PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Bolleke (ranked 731 p4p, 264 weight class) and Corey Smith Jr (ranked 110 p4p, 44 weight class). Smith Jr has chosen You Will Know My Name as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bolleke
vs
Smith Jr

195 cm
35
205
29 - 12 - 2

183 cm
34
215
24 - 16 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Bolleke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 16 - 1, fighting out of London, Corey Smith Jr!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Steven Brown and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith Jr's corner calls for a 1-2. Smith Jr obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Smith Jr jabs Bolleke to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smith Jr throws a hook but Bolleke blocks it.
Bolleke seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
A shot to the body from Smith Jr misses
and Bolleke counters with a right hand to the body.

Smith Jr gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A right hook to the body lands for Smith Jr.
Smith Jr lands a hook that snaps the head of Bolleke backwards.
Smith Jr is stalling here.
Bolleke has a couple of punches blocked by Smith Jr.
Bolleke prevents a body shot from Smith Jr.
Bolleke tries a body shot but Smith Jr blocks it.
Smith Jr goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith Jr is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Bolleke changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith Jr fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bolleke walks into a straight right hand from Smith Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bolleke clinches up with Smith Jr and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith Jr tries to throw a body punch but Bolleke avoids it by throwing Smith Jr back against the cage.

Smith Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bolleke scores with a hook.
Bolleke on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Smith Jr. Smith Jr obviously looking to wear him down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Smith Jr. That's going to slow Bolleke down.
Smith Jr moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Smith Jr swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bolleke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Corey Smith Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith Jr throws a right hand that misses
and Smith Jr takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bolleke throws a body punch but Smith Jr moves out of range.
Smith Jr throws a hook but Bolleke avoids it easily.
Smith Jr attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Bolleke fails with an attempt to clinch.
A nice side step and Smith Jr releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Smith Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bolleke.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith Jr connects with a body shot that sends Bolleke's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith Jr jabs at Bolleke's body.
Bolleke takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nice jab there from Smith Jr.
Bolleke misses with an uppercut. Smith Jr saw that one coming.
Smith Jr smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Bolleke throws a lazy uppercut
and Smith Jr counters with an outside leg kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Smith Jr - that will leave a mark!
Bolleke staying out of range there.

Smith Jr gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A right hand to the body from Smith Jr.

Smith Jr breaks from the clinch.
Bolleke avoids the head kick by Smith Jr.
Bolleke wants to clinch up but Smith Jr keeps it at a distance.
Smith Jr is looking to score with low kicks.
It looked like Bolleke wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Corey Smith Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith Jr throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith Jr thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bolleke misses with a left hand
and Smith Jr counters with a good, hard body kick but Bolleke shrugs it off.
Smith Jr cracks Bolleke with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Smith Jr waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bolleke.
Bolleke moves out of range as Smith Jr strikes.
Bolleke thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith Jr throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bolleke stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bolleke slips a jab and a cross from Smith Jr.
Bolleke throwing a counter right hand but Smith Jr manages to avoid it.
Smith Jr lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith Jr throws a nice inside leg kick.
Smith Jr connects with a body shot that sends Bolleke's belly button to the back.
Smith Jr dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Bolleke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith Jr is looking to slow Bolleke down with leg kicks.
Bolleke throws an overhand right that lands on Smith Jr's shoulder, as Smith Jr tries to avoid the shot.
Smith Jr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith Jr swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Bolleke counter with a right hand.

Smith Jr forces Bolleke back against the cage and clinches.
Bolleke wants to take the fight to the mat but Smith Jr manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bolleke tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith Jr shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Bolleke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith Jr scores with a hook to the body.
Smith Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Smith Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bolleke waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith Jr.
Bolleke throws a predictable looking body shot
and Smith Jr counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith Jr rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bolleke counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith Jr throws a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Smith Jr dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith Jr lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
The fighters circling - Smith Jr throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith Jr throws a quick inside leg kick.
Smith Jr misses the jab.
Smith Jr punishes Bolleke's body with a nice straight punch.
Bolleke blocks a head kick by Smith Jr.
Corey Smith Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bolleke takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A slow jab from Smith Jr misses its intended target.
Smith Jr blocks a jab.
A nice side step and Smith Jr releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Jab, jab by Bolleke - just one landing.
Bolleke is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith Jr misses with a head kick.
Smith Jr jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bolleke scores with a nice strike.
Bolleke blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith Jr misses with a low kick.
Bolleke drops down looking for a counter takedown but Smith Jr sprawls and moves away.
Smith Jr with a jab.
Bolleke lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith Jr misses with a looping left.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bolleke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith Jr is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bolleke.
Bolleke swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Smith Jr takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Smith Jr swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bolleke counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Bolleke is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Smith Jr looks to throw the jab but Bolleke is out of range.
Smith Jr swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bolleke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith Jr. Bolleke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bolleke misses with a hook. Smith Jr ducked under it nicely.
Nice defenses there by Bolleke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke moves away from the strike by Smith Jr.
Bolleke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith Jr throws the kick towards the body but Bolleke avoids it.
A little feinted left hand from Bolleke on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Smith Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bolleke was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith Jr.
A counter left hand to the body from Bolleke misses its target.
Bolleke doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith Jr takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bolleke wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bolleke looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith Jr is just out of range.
Bolleke throws a looping overhand right but Smith Jr ducks down to avoid it.
A big right from Smith Jr misses.
Bolleke gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Smith Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith Jr throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith Jr misses with a low kick.
Nice shot by Bolleke.
Smith Jr throws a leg kick which misses Bolleke's front leg but catches the back leg as Bolleke tries to avoid it.
Smith Jr throws out a leg kick but Bolleke moves out of range and Smith Jr only half commits.
Smith Jr looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A jab from Bolleke misses.
Bolleke has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bolleke there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nice shot lands for Bolleke.
Smith Jr connects with a solid leg kick.
Bolleke drops his hands momentarily and Smith Jr takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Smith Jr throws a low kick but Bolleke moves out of range easily.
Bolleke misses with a hook. Smith Jr ducked under it nicely.
Bolleke scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith Jr fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bolleke looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bolleke drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith Jr is trying to get back to his feet.
Smith Jr is trying to improve his position.
Smith Jr regains half guard.
Bolleke slips a nice elbow through Smith Jr's hands, connecting with Smith Jr's forehead.
Bolleke thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bolleke sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith Jr defending well though.
Bolleke missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Corey Smith Jr will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smith Jr misses with a two punch combination.
Smith Jr scores with a jab to the body.
Bolleke misses with a straight right.
Bolleke steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Smith Jr. That one must have hurt.
Smith Jr misses with a body kick.
Bolleke throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smith Jr stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Smith Jr misses with a straight left.
Smith Jr thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith Jr throws an off balance right hand
and Bolleke counters with a lovely shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith Jr throws a lazy right hand but Bolleke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bolleke jabs at Smith Jr's body.
Good exchange - Bolleke coming out on top.
Smith Jr walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bolleke checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolleke tries to move into range but Smith Jr moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bolleke scores with a crisp jab that stopped Smith Jr in his tracks.
Bolleke pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Smith Jr scores with a leg kick.
Bolleke looks to land a right hand but Smith Jr moved out of range.
Bolleke misses with a straight left.
Smith Jr stuffs the takedown attempt from Bolleke. Bolleke gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith Jr blocks a jab.
Bolleke cracks Smith Jr with a good jab.
Smith Jr bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bolleke's head backwards.
Bolleke misses with a hook. Smith Jr ducked under it nicely.
Smith Jr darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Thomas Bolleke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Smith Jr finds it's way round the side to connect with Bolleke's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith Jr gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Smith Jr connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Smith Jr moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bolleke moves out of range of the body kick.
Smith Jr is looking to clinch but Bolleke is avoiding it.
Bolleke swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Bolleke moves out of range as Smith Jr throws a body kick.
It looked like Bolleke wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bolleke misses the shot to the body.
Smith Jr on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bolleke lands a jab to Smith Jr's midsection.
Smith Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bolleke.
A counter left hand to the body from Bolleke misses its target.
Smith Jr fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bolleke.
Smith Jr with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith Jr misses the target.
Smith Jr throws a right hand that misses
and Bolleke counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A nice leg kick lands there from Smith Jr.
Smith Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith Jr throws a nice inside leg kick.
Smith Jr jabs at Bolleke's body.
Bolleke scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Smith Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bolleke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith Jr, pushing him back against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Smith Jr.
Smith Jr blocks an uppercut.
Bolleke looking for a takedown.
Smith Jr lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Bolleke backwards.
Bolleke blocks a body shot from Smith Jr.
Bolleke fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Corey Smith Jr seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Smith Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Bolleke controls the action.
Corey Smith Jr is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke misses with a punch on the inside.
Bolleke wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Bolleke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith Jr lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bolleke has a couple of punches blocked by Smith Jr.
Bolleke misses with a punch on the inside.
Bolleke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bolleke misses with the head strike.
Bolleke wants a takedown but no success here.
A short right from Smith Jr on the inside.
Bolleke lands with a light punch inside.
Bolleke lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith Jr backwards.
Smith Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Corey Smith Jr.
I've got Smith Jr winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Corey Smith Jr!
During a confident post fight interview, Corey Smith Jr thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.