PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Igor Smizhonich (ranked 2801 p4p, 2339 weight class) and Jab Buckeye (ranked 357 p4p, 298 weight class). Buckeye has chosen Right above it lil Wayne as his entrance music. Igor Smizhonich has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Smizhonich
vs
Buckeye

195 cm
23
190
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
26
196
11 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Igor Smizhonich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jab Buckeye!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Buckeye displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smizhonich.
Smizhonich darts in trying to clinch

and Buckeye counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Buckeye is standing up over Smizhonich. Smizhonich looks to escape but Buckeye dives into side control.

Buckeye wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smizhonich keeps working.
Buckeye might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smizhonich haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smizhonich is trying to control Buckeye's posture but Buckeye avoids it.
Buckeye cracks Smizhonich with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Buckeye is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smizhonich is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smizhonich is looking to regain half guard here but Buckeye keeps moving and retains side control.
Buckeye misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Smizhonich defending against the ground and pound.
Buckeye wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smizhonich keeps working.
Smizhonich manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Smizhonich moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smizhonich wants to sweep but no luck.
Smizhonich will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Buckeye makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smizhonich looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Buckeye accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Buckeye trying to control but Smizhonich is working from the bottom.
Smizhonich is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Buckeye cracks Smizhonich with a solid left hand.
Buckeye sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Buckeye wants to control from the top but Smizhonich keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Buckeye is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Buckeye must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Buckeye postures up in Smizhonich's guard and throws a big left but Smizhonich blocks it.

Smizhonich looking for a guillotine here but Buckeye defends easily.
Smizhonich looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Buckeye is working Smizhonich over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckeye passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Buckeye working the body and head with strikes.
Buckeye misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Buckeye goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Smizhonich has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Buckeye but great work by Smizhonich.
Smizhonich wants to lay and pray for a moment but Buckeye keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Buckeye looking for a sweep but Smizhonich has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Buckeye is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jab Buckeye dominated that round.
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.

Buckeye attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Nice sprawl there from Smizhonich as Buckeye shoots in.
Smizhonich swings for the body but Buckeye moves out of range.
Smizhonich shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Buckeye as he avoids it easily.
Smizhonich doesn't manage to clinch there - Buckeye circles away.
Smizhonich swats away the attempt to clinch by Buckeye.
Smizhonich is looking to counter punch.

Buckeye shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckeye is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Buckeye sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Buckeye wants to finish this one by submission but Smizhonich is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Buckeye.
Buckeye looking to control but Smizhonich is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smizhonich is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Buckeye with good strikes from the mount here!
Buckeye lands a big shot there that rocks Smizhonich but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smizhonich is bucking up trying to escape but Buckeye cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Smizhonich is rocked!
Buckeye punishing his opponent with strikes.
Oh Smizhonich is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smizhonich is wriggling around trying to escape.
Buckeye has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Buckeye putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smizhonich holds on for dear life.
Smizhonich seems to have got his legs back now.
Smizhonich tries to hold on but Buckeye postures up.
Buckeye tries to control but Smizhonich wriggling away.
Buckeye scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Smizhonich?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Buckeye prevents Smizhonich from getting the reversal.
Smizhonich tries to hold on but Buckeye postures up.
Buckeye lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Buckeye working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Buckeye looking to control but Smizhonich is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckeye lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Smizhonich is looking to improve his position but Buckeye isn't that keen on the idea.
Jab Buckeye has got the better of the ground game so far.
Buckeye landing punches.
Smizhonich keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smizhonich tries to lock up and control but Buckeye gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Buckeye cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Smizhonich is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckeye lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smizhonich hang on?
Smizhonich is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Buckeye lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smizhonich tries to hold on but Buckeye pushes him away.
Smizhonich is squirming around, avoiding Buckeye's attempts to control the action.
Smizhonich is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Buckeye can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smizhonich is looking to escape.
Smizhonich tries to lock up and control but Buckeye gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jab Buckeye showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Buckeye shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Smizhonich manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Smizhonich looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Smizhonich looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smizhonich wants to get back to his feet but Buckeye is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckeye throws an elbow that misses. Smizhonich uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Buckeye's guard. Nice move by Smizhonich!

Buckeye looking for a sweep. Not yet Buckeye, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Buckeye working for a triangle but Smizhonich defends it easily.
Buckeye trying to strike off his back.
Smizhonich wants to control from the top but Buckeye keeps moving.
Buckeye trying to keep a closed guard but Smizhonich is proving a slippery customer.

Smizhonich drops back, looking for a kneebar! Buckeye looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Buckeye looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Buckeye!

Buckeye fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Buckeye wants to control but Smizhonich is keeping him busy.
Buckeye throwing shots but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Smizhonich's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Buckeye tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Buckeye has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Smizhonich manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smizhonich trying to control but Buckeye postures up.
Buckeye throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Buckeye lands strikes from half guard.
Smizhonich is not content to let Buckeye control the position.

Buckeye is looking for a kimura here.
Buckeye thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smizhonich tries to kick Buckeye off but Buckeye keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Smizhonich is staying active underneath Buckeye, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smizhonich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Buckeye.
Buckeye is trying to control the action in half guard but Smizhonich is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smizhonich shoots in for a double leg but Buckeye sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Buckeye fails in his attempt to clinch.
Buckeye misses with an uppercut.
Jab Buckeye is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Buckeye shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smizhonich is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Buckeye defends well.
Buckeye trying to control but Smizhonich is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jab Buckeye comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Buckeye 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jab Buckeye!
Jab Buckeye decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.