PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russ Smith (ranked 1290 p4p, 1492 weight class) and Konichiwa Jempsa (ranked 177 p4p, 205 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Smith
vs
Jempsa

180 cm
24
171
6 - 1 - 0

170 cm
26
170
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Russ Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Konichiwa Jempsa!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jempsa darts in looking for a takedown but Smith gets double underhooks and turns Jempsa into the cage.
Jempsa fails with a takedown attempt.
Jempsa misses with a body shot
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Jempsa.
Smith was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jempsa was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Jempsa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith throwing a counter right hand but Jempsa manages to avoid it.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A little feinted left hand from Smith on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Russ Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konichiwa Jempsa.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smith enables Jempsa to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smith manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jempsa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jempsa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jempsa trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith trying to control the position here.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Jempsa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jempsa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Smith has his hands on Jempsa's head, controlling the position.
Jempsa stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jempsa postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Jempsa works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.
Jempsa landing some decent shots from guard.
Jempsa wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith has Jempsa pulled in close to control his posture.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jempsa's guard.

Smith is in close to Jempsa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Jempsa keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Jempsa is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa pulls Smith in to control the position.
Jempsa trying to control the position.
We've been hearing that Smith has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith cracks Jempsa with a solid left hand.
Jempsa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Jempsa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Smith wants to improve his position but Jempsa is controlling well.
Jempsa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Smith is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Jempsa sits in half guard.
Smith gets full guard.
Smith keeping full guard, as Jempsa tries to pass.
Smith has control of Jempsa's left arm, preventing Jempsa from doing any damage.
Jempsa trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jempsa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Konichiwa Jempsa will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Jempsa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jempsa shoots and misses
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith cracks Jempsa with a right hand to the side of the head.

It looks like Konichiwa Jempsa has been cut.
Smith throws a body punch but Jempsa moves out of range.

Jempsa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Smith was covering up waiting for the punch and Jempsa finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jempsa distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jempsa postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Jempsa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jempsa throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Jempsa from controlling successfully.
Jempsa postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Jempsa working some strikes from top position.
Jempsa with a nice head shot there.
Jempsa trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Jempsa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Smith wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Jempsa content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jempsa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jempsa throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Jempsa not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck for Jempsa with that takedown attempt.
Smith lunges at Jempsa with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Jempsa's hand.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Russ Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konichiwa Jempsa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Smith connects with a crisp jab.
Jempsa misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jempsa manages to avoid it.
Jempsa misses the shot to the body.
Jempsa shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.
Smith swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jempsa.
Jempsa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Smith misses the target.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jempsa tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Smith connects with a body shot.
Jempsa fails with the takedown
and Jempsa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jempsa moves away from the strike by Smith.
Jempsa changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Smith throws an overhand right that lands on Jempsa's shoulder, as Jempsa tries to avoid the shot.
Jempsa shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith takes a swing at Jempsa's ribcage but misses.

Jempsa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Jempsa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith wants to control but Jempsa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jempsa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Russ Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Konichiwa Jempsa's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jempsa closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Jempsa pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A counter left hand to the body from Smith misses its target.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jempsa.
Jempsa slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Jempsa fails with the takedown
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Smith tries to land a leg kick but Jempsa saw it coming and moves away.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Jempsa is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Jempsa, as that shot connected.
Jempsa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jempsa somewhat.
Russ Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konichiwa Jempsa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Jempsa's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jempsa tests Smith's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Smith connects with a good right hand that stumbles Jempsa. Jempsa circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Jempsa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jempsa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Smith defends well and Jempsa ends up having to push Smith into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Smith looks to throw the jab but Jempsa is out of range.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Jempsa is just out of range.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Jempsa is just out of range.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Jempsa, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Good shot there by Jempsa.
Smith is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Jempsa shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Jempsa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jempsa looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Smith throws an off balance right hand

and Jempsa counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smith is trying to improve his position.
Smith regains half guard.
Jempsa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith wants to control but Jempsa is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying is best to control the position here.
Jempsa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Jempsa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Jempsa scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Jempsa connects with a nice short shot to Smith's temple.
Smith keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Smith has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jempsa is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.
Jempsa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jempsa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jempsa trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Russ Smith.
I think Smith 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Konichiwa Jempsa!
An out of breath Konichiwa Jempsa thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.