PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cubensis Azul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paavo Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cubensis Azul had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Azul
vs
Smith

174 cm
29
156 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

180 cm
29
180 lbs
20 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

- - - - - All Nutrients 160 - - - - -

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cubensis Azul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paavo Smith!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azul throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith thows a body shot but no joy.
Azul misses the shot to the body.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
A swing and a miss from Azul.
Azul misses with a leg kick.
Azul steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Azul throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smith misses with an uppercut.
Azul avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Azul throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Azul misses with a body kick.
Azul just misses with a punch to the body.
Azul lands a nice looking kick to the body. Smith takes a step back to recover.
Azul tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Azul lands a head kick. Smith smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Azul staying out of range there.
Azul misses with a series of wild punches.
Cubensis Azul is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
An inside leg kick lands from Azul.
Smith tries for a takedown but Azul circles away easily
and Azul counters with a nice low kick that buckles Smith's knee momentarily.
Smith misses the jab.
Azul throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
Azul lands a glancing blow to the side of Smith's head.
Azul throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice cross by Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azul lands with an overhand left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Azul. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Azul keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cubensis Azul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paavo Smith.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith walks into a stiff left hand from Azul.
Cubensis Azul seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azul buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Azul throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Azul misses with a wild body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Azul.
A big right from Azul misses.

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Azul's guard.
Azul pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Azul swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith pushing down on Azul's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Azul is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Azul has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smith is working away from the top position though.
Azul keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Azul blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Azul's head.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azul is looking to improve his position.
Smith passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Azul!
Smith lands a heavy elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith looking to control but Azul is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Azul is trying to escape the mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith throws a sloppy strike and Azul uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Azul has ended up in Smith's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cubensis Azul will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Azul.
Smith misses with a shot to the body
and Azul counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith misses with a hook. Azul ducked under it nicely.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Azul looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Azul misses with a hook.
A big right from Azul misses.
Smith stuns Azul with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Azul throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Smith slips a straight right by Azul.
Azul throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azul tries to work over Smith's front leg with a kick but Smith checks it.
Azul lands with a hook. Smith tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Azul swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Azul lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Azul chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Azul but Azul pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Azul throws a hook but Smith blocks it.
Smith takes a swing at Azul's ribcage but misses.
Cubensis Azul is winning the standup battle so far.
Azul misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Azul misses with a body kick.
Smith misses with a hook.
Azul tries to land a front kick but Smith steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azul thows a body shot but no joy.
A left lands for Azul.
Smith misses with a straight right.
Azul scores with a crisp jab that stopped Smith in his tracks.
Azul scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Azul.
Azul scores with a shot to the body.
Smith misses the jab.
Smith misses with a hook
and Azul counters with a straight right hand.
Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Azul.
Azul misses with a low kick.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Azul saw that one coming.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Azul.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azul throws a leg kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Smith.
Smith swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Azul counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Azul misses with a low kick as Smith jumps back.

Smith shoots in and bounces Azul off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Smith forces his way into half guard.
Smith wants to pass to mount but Azul is defending the position.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Azul's head.
Azul is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azul is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.
Smith moves nicely into side control.
Smith throws a strike aimed at the side of Azul's head but Azul avoids it well.
Azul is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith laying and praying for a moment but Azul takes advantage and regains half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith trying to control the pace.
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 Cubensis Azul will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Azul jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Azul.
Azul is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Smith takes a swing at Azul's ribcage but misses.
Azul takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Smith takes a swing at Azul's ribcage but misses.
Azul scores with a punch to the head.
Smith takes one to the chin there.
Azul thows a body shot but no joy.
Azul throws a quick inside leg kick.
Smith misses with a looping left.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Azul moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azul ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Azul misses with a low kick.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Azul connects with a solid leg kick.
Azul avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Azul slips under a jab.
Azul has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Azul there as he acknowledges the shot.
A swing and a miss from Azul.
Smith avoids the body shot from Azul.
Azul scores with a body shot.
Azul avoids the body shot from Smith.
Azul throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith swings away with a body shot that misses
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Paavo Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azul throws a nice inside leg kick.
Smith swings for the body but Azul moves out of range.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Azul moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Azul scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Smith doesn't seem bothered though.
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!
Azul ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Azul.
Azul lands a high kick!
Smith slips a straight right by Azul.
Azul fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smith looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The fighters circle momentarily. Azul darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Azul. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azul throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Azul throws a head kick that misses.
Azul keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
Azul bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Azul swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Azul smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Crunch! Azul slams his shin into Smith's torso.
Azul lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Azul cracks the inside of Smith's front leg.
Azul swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Smith chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Azul can pounce on him.
Smith's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Azul moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Smith connects with a body shot that sends Azul's belly button to the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Azul sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cubensis Azul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paavo Smith.
Azul lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Smith misses with a hook
letting Azul counter with a right hand.
Azul thuds his right hand into Smith's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Azul moves away.
A slapping body kick lands there for Azul.
Azul lands with a nice body punch.
Smith misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Azul counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azul thuds a left hand into Smith's body.
Cubensis Azul is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Azul catches Smith with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Azul ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cubensis Azul showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Azul, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!