PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Balboa (ranked 4801 p4p, 5072 weight class) and Tee Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 460 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.

Balboa
vs
Smith

206 cm
18
235
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
250
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rocky Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tee Smith!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Fujiwara and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Balboa.
Smith drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Balboa defends it well.
Smith scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Rocky Balboa has been cut.
Smith drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Balboa goes for a double leg but Smith avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Smith continues to drive forward.

Smith rushes Balboa and presses him up against the cage.
Balboa tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.
Smith has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Balboa after a bit of a struggle.
Balboa misses with a short punch on the inside.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith slips a jab from Balboa.
A combination from Balboa does no damage.
Balboa 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.

Smith forces Balboa back against the cage and clinches.

Balboa manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith distracts Balboa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Balboa pushes Smith off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Balboa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Balboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Balboa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.

Smith looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balboa keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Balboa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Balboa is proving hard to escape from.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith wants to stand but Balboa has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Balboa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balboa content to stall in guard here.
Balboa wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balboa gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smith dives in and scores a takedown into Balboa's guard.
Balboa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith stays in close to Balboa's body and controls the position.
Balboa wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Balboa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Balboa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Balboa is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith forces his way into half guard.
Balboa has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Balboa missing with punches from the bottom.
Balboa tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balboa keeps working.
Smith might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Balboa haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tee Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rocky Balboa's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Balboa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Balboa persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith tries to counter with a clinch but Balboa shakes him off and moves away.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Balboa.
Smith connects with a solid leg kick.

Smith clinches up with Balboa and pushes him back against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Balboa.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.

Smith moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith jumps into guard, dragging Balboa to the mat.
Balboa wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Balboa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Balboa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Balboa gets to his feet. Smith looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Smith fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Balboa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Balboa throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Balboa.
Balboa backing away here, and Smith unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Balboa. Balboa gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Smith defends well and Balboa ends up having to push Smith into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Balboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Smith decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Balboa is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.
Smith is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Balboa is looking to escape.
Smith raining down hammerfists from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balboa is trying to escape the mount.
Smith looking to control but Balboa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Balboa is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.

Smith looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Balboa really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Balboa regains half guard.
Smith is trying to control. Balboa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balboa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Balboa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balboa is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tee Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rocky Balboa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Smith clinches up against the cage.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Balboa has his takedown stuffed

and Smith moves into the clinch.
Balboa lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith blocks a body shot from Balboa.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Balboa shoots in looking for a takedown but Smith manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Balboa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Balboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith is looking to clinch but Balboa is avoiding it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Balboa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Smith tests Balboa's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Smith closes the distance and pushes Balboa back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has Balboa pressed against the cage, preventing Balboa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Smith obliges.
Good body shot from Smith.

Smith is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Balboa can't fight it off and eventually Smith manages to take the fight to the floor. Balboa looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Balboa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith stops Balboa from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Smith wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tee Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith trying to control but Balboa is working from the bottom.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Smith trying to control the action but Balboa is working from the bottom.
Smith stops Balboa from getting back to his feet.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Balboa's hands, connecting with Balboa's forehead.
Smith moves nicely into side control.

Smith wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Balboa, who protects the arm well.

Smith decides to stand up, so the ref orders Balboa to his feet.
Rocky Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Balboa sprawls well.
Balboa throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Balboa as he jumps to the side.
Rocky Balboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A chopping leg kick lands by Smith.
Balboa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balboa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rocky Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tee Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Smith shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Smith was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

And that's the end of the fight!
Tee Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tee Smith!