PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Len Nicodemo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heath Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicodemo comes to the cage accompanied by Thé à la Menthe / La Caution - Instrumental . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nicodemo
vs
Smith

180 cm
29
162 lbs
12 - 3 - 1

177 cm
27
162 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Len Nicodemo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Heath Smith!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Eddie Farnsworth and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith wants to clinch but Nicodemo slips to the side
and Nicodemo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nicodemo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Nicodemo.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nicodemo.
Nicodemo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Nicodemo pushes him off.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nicodemo sprawls well. Nicodemo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
Smith stalling the fight.
Nicodemo prevents a body shot from Smith.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nicodemo.
Nicodemo's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nicodemo lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nicodemo wants to break free but Smith has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is working for takedown but Nicodemo is calmly controlling the position for now.
A body shot lands from Nicodemo.
Nicodemo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nicodemo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Len Nicodemo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Smith.
Nicodemo is trying to break the clinch but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Nicodemo controls his hands.
Nicodemo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Nice body punch from Smith.
Smith lands a body punch in the clinch.
Smith misses with a body punch.
Smith stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Smith has Nicodemo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nicodemo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nicodemo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nicodemo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short body shot lands from Smith as the two fighters clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nicodemo avoiding damage.
Smith prevents a body shot from Nicodemo.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nicodemo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smith takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Smith clinches up with Nicodemo and pushes him back against the cage.
Nicodemo lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.
A shot in the inside from Smith.
Nicodemo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Smith stalling in the clinch but Nicodemo improves position.
Nicodemo scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Smith on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicodemo misses with some punches.
Nicodemo lands a right hand.
A right hook to the body lands for Nicodemo.
Nicodemo avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Nicodemo just leaning against Smith, taking a breather.
Nicodemo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nicodemo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Smith.
Nicodemo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Nicodemo stalling the fight.
Smith misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nicodemo struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
A right hook to the body lands for Smith.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Nicodemo controls his hands.
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but Nicodemo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Nicodemo controls the action.

Nicodemo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Decent striking displayed by Nicodemo there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Nicodemo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Smith wants to clinch.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Nicodemo, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Nicodemo against the cage but Nicodemo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Smith rushes Nicodemo and presses him up against the cage.
Nicodemo blocking some punches.
Nicodemo is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nicodemo has his back to the cage.
Nicodemo tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nicodemo lands a nice uppercut.
Nicodemo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nicodemo is keeping busy.
Smith tries a body shot but Nicodemo blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Len Nicodemo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith fails with the takedown.
Nicodemo looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.

Smith drives through with a takedown into Nicodemo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Nicodemo controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nicodemo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Nicodemo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Nicodemo stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Heath Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicodemo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Nicodemo throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nicodemo paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Smith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Smith creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nicodemo sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Nicodemo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Smith.
Smith is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Smith working the ground and pound but Nicodemo is defending the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Nicodemo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith tries to move to mount but Nicodemo blocks the move with his legs.
Smith sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Nicodemo is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The strikes coming from Smith are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Smith scores with punches from side control.
Smith controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith working the strikes but Nicodemo uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Nicodemo tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
Smith looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nicodemo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nicodemo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
Smith with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Smith is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nicodemo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicodemo wants to control but Smith passes into side.
Nicodemo gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith throws some wild stikes that Nicodemo manages to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heath Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Nicodemo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heath Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.
Nicodemo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.

Smith postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nicodemo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Smith, into his guard.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Nicodemo stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Nicodemo sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Nicodemo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nicodemo taking a bit of punishment here - Smith scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Smith.
Smith fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Nicodemo looks to move to half guard but instead Smith has passed into mount! Damn!

Smith has control of Nicodemo's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nicodemo regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Nicodemo is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith content just to control the position here.
Smith throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Smith goes for an armbar but Nicodemo turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Nicodemo.
Nicodemo won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Nicodemo wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to stand but Nicodemo is controlling the position.

Smith uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Smith takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nicodemo misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith thuds his right hand into Nicodemo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nicodemo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nicodemo keeps the fight on the outside.
Nicodemo is looking to wear down Smith with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heath 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heath Smith!
A relieved looking Heath Smith thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.