PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Karim Garcia (ranked 24146 p4p, 267 weight class) and Nikita Smirnov (ranked 6023 p4p, 250 weight class). Nikita Smirnov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Garcia
vs
Smirnov

160 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
24
119 lbs
0 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Karim Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nikita Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia misses the jab.
Garcia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smirnov has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Garcia is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Garcia misses with a double jab
and Smirnov counters with a two punch combo.
Garcia throws a body kick that misses.
Smirnov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Garcia definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Smirnov throws a nice looking combination but Garcia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Garcia throws a combination that misses
and Smirnov counters with a one-two to the body.
Smirnov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Garcia swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smirnov counters with a left and a right that stings Garcia.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garcia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Garcia wants it to stay on the feet.
Smirnov fails with a takedown attempt.
Garcia jabs Smirnov right on the nose. Smirnov blinks but takes it well.
Smirnov cracks a nice hook into Garcia's ribs.

Smirnov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Garcia was covering up waiting for the punch and Smirnov finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Garcia pushes Smirnov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smirnov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smirnov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smirnov has had enough of the clinch but Garcia keeps him there for the moment.
Garcia throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Smirnovs head.
Garcia has Smirnov pressed against the cage, preventing Smirnov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The referee is keeping an eye on Smirnov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Garcia lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Smirnov wants to stand back up but Garcia manages to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Garcia has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

Smirnov manages to escape and get back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smirnov enables Garcia to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smirnov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Smirnov wants to stand and escape but Garcia is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smirnov is keeping the position for now.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Garcia loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Garcia chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smirnov can pounce on him.
Garcia throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smirnov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Garcia takes a swing at Smirnov's ribcage but misses.
Smirnov ducks right into an uppercut from Garcia.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Garcia slaps away a takedown attempt from Smirnov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Karim Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikita Smirnov.

Garcia moves into the clinch successfully.
Garcia tries to circle away but Smirnov has him pinned against the cage.

Smirnov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Garcia throws a shot from downtown. Smirnov moves away and avoids it.
Smirnov goes for a double leg but Garcia avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Garcia continues to drive forward.
Garcia was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Garcia throws a lazy right hand but Smirnov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Garcia shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Garcia showed some decent athleticism there.
Garcia wants to take a breather but Smirnov is having none of it.
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 Karim Garcia will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smirnov dives in for a single leg takedown but Garcia sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Garcia was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Smirnov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Garcia shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Garcia was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Smirnov tries to escape but Garcia is in control.
Smirnov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Garcia postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Smirnov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Garcia is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Garcia tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Garcia has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Garcia lands some shots froms side control.
Garcia 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia wants to control but Smirnov is keeping him busy.
Garcia sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Smirnov is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Smirnov wants to get back to his feet but Garcia drags him back down.
Smirnov bucks up and tries to throw Garcia off but instead Garcia has got his back!
Smirnov is trying to stand back up.
Garcia is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's two 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.
Smirnov wants to get back to his feet.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Garcia controlling the positon.
Smirnov trying to get back to his feet but Garcia is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia wants to control but Smirnov is keeping busy.
Smirnov is trying to stand back up.
Garcia controlling the position well here. Smirnov rolled but Garcia kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Smirnov manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia throws a combination. Smirnov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Smirnov pushes Garcia up against the cage in a clinch.
Garcia prevents a body shot from Smirnov.
Smirnov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Garcia lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Smirnov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Garcia turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Garcia on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Smirnov. Smirnov obviously looking to wear him down.

Garcia shoots in and bounces Smirnov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Smirnov pushes Garcia off and scrambles back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Karim Garcia will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Garcia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Garcia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Good exchange - Smirnov coming out on top.
Garcia throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smirnov counters with an inside leg kick.
Smirnov lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Garcia misses with a left hand
and Smirnov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Garcia tries to bum rush Smirnov with a series of wild strikes but Smirnov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nikita Smirnov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Garcia leaves Smirnov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia has his takedown stuffed
enabling Smirnov to counter with a crisp jab.
Garcia tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smirnov swivels and escapes.

Garcia gets a double leg takedown into Smirnov's guard.
Smirnov is looking to stand back up but Garcia counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Smirnov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garcia wants to take a breather but Smirnov is having none of it.

Smirnov has one foot on Garcia's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Garcia. No joy for Smirnov on that attempt.

Garcia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smirnov cracks Garcia with a nice body shot.
Garcia is trying to break the clinch but Smirnov is controlling him.

Smirnov breaks from the clinch.
Smirnov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Garcia. That did some damage!
Garcia avoids the body shot from Smirnov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov has his takedown stuffed

and Garcia counters with a shoot takedown. Smirnov fights it but they end up in guard.

Smirnov pushes Garcia off and gets back to his feet.
Karim Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikita Smirnov.
Smirnov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Garcia shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Smirnov eats them both and turns towards Garcia to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Garcia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Garcia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Smirnov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smirnov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Garcia.
Smirnov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Garcia is fending him off so far but Smirnov persists. Nope, Garcia circles away and we're back to standing.
Garcia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smirnov is looking for the big counter here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov keeps the fight on the outside.
Smirnov replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Garcia blocks it well.
Garcia throws a front kick aimed at Smirnov's knee but Smirnov avoids it well.
Smirnov circles away from the clinch attempt

so Smirnov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Smirnov gets to his feet. Garcia looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Smirnov closes the distance and pushes Garcia back into the cage.
Garcia is trying to push Smirnov away but Smirnov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Smirnov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smirnov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Garcia defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is looking to chop away at Smirnov's legs.
Nice sprawl there from Garcia as Smirnov shoots in.
Garcia misses with a jab, cross combination.

Garcia forces Smirnov back against the cage and clinches.

Smirnov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice shot by Smirnov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garcia throws the left hand but Smirnov avoids the punch easily.
A head kick misses from Garcia.
Garcia takes a jab right on the kisser.
Garcia throws an off balance right hand

and Smirnov counters by moving into the clinch.
Smirnov looking to throw knees to the head but Garcia is blocking nicely.
Nikita Smirnov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karim Garcia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smirnov lands with a light punch inside.
Smirnov struggles to land a body shot inside as Garcia controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikita Smirnov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Garcia has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karim Garcia!