PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Franco Canti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bocano Smithian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Canti comes to the cage accompanied by Eminem - Till I Collapse. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Canti
vs
Smithian

177 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Hell's Balls Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Franco Canti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bocano Smithian!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smithian looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Canti might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Canti looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smithian uses his free foot to push down on Canti's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Canti.
Smithian won't let Canti get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Smithian takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Canti keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smithian controlling from mount.
Smithian won't let Canti get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Canti is trying to escape the mount.
Smithian controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canti working to try and regain half guard.
Canti is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smithian controlling from mount.
Canti is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smithian content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smithian scoring with strikes but Canti is staying in there.
Canti slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Smithian is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Well, if Smithian is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Canti looking for submissions off his back.
Smithian controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smithian is trying to control the action in half guard but Canti is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Smithian perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bocano Smithian just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smithian closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smithian lands in his opponent's guard.

Canti has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smithian can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Canti working for a triangle but Smithian defends it easily.
Canti is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smithian stands and steps away. Canti gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Smithian tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smithian misses with a head kick.
Smithian looks to land a combination. Canti sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Smithian throws a head kick but Canti moves out of range.
Smithian throws a sloppy head kick and Canti moves out of range easily.
Canti takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Smithian throws a head kick but Canti moves out of range.
Canti dives in and grabs Smithian's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smithian pushes down on Canti's head and hops out.
The crowd cheers as Canti lands an impressive looking overhand right. Smithian doesn't seem phased though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bocano Smithian dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smithian misses with a series of wild punches.
Canti looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smithian misses with a straight left.
Canti's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Canti duly obliges.
Canti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Smithian lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Canti backs up against the cage.
Smithian dodges the punch combination from Canti.
Canti misses with a body shot.

Smithian changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Canti looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Canti tries to buck Smithian off but Smithian is having none of it.
Smithian landing a few strikes.
Canti tries to buck Smithian off but Smithian is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smithian decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smithian pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Canti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smithian was well out of range. Poor timing from Canti.
Canti fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smithian manages to avoid it.
Smithian misses with a combination
and Canti counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Canti is looking to wear down Smithian with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Smithian shoots for a double leg takedown but Canti sprawls well. He's pushed Smithian's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Canti staying out of range there.
Smithian connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Canti swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Smithian.
Smithian fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Canti avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smithian showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Canti.
Canti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smithian was well out of range. Poor timing from Canti.
Canti scores with a jab. Smithian acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bocano Smithian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Canti scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Smithian shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Canti as he jumps to the side.
Franco Canti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bocano Smithian.
Smithian has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A left and a right from Canti both land. Nice combination.
Smithian fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice uppercut there from Canti.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canti connects with a single shot there.
Canti throws a shot to the body.
Canti lands a glancing blow to the side of Smithian's head.
Donk. Canti catches Smithian right on the button with a cross.
Canti moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Smithian misses with a jab to the body
and Canti counters with a one-two to the body.
Canti scores with a sloppy right hand. Smithian should have avoided that one.
Franco Canti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smithian pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Canti lands a right hook to the body.
Canti throws a body punch but Smithian moves out of range.
Smithian closes this distance looking for a takedown but Canti circles away.
Canti shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smithian counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Canti thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smithian slaps away a takedown attempt from Canti, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Canti ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Smithian walks into a stiff left hand from Canti.
Canti thows a body shot but no joy.
Nice takedown defense from Canti. No joy for Smithian on that attempt.
Smithian moves forwards but Canti connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A left and a right from Canti both land. Nice combination.
Smithian throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Canti counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A left and a right from Canti both land. Nice combination.
Smithian takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Smithian keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Franco Canti will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Canti lands with a hook. Smithian tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Smithian falls off balance throwing a combination
and Canti counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Canti throws out a powerful jab.
Smithian throws a combination that misses
and Canti counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Canti is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Smithian throws a combination that misses
and Canti counters with a nice uppercut.
Smithian works the jab nicely.
Smithian misses with a double jab
and Canti counters with a left and a right that stings Smithian.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Canti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smithian throws out a loose jab but Canti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smithian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smithian blocks a jab.
Smithian lands a slapping body shot.
Smithian has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canti blocks a head kick by Smithian.
Canti lands a nice shot to the body.
Smithian takes a swing at Canti's ribcage but misses.
Smithian shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Canti as he avoids it easily.
Canti digs a good body shot into Smithian's ribs.
Canti clobbers Smithian with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Smithian misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smithian thows a left - swing and a miss!
Canti misses with the combination.
Canti throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smithian swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Canti connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Canti fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smithian throws a combination that misses
and Canti counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Horrible takedown by Smithian or perhaps it was just good defense by Canti which made him look bad.
Canti fails with the takedown

and Smithian decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Canti's guard.

Canti working for a triangle but Smithian defends it easily.

Canti working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smithian doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smithian manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Smithian got a little sloppy there for a moment and Canti has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smithian has managed to get both his arms back between Canti's legs - danger averted.

Smithian gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canti moves out of range as Smithian strikes.
Canti connects with a jab.
Smithian misses with an attempted mid kick.
Smithian closes this distance looking for a takedown but Canti circles away.
Franco Canti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bocano Smithian.
Smithian walks into a stiff left hand from Canti.
A jab from Canti finds it's way through Smithian's defenses.
Canti shoots in but no luck this time.
Canti throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smithian pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Canti takes a swing at Smithian's ribcage but misses.
Smithian tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

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.
Canti connects with the punch.

Smithian fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Canti sprawls well initially but Smithian persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Canti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smithian is controlling the pace.
Canti is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smithian's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smithian's back!
Smithian really must keep his cool here. He's controlling one of Canti's hands and whilst he does that, he's got a chance of escaping the position.

Canti has his arm under Smithian's chin here. Game over son! Canti squeezes tightly and Smithian is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Franco Canti!