PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bradford Volkanovski (ranked 7381 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Smith (ranked 5044 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Volkanovski
vs
Smith

173 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
157 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bradford Volkanovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alexander Smith!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Dirk Anderson and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkanovski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Volkanovski closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.

Smith successfully pulls guard.
Smith has control of Volkanovski's left arm, preventing Volkanovski from doing any damage.

Smith looking for a guillotine here but Volkanovski defends easily.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Volkanovski from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkanovski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Volkanovski trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith pulls Volkanovski in to control the position.
Volkanovski won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Volkanovski.

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.
Smith wants to sweep here but Volkanovski controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith checks a leg kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Volkanovski enables Smith to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Volkanovski manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Volkanovski has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Volkanovski's legs - danger averted.
Volkanovski wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkanovski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Volkanovski trying to control the position.
Volkanovski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Volkanovski is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Smith preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smith has managed to clinch.
Volkanovski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smith breaks the clinch.
Volkanovski will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smith connects with a solid leg kick.
Volkanovski fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Volkanovski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bradford Volkanovski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Volkanovski shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Volkanovski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Volkanovski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Smith feints and as Volkanovski raises his hands in defense, Smith changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Volkanovski can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Volkanovski is working an open guard so Smith takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A head kick by Volkanovski misses

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.

Volkanovski pulls guard successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is working Volkanovski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith lands a couple of digs.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Smith stands up from Volkanovski's guard - Smith perhaps looking for a knockout.
Smith rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Volkanovski counters with a straight right hand.

Smith forces Volkanovski back against the cage and clinches.
Volkanovski is trying to force a seperation but Smith has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smith keeps control of Volkanovski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith taking a breather.

Smith has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Volkanovski regains guard immediately.
Smith is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Volkanovski wants to stand up but Smith is controlling him.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith passes Volkanovski's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Smith is taking a breather. Volkanovski says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Alexander Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith prevents Volkanovski from standing back up.
Volkanovski tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Volkanovski is defending well.

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.
Volkanovski wants to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Smith in particular looking to stall.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Smith wants to pass to mount but Volkanovski is defending the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Volkanovski fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bradford Volkanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Volkanovski does a little dance to reset his feet.
As Smith looks to move away, Volkanovski throws a big counter combo but Smith just gets out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Volkanovski gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smith to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Volkanovski wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Smith manages to pass to side control.

Smith drops an elbow to the side of Volkanovski's head.
Volkanovski is trying to control but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.
Volkanovski is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Volkanovski's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the pace.

Smith stands up and beckons Volkanovski to join him on the feet.
Volkanovski fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smith is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Smith jumps guard.
Smith lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Volkanovski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith stays in close to Volkanovski's body and controls the position.

Smith gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
No luck for Volkanovski with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bradford Volkanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking to score a takedown here. Volkanovski is defending well but Smith drives through and ends up in Volkanovski's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Volkanovski is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Volkanovski is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Smith would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Volkanovski looking for a sweep. Not yet Volkanovski, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Volkanovski tries to clinch up.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Volkanovski.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Smith!