PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between DeMarcus Njokuani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Smiles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smiles comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Iron Maiden- Ghostface Killah kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Alex Smiles has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Njokuani
vs
Smiles

186 cm
25
169 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Likes comics

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, DeMarcus Njokuani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Smiles!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Donatello Bradman and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smiles throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smiles throws a hook but Njokuani blocks it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Smiles darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Smiles has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Njokuani.
Smiles swinging wildly here.
Smiles thows a body shot but no joy.
Smiles fails to land with a series of punches.
Njokuani slips a jab and a cross from Smiles.
Njokuani throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smiles's waist but Smiles gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Njokuani off to one side.
Njokuani takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Smiles on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Njokuani. Njokuani obviously looking to wear him down.
Smiles misses with the combination.
Smiles lands the left hand.
Njokuani dives in and grabs Smiles's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smiles pushes down on Njokuani's head and hops out.
Njokuani shoots in for a takedown but Smiles shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for DeMarcus Njokuani. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smiles shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Njokuani eats them both and turns towards Smiles to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Smiles fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Njokuani throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Njokuani lands a leg kick that knocks Smiles off balance momentarily.
Smiles fails to land with a series of punches.
Njokuani takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Smiles pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Njokuani back to the cage. Smiles follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Njokuani is looking to clinch but Smiles is avoiding it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smiles!
Smiles misses with a few strikes there.
Njokuani fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Njokuani is breathing heavily.
Njokuani takes one to the side of the head.
Smiles tests Njokuani's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Smiles swinging wildly here.
Njokuani tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Smiles manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smiles scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Smiles lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Njokuani takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Smiles displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Njokuani throws a head kick that misses.
Alex Smiles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smiles swinging wildly here.
Smiles keeps the fight on the outside.
Smiles lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Smiles lands with a shot to the body.
Smiles scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Njokuani rushes Smiles and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smiles wants to take the fight to the mat but Njokuani manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Smiles is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Njokuani to keep the fight standing.
A short right from Njokuani on the inside.
Njokuani tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Njokuani looking to throw knees to the head but Smiles is blocking nicely.
Njokuani misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smiles is looking for a takedown.
Smiles jumps guard but Njokuani stands there with Smiles around his waist. Smiles gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Njokuani comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Njokuani throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Njokuani fails to land.
Njokuani landing knees to the head.
Njokuani lands a knee to the head.
Smiles is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Njokuani gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Njokuani landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Njokuani gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smiles.
Smiles is trying to pull guard but Njokuani turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Njokuani throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smiles blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Njokuani fails to land.
Njokuani misses with a knee strike.
Smiles is trying to push Njokuani away but Njokuani has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Smiles is trying to pull guard but Njokuani has him pressed against the cage.
Njokuani tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Njokuani gets underhooks to prevent Smiles's takedown attempt.
Smiles wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Njokuani has him pressed against the cage.
Smiles can't break the clinch.
Njokuani gets underhooks to prevent Smiles's takedown attempt.
Smiles prevents a body shot from Njokuani.
Njokuani scores with a shot to the side of Smiles's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Njokuani tries a knee to the head but Smiles blocks it.
Njokuani struggles to land a body shot inside as Smiles controls his hands.
Njokuani lands a nice uppercut.
Njokuani lands an elbow just above Smiles 's eye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Smiles dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smiles connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Njokuani's hands.
Njokuani takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Smiles scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Njokuani doesn't seem bothered though.
Smiles lands a nice hook to Njokuani's body. Njokuani takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smiles throws a hook but Njokuani avoids it easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smiles.
Alex Smiles seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Njokuani looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smiles is fending him off so far but Njokuani persists. Nope, Smiles circles away and we're back to standing.
Njokuani looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A nice combination there by Smiles.
Njokuani takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Njokuani tries to land a front kick but Smiles steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Njokuani tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smiles swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Njokuani takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Njokuani walks into a left hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Smiles. That snapped Njokuani's head back.

Njokuani pushes Smiles up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Njokuani lands a hook that snaps the head of Smiles backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Njokuani creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Smiles's defenses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smiles.
Smiles has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Njokuani unloads a knee to the mid-section. Smiles lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Njokuani lands a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smiles.
Smiles managing to block the knees to the body from Njokuani.
Smiles has had enough of the clinch but Njokuani keeps him there for the moment.
Njokuani looking to throw knees to the head but Smiles is blocking nicely.
Njokuani pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Smiles tries to break the clinch but Njokuani is controlling the position.
Smiles blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smiles wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smiles is trying to pull guard but Njokuani turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Smiles jumps guard but Njokuani stands there with Smiles around his waist. Smiles gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Njokuani missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Njokuani on the inside.
Smiles fails to pull guard.
DeMarcus Njokuani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Smiles.
Njokuani lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Smiles wants to break free but Njokuani has control.
Smiles is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Njokuani pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Njokuani lands an elbow inside.
Smiles is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Njokuani pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Njokuani looking to throw knees to the head but Smiles is blocking nicely.
Smiles wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smiles tries to pull guard but Njokuani holds him up against the cage and eventually Smiles drops back down to his feet.
Njokuani utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Njokuani scores with a shot to the side of Smiles's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Njokuani looking to throw knees to the head but Smiles is blocking nicely.
A short left from Njokuani.
Njokuani lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Smiles fails to pull guard.
With the fighters up against the cage, Njokuani throws an elbow but misses.
Njokuani landing knees to the body.
Njokuani tries a knee to the head but Smiles blocks it.
Smiles has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smiles wants to break the clinch but can't.
Njokuani keeps control of Smiles as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smiles looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Smiles can't break the clinch.
Njokuani is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smiles is defending well for now.
Smiles managing to block the knees to the body from Njokuani.
Njokuani missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smiles working hard to break the clinch.
Smiles is trying to force a seperation but Njokuani has the dominant position.
Smiles tries to pull guard but Njokuani forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Smiles tries to break the clinch but Njokuani is controlling the position.
Smiles managing to block the knees to the body from Njokuani.
Smiles blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Njokuani unloads a knee to the mid-section. Smiles lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Smiles jumps guard but Njokuani stands there with Smiles around his waist. Smiles gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Smiles tries to pull guard but Njokuani forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Smiles can't break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smiles tries to pull guard but Njokuani won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Njokuani fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smiles is trying to stall.
Smiles is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alex Smiles will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Njokuani takes the fight into the clinch.
Smiles jumps guard but Njokuani stands there with Smiles around his waist. Smiles gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Njokuani.
Njokuani throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Njokuani is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smiles is defending well for now.
Njokuani working Smiles over with knees to the body.
Njokuani has Smiles pressed against the cage, preventing Smiles from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Njokuani tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Njokuani lands a good knee to the midsection. Smiles won't want to take too many of those.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Njokuani.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Njokuani working aggressively here.
Njokuani tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smiles on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smiles blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Njokuani is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smiles is defending well for now.
Njokuani has Smiles pressed against the cage, preventing Smiles from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Smiles jumps guard but Njokuani stands there with Smiles around his waist. Smiles gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Njokuani misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smiles.
Njokuani has Smiles pressed against the cage, preventing Smiles from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Njokuani keeps control of Smiles as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smiles is looking to break free of the clinch but Njokuani has double underhooks.
Njokuani misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smiles jumps guard but Njokuani stands there with Smiles around his waist. Smiles gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
DeMarcus Njokuani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Smiles.
Njokuani looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Njokuani throws a knee to the head but misses.
Smiles wants a takedown.
Njokuani working Smiles over with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smiles pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Njokuani trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Njokuani 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.
Njokuani postures up in Smiles's guard and throws a big left but Smiles blocks it.
Smiles has Njokuani pulled in close to control his posture.
Smiles wants to stand up but Njokuani is controlling him.
We've been hearing that Njokuani has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Njokuani gets to his feet. Smiles looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Smiles lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Njokuani looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smiles moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smiles closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Njokuani.
Njokuani looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Njokuani walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Smiles's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Smiles duly obliges.
Njokuani throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Smiles's head.
A punch combination from Smiles misses.
Njokuani is looking to clinch.
DeMarcus Njokuani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smiles blocks the body kick.
Smiles dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Smiles with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Njokuani has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Njokuani there as he acknowledges the shot.
Smiles scores with a jab to the body.
Smiles misses with a series of wild punches.
Smiles stuffs the takedown attempt from Njokuani. Njokuani gets slowly back to his feet.
Alex Smiles is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Njokuani takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Njokuani takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Smiles stuffs the takedown attempt from Njokuani. Njokuani gets slowly back to his feet.
Njokuani takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Njokuani has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Njokuani closes the distance and clinches up with Smiles, looking for a takedown. Njokuani pushes Smiles against the cage but Smiles circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smiles works Njokuani's body with a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Njokuani misses with a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Njokuani is looking to score with low kicks.
Smiles throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Smiles lands a jab to Njokuani's midsection.
Smiles ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alex Smiles.
I've got Smiles 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alex Smiles!
After the fight, Alex Smiles was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.