PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Yayi Zinsou (ranked 6205 p4p, 461 weight class) and Awut Smith (ranked 3325 p4p, 317 weight class). Smith has chosen Ladies and Gentlemen as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Zinsou
vs
Smith

199 cm
31
273 lbs
15 - 28 - 0

192 cm
31
273 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent MT
Granite chin

Dr Zoidberg Office

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 28 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yayi Zinsou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Awut Smith!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zinsou misses with a straight right.
Zinsou tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith throws a hook but Zinsou avoids it easily.
Smith throws a front kick aimed at Zinsou's knee but Zinsou avoids it well.
Smith cracks the inside of Zinsou's front leg.
Zinsou lands with a shot to the body.
Smith with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Zinsou circles away.
Smith throws a low kick but Zinsou avoids it.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Zinsou.

Zinsou gets tackled into the ropes by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Zinsou avoids the damage to the body.
Zinsou on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zinsou can't break the clinch.
Zinsou definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Zinsou thuds a left hand into Smith's body.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zinsou.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zinsou lands a jab to Smith's midsection.
Zinsou checks the leg kick.
It looked like Zinsou wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Awut Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zinsou avoids the head kick by Smith.
Zinsou moves out of range of the strikes.
Smith throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zinsou counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zinsou fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Zinsou.
Smith feints a counter leg kick.
Smith with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zinsou on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Zinsou comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Smith looks to clinch
and Zinsou connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Smith gets tackled into the ropes by Zinsou. Zinsou maintains the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zinsou stalling in the clinch.
Zinsou wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the ropes.
Zinsou on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zinsou managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Zinsou stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zinsou avoids it.
Zinsou is trying to break the clinch but Smith is controlling him.
Zinsou trying to land knees to the body.
Zinsou blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Smith.
Smith stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Smith avoiding damage as Zinsou throws knees to the body.
Smith keeps control of Zinsou as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zinsou tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zinsou.
Smith throws an elbow that misses.
Zinsou throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Zinsou tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Zinsou avoids the damage to the body.
Zinsou wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Awut Smith will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zinsou fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
An inside leg kick from Smith misses.
Zinsou on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Zinsou tries to clinch up.
Zinsou wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith wants to land a leg kick but Zinsou is out of range.
Zinsou tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Zinsou tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zinsou staying out of range there.
Smith works over Zinsou's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Yayi Zinsou has been cut.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Smith is looking to slow Zinsou down with leg kicks.
Zinsou tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zinsou has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zinsou is looking to wear down Smith with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Zinsou slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zinsou thuds his right hand into Smith's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zinsou tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zinsou scores with a jab. Smith acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A swing and a miss from Smith.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Zinsou.
Zinsou misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Zinsou uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Smith lands a head kick that bluckles Zinsou and drops him to the canvas. He's still conscious but it looks like it's going to take him the full 10 seconds to get back his senses! He's up on 9 and seems to be just about OK to continue.... the referee agrees and we're back to the action with Smith no doubt looking to push for a finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Nice cross by Zinsou.
Zinsou is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Smith misses with a body punch
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zinsou tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A jab from Smith misses.
Zinsou is looking to clinch.
Zinsou swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Smith feints a counter leg kick.
Awut Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Zinsou tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Zinsou has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the ropes.
Smith is trying to maintain a safe position but Zinsou gets an underhook and turns Smith into the ropes.

Zinsou manages to break the clinch.
Zinsou connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Zinsou is looking to clinch.
Good leg kick by Smith there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Smith bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zinsou's head backwards.

Smith clinches up with Zinsou and pushes him back against the ropes.
Zinsou stalling in the clinch but Smith improves position.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zinsou is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smith is defending well for now.
Smith lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zinsou backwards.

Yayi Zinsou's cut is getting worse.

Zinsou's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith throws a hook but Zinsou blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Awut Smith takes that one, thanks to the knockdown.
The cut man is working on Yayi Zinsou's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Zinsou clinches with his opponent.
Smith slowing the pace effectively.
Zinsou managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Zinsou tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the ropes.
Zinsou working hard to break the clinch.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zinsou.
Zinsou working hard to break the clinch.

Zinsou manages to break the clinch.
Zinsou tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A countering left hand to the body from Smith misses.
Smith slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Zinsou slips under a jab from Smith.
Smith feints with a left and delivers a massive head kick! Zinsou collapses like a ragdoll! Game over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Awut Smith!
Awut Smith took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, RESISTANCE for their support in the buildup to the fight.