PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralle Pihl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Bad Meets Evil Feats Mike Epps - I'm On Everything. Pihl has chosen Run to the hills as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Pihl

167 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
140 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chuck Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ralle Pihl!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Bruno Hogan and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Pihl slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Smith falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pihl counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smith's guard now.
Pihl postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Pihl throwing strikes but missing.
Pihl stops Smith from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pihl trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pihl working some strikes from top position.
Pihl stops Smith from standing up.
Smith trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Smith 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.
Pihl thows a big elbow that misses.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pihl throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pihl won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Pihl in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pihl postures up and lands a big shot to Smith's brow.

Smith is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Pihl has picked Smith up - he's going for a ride! Pihl dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pihl connects with a nice short shot to Smith's temple.
Smith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pihl sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Smith pushes Pihl off looking to stand but Pihl dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pihl thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Pihl missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pihl lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Pihl not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pihl not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pihl sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Pihl thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pihl missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pihl.
Pihl landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pihl thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith kicks off Pihl and gets to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Pihl on that attempt.
Pihl shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Pihl counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pihl.
Pihl won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Pihl is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith punching from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pihl missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Smith throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralle Pihl dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pihl slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
Smith lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Pihl shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pihl gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Pihl bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith misses with a combination

and Pihl counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pihl misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Smith pushes Pihl away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Pihl gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Smith on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Pihl lands an elbow.
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Pihl has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pihl fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Smith is pushing Pihl's head away, looking to escape. Pihl manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pihl working the ground and pound from side control.
Check out the look on Pihl's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Pihl working the head and body with strikes.
Smith pushes Pihl away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Pihl gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pihl cracks Smith with a big right hand but Smith just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Smith on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Pihl working the ground and pound.
Smith defending against the ground and pound.
Pihl cracks Smith with a big elbow.
Pihl landing strikes.

Pihl decides to stand back up. Pihl steps back and let's Smith get back to his feet.

Pihl scores a takedown into full mount!
Smith really wants to buck Pihl off and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pihl lands a big elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pihl dominating with strikes here.
Pihl lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Pihl throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Smith can't escape the position.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Pihl working the ground and pound effectively.
Pihl lands a big elbow.
Smith is looking to improve his position but Pihl isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pihl lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Pihl scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Smith?
Pihl cracks Smith with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralle Pihl showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Pihl shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Smith falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pihl counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pihl postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Pihl is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith pushes Pihl off and gets back to his feet.
A right-left combo lands from Smith.

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.
Pihl showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Smith misses with a double jab

and Pihl counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smith's guard now.
Pihl scoring with some ground and pound.
Pihl thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pihl.

Pihl gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Pihl fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four 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.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith misses with a combination

and Pihl counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ralle Pihl comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pihl winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ralle Pihl!