PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lupe Mejia (ranked 5079 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Smith (ranked 3340 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mejia
vs
Smith

159 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 London, Lupe Mejia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Smith!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mejia takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Smith is looking to clinch but Mejia is avoiding it.
Mejia seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A lazy body kick from Mejia

and Smith counters with a crisp one two that drops Mejia! Smith thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Mejia to his feet! Mejia is in big trouble!

Smith rushes Mejia and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smith is trying to drag Mejia to the mat but Mejia just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Smith jumps into guard, dragging Mejia to the mat.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Mejia slips an elbow through the middle.
Smith managing to control the position.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mejia is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mejia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mejia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mejia preventing the sweep.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Smith is trying to keep Mejia in close.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mejia is aware though and is defending well.
Smith is pulling down on Mejia's head. It's preventing any offense from Mejia, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mejia wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mejia could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.

Smith jumps guard.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mejia defends it easily.
Mejia scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Smith looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.

Mejia thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Mejia is looking for a triangle here but Smith uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mejia keeps working.
Smith lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mejia down.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mejia keeps working.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith tries to move into full mount but can't pass Mejia's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Smith dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith looking to score a takedown here. Mejia is defending well but Smith drives through and ends up in Mejia's guard.

Mejia pushes Smith off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Mejia avoids the head kick by Smith.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lupe Mejia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Mejia. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Mejia fires out a quick counter leg kick but Smith just manages to avoid it.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
and Mejia counters with a left and a right that stings Smith.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mejia gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Lupe Mejia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Smith.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Mejia jumps guard but Smith stands there with Mejia around his waist. Mejia gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mejia fails to pull guard.
Smith jumps guard but Mejia turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Smith jumps guard and drags Mejia to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Smith striking off his back but it's not causing Mejia any problems.
Mejia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smith wants to stand up but Mejia is controlling him.
Mejia trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mejia is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mejia is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mejia trying to control but Smith postures up.
Smith is looking to advance position but Mejia won't allow it.

Mejia kicks off Smith and gets to his feet.
Mejia keeps the fight on the outside.
Mejia appears to be looking for a big counter.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mejia sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith shoots in but Mejia avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries a low kick but Mejia avoids it.
Smith looks for a takedown but Mejia sprawls well.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mejia swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mejia counters with a left and a right that stings Smith.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mejia turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lupe Mejia dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Mejia as Smith shoots in.
Smith throws a head kick but Mejia moves out of range.
Mejia looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Lupe Mejia is winning the standup battle so far.
Mejia defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.
A counter left hand to the body from Mejia misses its target.
Smith moves to clinch but Mejia breaks away
and Mejia counters with a three punch combo that has Smith backing up. Smith nods at Mejia to acknowledge the strikes.
Mejia feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Smith's calf.
Nice body kick there by Smith.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mejia tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mejia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Mejia shows good takedown defense.
Lupe Mejia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Smith.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mejia manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mejia seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Mejia buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Jon Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mejia goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mejia moves out of range as Smith throws a body kick.
Mejia leaves Smith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.

Mejia gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mejia tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Smith smiles and moves away.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Mejia saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A slapping body kick lands there for Mejia.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mejia manages to avoid it.
Mejia lands a jab-cross combination.
Smith dives in and grabs Mejia's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mejia pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Mejia tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mejia.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Smith gets tackled into the cage by Mejia. Mejia maintains the clinch.
Mejia is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smith to keep the fight standing.
Mejia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mejia fails to pull guard.
Mejia misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lupe Mejia showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mejia has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lupe Mejia!