PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Salieri (ranked 3858 p4p, 403 weight class) and Frank Smith (ranked 2045 p4p, 240 weight class). Salieri comes into the arena with DMX - Ain’t No Sunshine blaring out of the sound system. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Salieri
vs
Smith

179 cm
25
162 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

180 cm
28
164 lbs
7 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Salieri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Smith!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Salieri throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Smith on the side of the head.

It looks like Frank Smith has been cut.
Salieri fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salieri keeps the fight on the outside.
It looked like Salieri was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Smith.
We've been told by Salieri's head coaches at Mello MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Salieri shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smith napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salieri in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Salieri takes a little break here. Smith wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Salieri misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Salieri in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two 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.
Salieri working the head with strikes.
Smith managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Salieri.
Salieri is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Salieri tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Salieri in side control lands a decent elbow.
Salieri misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Salieri lands a few punches from side control.

Salieri tries for a kimura but Smith is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salieri wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Salieri working the ground and pound but Smith is defending the strikes.
Salieri throws a strike aimed at the side of Smith's head but Smith avoids it well.
Salieri takes a little break here. Smith wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Salieri is trying to ground and pound but Smith uses the momentary lack of control by Salieri to regain half guard.
Salieri throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Salieri tries to pass to full mount but Smith defends it.
Smith on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Salieri dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frank Smith's cut.
That's time! Salieri's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Salieri closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Smith quickly recovers to half guard.
Salieri trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Salieri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.
Salieri is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Salieri seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Salieri 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.
Smith is staying active underneath Salieri, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
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.
Salieri is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Salieri throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is not content to let Salieri control the position.
Salieri stalling.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Salieri is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Salieri misses the jab.
Smith throws a counter combo.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salieri.
Smith takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith tries to clinch up but Salieri circles away and keeps his distance.
And Salieri counters with a quick kick to the body but Smith blocks it.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Salieri ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salieri throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Smith was covering up waiting for the punch and Salieri finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Salieri's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Salieri postures up.
Salieri is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Salieri stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.
Salieri works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salieri lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith moves into full guard.
Salieri is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Salieri wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Salieri makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Salieri connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Salieri dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Frank Smith's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Smith closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Salieri counter with a right hand.
Smith misses with a looping left.
Salieri displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.
Salieri shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Salieri. That snapped Smith's head back.

Smith is rocked!
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith is still on wobbly legs! Can Salieri finish him?
Salieri connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Salieri tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salieri fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Salieri measures up his opponent and throws a superman punch that connects to the jaw! Down goes Smith! The ref steps in, and that's the ball game folks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Antonio Salieri!
A relieved looking Antonio Salieri thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.