PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pascal Barao (ranked 2162 p4p, 2528 weight class) and Jake Smith (ranked 283 p4p, 324 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barao
vs
Smith

178 cm
23
167
7 - 4 - 0

176 cm
22
155
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pascal Barao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Smith!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barao takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barao circles away quickly and effectively.

Barao changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Smith struggling a bit here.
Smith is looking to regain half guard here but Barao keeps moving and retains side control.
Smith is trying to control Barao's posture but Barao avoids it.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
Barao staying calm.
Barao seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Smith for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barao's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here as Barao stalls from top position.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.

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.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barao wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face as Barao controls the position.
Barao working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.
Smith is not content to let Barao control the position.
Barao moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Barao.
Smith tries to buck Barao off but Barao is having none of it.
Smith being controlled for a moment.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barao wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

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.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Smith tries to bench press Barao off him but Barao keeps the position.
Barao taking a breather here.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Barao's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barao is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pascal Barao dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Barao fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Smith as Barao shoots in.
Smith cracks Barao with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Barao fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pascal Barao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith scores with a jab to the head.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barao fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith misses with a double jab
and Barao counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barao slips a straight right by Smith.
Barao slips under a jab.
Smith with a nice cross.
Smith throws an overhand right that lands on Barao's shoulder, as Barao tries to avoid the shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Barao does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barao shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Horrible takedown attempt by Barao or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith, which made it look bad.
Barao takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Smith dips to his left and cracks Barao with an uppercut!
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Barao on that attempt.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A left lands for Smith.
Jake Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barao dodges the punch combination from Smith.
Barao throwing a counter right hand but Smith manages to avoid it.

Barao shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Smith is trying to defend but Barao finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Pascal Barao overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Smith looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Barao controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barao doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barao manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barao is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Smith working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Barao has passed into half guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barao performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Barao tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Barao content to control rather than advance.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Smith works his way to full guard. Good work.
Barao stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.
Barao stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Barao slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barao defends well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Barao tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barao somewhat.
Barao shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barao gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nice sprawl there from Smith as Barao shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pascal Barao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barao looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Barao controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barao's guard.

Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Barao is retaining full guard.
Smith advances position into side control!
Barao is working to avoid the ground and pound but Smith connects with a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith working away.
Smith lands a nice forearm strike.

Smith tries for a kimura but Barao is defending well.

Smith is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Barao has escaped the position, nice work there.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Barao is not content to let Smith control the position.
You can see the frustration on Barao's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Barao is looking for a sweep.

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

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barao regains half guard.
Barao wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Barao is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barao defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barao is defending against the submission attempts here by Smith.
Barao is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barao defending well though.
Barao keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four 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 throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barao defending well though.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Barao is working away.
Barao regains full guard. Nicely done.
Barao wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Barao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barao is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

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