PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ross Maxwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Maxwell
vs
Smith

196 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ross Maxwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Damien Smith!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Maxwell.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Maxwell tries to clinch up.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Smith checks a leg kick.
Maxwell looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Maxwell misses with a wild combination.
Maxwell motions for Smith to come forward. Maxwell throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crunch! Maxwell slams his shin into Smith's torso.

Smith scores a takedown into full mount!
Maxwell is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell really wants to buck Smith off and get back to his feet.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maxwell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith wants to control the pace but Maxwell is squirming around nicely.
Maxwell sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Smith is just content to waste time from the top position. Maxwell takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Maxwell keeps moving.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Maxwell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Maxwell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Maxwell postures up.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maxwell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maxwell preventing the sweep.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Maxwell from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Maxwell throwing strikes but missing.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Maxwell passes Smith's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Maxwell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Maxwell throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.

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.
Maxwell trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Maxwell is breathing heavily.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maxwell.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Maxwell shoots and misses

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smith cracks Maxwell with a solid left hand.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Maxwell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Maxwell dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maxwell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Smith counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maxwell's guard now.
Maxwell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Maxwell tries to get out of the position.
Smith throws and elbow that misses. Maxwell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Maxwell!
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Maxwell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Maxwell looking to pass the guard.
Maxwell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith pulls Maxwell in close to prevent any damage.
Maxwell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smith lands with a heel strike from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smith staying out of range there.

Smith feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Maxwell is keeping the position.
Maxwell trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Maxwell keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Maxwell is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Maxwell prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maxwell breaks from the clinch.
Maxwell avoids the head kick by Smith.
Maxwell misses with a two punch combination.

Smith closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maxwell keeps working.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Smith trying to control the action but Maxwell is working from the bottom.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Maxwell defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maxwell's head.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Smith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Smith is trying to control. Maxwell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Damien Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maxwell fails with the takedown

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Maxwell keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maxwell moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maxwell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Maxwell didn't expect that.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Maxwell is keeping the position.
Smith wants to control from the top but Maxwell keeps moving.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maxwell is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Maxwell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maxwell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith is looking to stand up but Maxwell isn't so interested in that idea.
Maxwell has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Maxwell from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maxwell is one step ahead there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Smith shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smith was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Smith unloading with bombs!
Smith trying to control but Maxwell is having none of it.
Smith landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Smith tries to control but Maxwell wriggling away.
Smith should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Smith breaks from Maxwell's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Smith postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Maxwell looks a forlorn figure.
Maxwell tries to hold on but Smith postures up.
Smith wants to control the pace but Maxwell is squirming around nicely.

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.
Maxwell is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Smith cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Smith trying to control but Maxwell is having none of it.
Maxwell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damien 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

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