PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Smith (ranked 1369 p4p, 179 weight class) and Sven Kristian Nielsen (ranked 3583 p4p, 344 weight class). Smith's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Lonely Train by Black Stone Cherry. Nielsen has chosen Wardruna - Fehu as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Kristian Nielsen

195 cm
26
280 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

191 cm
38
275 lbs
16 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aaron Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sven Kristian Nielsen!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Anthony Taglia and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nielsen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Smith to the ground. Nielsen is now in Smith's guard.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Nielsen puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Nielsen throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nielsen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Nielsen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Smith moves into full guard.
Nielsen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nielsen has passed into half guard!
Nielsen lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen slows the pace down in half guard.
It looks like Nielsen might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Nielsen drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith taking some punishment here, with Nielsen in his half guard.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Nielsen is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nielsen controls the pace.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Smith looking for a guillotine here but Nielsen defends easily.
Nielsen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've been hearing good reports from Smith's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Nielsen wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Nielsen content to stall in guard here.
Smith is trying to hold Nielsen in close to prevent damage but Nielsen has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Nielsen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nielsen throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Smith to regain full guard.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Nielsen from controlling successfully.
Nielsen is in close to Smith's body, working some short punches and elbows.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.

Smith connects with a couple of short punches.

It looks like Sven Kristian Nielsen has been cut.
Nielsen being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to get up but he can't break Nielsen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Nielsen working a defensive guard here.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Nielsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nielsen keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nielsen is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nielsen is trying to get back to full guard.
Nielsen regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Kristian Nielsen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sven Kristian Nielsen's cut.
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.

Smith misses the jab.
Aaron Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nielsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Smith on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nielsen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nielsen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Smith digs a good body shot into Nielsen's ribs.
Nielsen misses with a straight right.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith digs a right hand underneath Nielsen's ribcage. Nielsen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A body shot lands from Nielsen.
Smith being controlled against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.
Smith swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Some wild striking there from Nielsen.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nielsen drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Smith defends it well.
Nielsen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nielsen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nielsen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Smith with a body shot.
Nielsen throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Nielsen slips the punch.
Nielsen misses with a looping right.
Smith misses with a double jab

and Nielsen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Smith!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith is trying to improve his position.
Sven Kristian Nielsen has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen lands an elbow.

Nielsen goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Smith rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Nielsen's guard! Nice work there by Smith!
Nielsen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Smith stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Nielsen has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Smith manages to get his head free but now Nielsen has transitioned to an armbar! Smith grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Nielsen! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sven Kristian Nielsen!
Our winner, Sven Kristian Nielsen, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
The defeated Aaron Smith had this to say: 'No one likes seeing their opponent's hand raised, but that just means that they were the better man today. My team at 3Band MMA and I will break down this match and make the proper changes for my next camp.'.