PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Silvester Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timur Rod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Rod

190 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
21
201 lbs
3 - 17 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Silvester Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Timur Rod!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith cracks Rod with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rod shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Rod.
Smith is struggling to control the position.
Smith is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rod is defending well.
Rod can't get the takedown.
Rod is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smith to keep the fight standing.
Silvester Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timur Rod.
Rod looking for a takedown.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rod fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smith misses with a combination

and Rod moves into the clinch.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rod uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rod is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Rod with a lazy takedown attempt
and Smith makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Smith manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rod on his heels. He'll look to pass Rod's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Rod is trying to keep Smith in close.
Rod really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Smith gets to his feet - Rod follows without any prompting.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Rod tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith forces Rod back against the cage and clinches.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rod leaves Smith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rod is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rod is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Silvester Smith wasn't doing enough on the ground.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rod throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith has Rod up against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smith as Rod tries to tie him up.

Rod ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rod no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Rod is keeping the position.
Smith trying to control but Rod is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Rod is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rod defends it nicely.
Smith leaves Rod with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Smith has managed to clinch.
Rod keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smith's efforts to push away.

Rod breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rod.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Silvester Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Rod swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rod will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Rod gets a takedown into half guard.
Rod missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rod is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.

Rod stands up from Smith's guard - Rod perhaps looking for a knockout.

Smith gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodis looking to pass into half guard but Smith pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Smith is in guard.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rod working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rod has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Smith is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Silvester Smith wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rod circles away.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Rod sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Timur Rod will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Rod takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rod tries a head kick but it misses.
Rod connects with a solid leg kick.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rod.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
Rod tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Smith working the ground and pound from side control.
Rod wants to control but Smith postures up.
Silvester Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Smith stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rod is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Rod circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Smith rushes Rod and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is trying to break free.
A bit of stalling here from Rod.

Rod manages to break the clinch.
Silvester Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Rod.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Smith throws a leg kick

and Rod counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rod in particular looking to stall.
Rod wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rod is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.
Smith is trying to stand back up but Rod is controlling him
Rod trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith trying to hold on to Rod's head to control him but Rod postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.
Smith controls Rod momentarily but Rod frees himself.
Smith pulls Rod in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Rod sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Silvester Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rod swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rod. Rod obviously looking to wear him down.
Rod fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rod fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.

Smith darts in and clinches Rod up against the cage.
Smith is trying to break free.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rod gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Smith tries to pull guard but Rod forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rod breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Silvester Smith.
Well Smith has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Silvester Smith!
Silvester Smith was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.