PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rob Smith (ranked 1852 p4p, 1793 weight class) and Juha Niska (ranked 278 p4p, 267 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Smith
vs
Niska

185 cm
25
220
13 - 9 - 0

193 cm
37
212
28 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Seventh Circle Clothing

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rob Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Juha Niska!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Niska moves into the clinch.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Niska sizes up Smith with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Niska throws a leg kick

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Niska!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Niska is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Niska gets back to half guard.
Niska slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Niska keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Niska's brow.

Niska has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Niska is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Niska is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Niska has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
Smith sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Niska controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Smith trying to control but Niska is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith scores with a decent looking hook.
Niska tries to work over Smith's front leg with a kick but Smith checks it.
A nice leg kick from Niska, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've been told by Smith's head coaches at NY Savages that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Niska scores with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niska tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Smith was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Niska tries a head kick but it misses.
Niska tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Niska darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Niska has his takedown stuffed
and Smith counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Niska gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Niska has him pressed against the cage.
Smith working aggressively here.
Niska trying to control the position but instead, Smith has worked for underhooks and has pushed Niska into the cage.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Smith dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Niska moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith digs a right hand into Niska's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Niska's gas tank.
Smith misses with the head strike.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Niska can do to turn this around?
Smith lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Smith lands a nice uppercut.
Niska blocking some punches.
Smith stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Smith on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.
Niska is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Niska changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Niska misses with a takedown

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith prevents Niska from breaking the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Smith.
Niska blocks a body shot from Smith.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.
Smith lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Niska backwards.
Niska wants to break free but Smith has control.
Smith doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Niska swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rob Smith has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Smith lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Niska's coach down at Sparks gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Niska's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Niska blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niska throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Niska keeps the fight on the outside.
Niska looks to land a body kick but Smith moved away.
It looked like Smith wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Niska throws a low kick but it's checked well by Smith.
Smith swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Niska misses with a kick to the body

and Smith holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Niska is trying to stall.
Niska blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Smith stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith misses with some punches.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niska goes for a takedown attempt but Smith pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rob Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juha Niska.
Niska tries to work over Smith's front leg with a kick but Smith checks it.
It looked like Smith wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Niska manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Niska.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A slow jab from Niska misses its intended target.
Smith feinted with a counter takedown.
Niska bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Niska thows a leg kick but Smith checks it
and Niska takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A head kick from Niska lands but Smith takes it in his stride.
Niska tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Niska tries to clinch up
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niska misses with a hook.
Smith darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Juha Niska seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith lands a jab to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Niska misses with a takedown

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Smith is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rob Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Niska is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Smith dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Niska throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Niska shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
It looked like Smith was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Niska.
Smith scores with a crisp jab that stopped Niska in his tracks.

Smith rushes Niska and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Niska.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.
Niska landing knees to the head.

It looks like Rob Smith has been cut.
Niska looking to slow down the pace here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niska leaning his opponent against the cage.
Niska is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niska is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Niska has his back to the cage.
Niska tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Niska is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Smith is keeping busy.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Juha Niska.
Niska swings widly with a right hand
enabling Smith to counter with a crisp jab.
Niska lands with a hook. Smith tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Niska closes the distance looking to clinch
and Niska takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Niska takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Niska moves to clinch but Smith breaks away
and Niska takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niska slips under a jab from Smith.
Niska tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
A little feinted left hand from Smith on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Niska cracks Smith with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Niska has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith pushes Niska back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Niska takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith working aggressively here.
Smith tries a body shot but Niska blocks it.
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!
Smith working aggressively here.
Niska blocking some punches.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Niska has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niska stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Niska scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Niska throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Niska throws a poor cross that misses
and Niska takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Niska tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Smith scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Niska looks to throw a body kick

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Niska's guard.
Niska working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Juha Niska has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niska wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Niska wants to hit a sweep here but Smith passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Niska there!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Niska's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Smith!