PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamjad Unis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Unis

186 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hamjad Unis!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Unis looking for a sweep. Not yet Unis, not yet.

Smith postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Unis is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Smith, into his guard.
Unis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Smith blocks Unis's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Unis avoids a series of strikes thrown by Smith.

Smith is going olschool here, as he tries to force Unis to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Unis shrugs it off.

Smith looking to secure an arm triangle but Unis defends it well.

Smith moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Unis has worked his arm free - good work by Unis!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Unis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Unis can do anything to dispel that myth.
Unis is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Unis holds on to Smith's head and controls the position momentarily.
An elbow from Smith crashes against the mat.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
You can see the frustration on Unis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Unis might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smith kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Unis tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Smith working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Unis sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Unis fails with the takedown
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Smith looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Unis makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Unis looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Unis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Smith is working for a kimura but Unis is defending it quite comfortably.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Unis keeps working.
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Unis is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smith is looking to stall here but Unis recovers full guard.
Unis is trying to hold Smith in close to prevent damage but Smith has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to pass to full mount but Unis defends it.

Smith is looking for a kimura but Unis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smith to get the leverage.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Unis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smith is pressing down on Unis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Unis is holding on for now.
Smith is keen to just control but Unis is a slippery customer.
Unis is trying to control but can't.

Smith seems to be looking for submissions.
Smith prevents Unis from improving his position.

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

and Unis counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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 Steve Smith will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Unis feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Unis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Unis is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Smith Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Unis's back instead.
Unis manages to reverse the position and now he's in Smith's guard. Nice work there by Unis.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Unis from controlling successfully.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Unis is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Unis tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Unis has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Smith wants to control the pace but Unis is squirming around nicely.

Smith working for a submission but Unis is keeping him at bay.
Unis is in all sorts of trouble here.
Unis tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.

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 breaks from Unis's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Smith tries to control but Unis wriggling away.

Smith looking to secure an arm triangle but Unis defends it well.
Unis is controlling an arm, preventing Smith from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Unis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Smith goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Unis is on top in guard.
Unis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to sweep here but Unis controlling him for the moment.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Unis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Unis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Unis lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Steve Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Unis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Unis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Unis is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Smith Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Unis's back instead.
Smith is not going to allow Unis to sit and survive in this position.
Unis is trying to get back to his feet but Smith has full control of the position and if anything, Unis has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Unis defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Smith's arms.
Unis trying to control the hands but Smith breaks the grip.
Smith throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Smith dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Unis is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.
Smith trying to control the action but Unis is working from the bottom.

Smith is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Unis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Unis tries to buck Smith off but Smith is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Unis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Unis striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Unis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Smith is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Unis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Unis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Unis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Unis is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Unis struggling a bit here.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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 is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Unis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Unis can't do much from the bottom here.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Smith is trying to get an arm triangle but Unis is defending well.
Unis tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position but Unis is working away.
Unis is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Unis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Unis manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Unis is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.
Unis drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.

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 not content to let Unis control the position.
Unis scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Unis stalling.
Smith wants to control but Unis is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith tries for a takedown but Unis circles away easily

and Unis counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Hamjad Unis just about did enough to take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Unis has his takedown stuffed

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Smith sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Unis's guard.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Smith is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Unis is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:35 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Steve Smith!
Steve Smith is the new light heavyweight champion!