PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Piotr Sminosic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John MacTavish (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sminosic might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to R.E.M - Losing my Religion. Piotr Sminosic has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Sminosic
vs
MacTavish

203 cm
27
272 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

188 cm
25
235 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Piotr Sminosic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John MacTavish!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sminosic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
MacTavish fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
MacTavish showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sminosic.
Sminosic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sminosic throws a combination that misses
and MacTavish counters with a low kick, right behind Sminosic 's knee.
MacTavish misses with a takedown attempt - Sminosic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sminosic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by MacTavish.
Sminosic throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Sminosic misses with a double jab
and MacTavish counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sminosic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Piotr Sminosic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John MacTavish.
MacTavish fails with a takedown attempt.
Piotr Sminosic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sminosic misses with a wild combination.
Sminosic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sminosic throws a right hand that MacTavish ducks under and follows up with a left that MacTavish also avoids with ease.
Sminosic swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacTavish closes the distance and clinches up with Sminosic, looking for a takedown. MacTavish pushes Sminosic against the cage but Sminosic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Sminosic.
MacTavish cracks a nice hook into Sminosic's ribs.
Sminosic is breathing heavily.
MacTavish with a body punch. A glancing blow.
MacTavish shoots for a takedown but Sminosic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Some wild striking there from Sminosic.

MacTavish shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sminosic manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sminosic is looking to stand up but MacTavish isn't so interested in that idea.
MacTavish is in close to Sminosic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
MacTavish scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sminosic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst MacTavish is controlling him.
MacTavish postures up in Sminosic's guard and throws a big left but Sminosic blocks it.
MacTavish wants to control from the top but Sminosic keeps moving.
MacTavish must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
MacTavish working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sminosic's head.
MacTavish postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sminosic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
MacTavish throwing strikes but missing.
Sminosic wants to stand and escape but MacTavish is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells MacTavish's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
MacTavish with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sminosic wants to stand but MacTavish is controlling the position.
MacTavish loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
MacTavish with a flurry of punches that miss.
MacTavish wants to control from the top but Sminosic keeps moving.
MacTavish working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sminosic's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacTavish trying to control the position from guard on top but Sminosic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sminosic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
MacTavish is working Sminosic over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
MacTavish makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

MacTavish postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sminosic is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of MacTavish, into his guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sminosic gets to his feet - MacTavish follows without any prompting.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
MacTavish shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sminosic but Sminosic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sminosic looks to land a combination but MacTavish avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John MacTavish dominated that round.
That's time! Sminosic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

MacTavish showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sminosic.
Sminosic lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sminosic.
Sminosic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from MacTavish.
MacTavish showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sminosic.
Sminosic misses with a few strikes there.
Sminosic fails to land with a series of punches.
Sminosic defends well against a solid takedown attempt from MacTavish.
MacTavish fails in his attempt to clinch.
MacTavish shoots in for a takedown but Sminosic shows good takedown defense.
Piotr Sminosic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John MacTavish.
Sminosic misses with a double jab.
MacTavish showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sminosic.
MacTavish looks for a takedown but Sminosic sprawls well.
Sminosic slaps away a takedown attempt from MacTavish, before circling back to the center of the mat.
MacTavish is breathing heavily.
Sminosic misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sminosic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
MacTavish connects with a crisp jab.
Piotr Sminosic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sminosic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sminosic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
John MacTavish seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sminosic misses with a series of wild punches.
Sminosic throws a right and a left that MacTavish avoids nicely.
MacTavish fails in his attempt to clinch.
MacTavish tries to clinch there but Sminosic circles away.
Sminosic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but MacTavish moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
MacTavish throws a nice inside leg kick.
MacTavish wants to clinch.
Sminosic misses with a series of wild punches.
MacTavish shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sminosic defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sminosic throws a series of punches but MacTavish avoids them all with ease.
Sminosic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sminosic misses with a combination
and MacTavish counters with a nice body shot.
Piotr Sminosic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
MacTavish dodges the punch combination from Sminosic.
MacTavish shoots in for a takedown but Sminosic shows good takedown defense.
MacTavish shoots in for a takedown but Sminosic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sminosic misses with a wild combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
MacTavish on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sminosic goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sminosic throws a right and a left that MacTavish avoids nicely.
MacTavish is looking to clinch but Sminosic is avoiding it.
MacTavish fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sminosic avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sminosic moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Sminosic misses with a series of wild punches.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for MacTavish. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Sminosic misses with a two punch combination.
Sminosic leaves MacTavish with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sminosic lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A punch combination from Sminosic misses.
MacTavish fails with the takedown.
MacTavish closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A punch combination from Sminosic misses.
MacTavish fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sminosic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
MacTavish dives in and grabs Sminosic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sminosic pushes down on MacTavish's head and hops out.
Sminosic stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sminosic throws a nice looking combination but MacTavish bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
MacTavish shoots in looking for a takedown. Sminosic tries to sprawl out of it but MacTavish keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sminosic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sminosic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but MacTavish moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
MacTavish is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sminosic.
MacTavish tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sminosic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sminosic defends well against a solid takedown attempt from MacTavish.
Sminosic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sminosic slaps away a takedown attempt from MacTavish, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sminosic throws a right hand that MacTavish ducks under and follows up with a left that MacTavish also avoids with ease.
MacTavish showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sminosic.
Sminosic has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
MacTavish tries to clinch there but Sminosic circles away.
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!
Sminosic slips a jab and a cross from MacTavish.
MacTavish tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sminosic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piotr Sminosic dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sminosic throws a series of punches but MacTavish moves out of range.
Sminosic misses with a few strikes there.
MacTavish tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
MacTavish scores with a hook.

It looks like Piotr Sminosic has been cut.
MacTavish slips a jab from Sminosic.
MacTavish closes the distance and clinches up with Sminosic, looking for a takedown. MacTavish pushes Sminosic against the cage but Sminosic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Sminosic does no damage.
Sminosic fails to land with a series of punches.
MacTavish shoots in for a takedown but Sminosic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sminosic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

MacTavish is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sminosic's half guard.
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!

Sminosic kicks off MacTavish and gets to his feet.
MacTavish shoots in for a takedown but Sminosic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Piotr Sminosic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John MacTavish.
Sminosic misses with a jab, cross combination.
A lazy left from Sminosic finds it's target.
Sminosic misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sminosic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
MacTavish fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sminosic misses with a double jab.
MacTavish shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sminosic sprawls well. Sminosic wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. MacTavish gets slowly back to his feet.
MacTavish dodges the punch combination from Sminosic.
MacTavish fails to land the takedown.
Sminosic lands with a straight right. MacTavish didn't see that one coming.
Danga de danga de dang - Sminosic scores with a four punch combination!
Sminosic is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
MacTavish is looking to clinch but Sminosic is avoiding it.
Some wild striking there from Sminosic.
Sminosic jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

MacTavish shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
MacTavish scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as MacTavish accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sminosic wants to stand and escape but MacTavish is having none of it.
MacTavish lands a couple of elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
MacTavish is working Sminosic over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
MacTavish landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacTavish wants to stand and escape but instead Sminosic has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sminosic stands and steps away. MacTavish gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Sminosic misses with a jab, cross combination.
MacTavish looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
MacTavish fails with a takedown attempt.
Sminosic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
MacTavish wants to clinch up but Sminosic keeps it at a distance.
Sminosic throws a right hand that MacTavish ducks under and follows up with a left that MacTavish also avoids with ease.

MacTavish scores with a takedown into Sminosic's guard.
MacTavish throws a big right hand that misses.
MacTavish postures up in Sminosic's guard and throws a big left but Sminosic blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacTavish trying to control but Sminosic is working from the bottom.
MacTavish in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
MacTavish with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sminosic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst MacTavish is controlling him.
MacTavish keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sminosic's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as MacTavish accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sminosic wants to get back to his feet but MacTavish is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
John MacTavish comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well MacTavish has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John MacTavish!