel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Joel landing strikes from the mount.
Oh Smith is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Joel on the ground.
Joel connects with a bit shot that sees Smith covering up! More strikes from Joel and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Joel is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bob Joel!