PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marko Zrinski (ranked 1682 p4p, 2221 weight class) and Leon Smith (ranked 232 p4p, 301 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Zrinski might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Devil eyes. Leon Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zrinski
vs
Smith

183 cm
28
185
12 - 7 - 1

188 cm
27
190
2 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Silverback Sweatshop
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marko Zrinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Leon Smith!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Steve Montenegro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zrinski misses with a kick to the body
and Smith counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zrinski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zrinski. That's going to slow Smith down.
Smith lands a nice looking body shot.
Zrinski takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Smith fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zrinski throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zrinski manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A thudding body kick lands there by Zrinski!
Zrinski has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Smith.
Zrinski connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice shot by Smith.
Zrinski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith slips a jab from Zrinski.
Zrinski keeps the fight on the outside.
Zrinski throws a quick counter kick to the body but Smith avoids it.
Smith moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Leon Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zrinski looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zrinski tried to counter with a leg kick but Smith avoided it.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zrinski takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Zrinski takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Smith blocks a head kick by Zrinski.
Zrinski throws a lazy uppercut
and Smith counters with a nice leg kick.
Smith connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zrinski. Zrinski circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Smith connects with the punch.
Zrinski throws a combination that misses
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski throws a low kick but Smith avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zrinski throws a chopping leg kick but Smith manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Smith misses with a kick to the body.
Smith changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Smith forces Zrinski back against the cage and clinches.
A short body shot lands from Zrinski as the two fighters clinch.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zrinski throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Zrinski misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zrinski lands a body shot in the clinch.
Zrinski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smith blocks a body shot from Zrinski.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smith.
Zrinski tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Smith softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Zrinski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zrinski's efforts to push away.
A body shot lands from Smith.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Smith takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Zrinski misses with a punch to the body.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith pushes Zrinski back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smith lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zrinski backwards.
Come on Smith - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Zrinski throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but Zrinski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zrinski pushes Smith back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smith misses with a punch on the inside.
Zrinski tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Zrinski tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Still in the clinch, Zrinski scores with a nice short uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Zrinski.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zrinski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zrinski throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Smith prevents a body shot from Zrinski.

Zrinski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zrinski on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zrinski.
Smith darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Zrinski keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
Zrinski throwing a counter right hand but Smith manages to avoid it.
Zrinski seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Smith throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zrinski misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zrinski fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Smith has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zrinski drops his hands momentarily and Smith takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Zrinski with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Crunch! Smith slams his shin into Zrinski's torso.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Zrinski on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab by Smith.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Zrinski ducks down to avoid it.
Zrinski misses the shot to the body.
Zrinski uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith.
Zrinski loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Smith darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Smith moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
A head punch on the inside from Zrinski fails to land.
Smith blocks an uppercut.
Smith prevents a body shot from Zrinski.
Smith is struggling to control the position.
Zrinski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zrinski lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Smith is struggling to control the position.
A short right from Zrinski on the inside.
Zrinski gets through Smith's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Smith lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zrinski backwards.
Zrinski tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Smith stalling in the clinch but Zrinski improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zrinski lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Zrinski seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Smith can turn it around.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Zrinski.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zrinski misses with a punch on the inside.
Smith dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zrinski.
Zrinski tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Zrinski scores with a hook to the body.
Smith digs a right hand into Zrinski's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zrinski's gas tank.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Zrinski.
Zrinski lands a body punch.
Zrinski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zrinski.
Smith tries a body shot but Zrinski blocks it.
Smith misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski blocking some punches.
Zrinski misses with a punch to the body.
Zrinski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Smith controlling the action here for a moment.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zrinski's elbow.
Zrinski tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Smith misses with a punch on the inside.
Zrinski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zrinski creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Zrinski.
Zrinski misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zrinski tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Smith lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zrinski backwards.
Zrinski is working Smith over against the cage.
Zrinski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smith stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Smith lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zrinski or not.
Marko Zrinski has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Zrinski lands with a light punch inside.
Zrinski swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zrinski misses with a hook from the clinch.

Zrinski breaks from the clinch.
Zrinski turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zrinski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith moves out of range as Zrinski throws a body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Zrinski drops his hands momentarily and Smith takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Zrinski slips a straight right by Smith.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marko Zrinski will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zrinski throws an off balance right hand
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smith.
Smith throws a right hand that Zrinski ducks under and follows up with a left that Zrinski also avoids with ease.
Smith lets loose with a powerful body kick. Zrinski will feel that in the morning.
Smith cracks Zrinski with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Zrinski closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A decent looking cross lands there for Smith.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zrinski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Zrinski.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.
Zrinski digs a right hand into Smith's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Smith's gas tank.
Zrinski lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zrinski lands a shoulder strike.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zrinski can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Zrinski scores with a shot to the side of Smith's head.

Zrinski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith blocks a low kick nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zrinski walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zrinski looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Zrinski scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zrinski uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Smith fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith slips under a jab.
Leon Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zrinski.
Zrinski misses with a body shot.
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!
Zrinski looks to land a body kick but Smith moved away.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zrinski misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Zrinski uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Zrinski tries to work over Smith's front leg with a kick but Smith checks it.
Smith smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Smith takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Zrinski lands with a good body shot.
Zrinski tests Smith's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch but Zrinski moves out of range.
Zrinski throws a poor cross that misses
and Smith counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zrinski's knee momentarily.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Zrinski was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Smith scores with a head kick. Zrinski tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Zrinski pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Smith jabs at Zrinski's body.
Smith plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Zrinski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Zrinski.
Zrinski swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Smith is looking for the big counter here.
Smith slips a straight right by Zrinski.
Zrinski takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zrinski moves out of range of the body kick from Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Zrinski pushes him off.
Smith tries to clinch there but Zrinski circles away.
Zrinski throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
Zrinski fails to land with a series of punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zrinski misses with a hook.
Smith looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Zrinski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zrinski throws a leg kick that is checked
and Smith makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Smith avoids the head kick by Zrinski.
Smith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Zrinski defending well as Smith loads up on a big left hand.
Smith lands with a cross.
Zrinski waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leon 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leon Smith!
Leon Smith gave a mention to Knock Out Clothing in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).