PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Kuzma (ranked 3784 p4p, 3408 weight class) and Joe Smo (ranked 487 p4p, 449 weight class). Kuzma's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Tarararara. This should be fireworks!

Kuzma
vs
Smo

195 cm
32
202
12 - 6 - 0

193 cm
30
185
9 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyle Kuzma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Smo!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuzma fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smo is looking to clinch but Kuzma is avoiding it.

Smo moves into the clinch.
Smo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smo told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.

Kuzma breaks the clinch.

Smo clinches with his opponent.
Smo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kuzma.

Smo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kuzma looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Smo tries to clinch up but Kuzma circles away and keeps his distance.
Kuzma scores with a three punch combo!

Smo lands a big head kick that sends Kuzma tumbling to the mat! Smo takes a step backwards and waves Kuzma back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Kuzma is rocked!

It looks like Kyle Kuzma has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Oh Kuzma is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smo misses with a takedown attempt - Kuzma sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kuzma throws a series of strikes that have Smo backpedaling.

Smo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kuzma is trying to break the clinch but Smo has him pressed against the cage.
Smo lands with a short shot to the head.
Smo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kuzma is looking to break free of the clinch but Smo has double underhooks.
Smo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kuzma.
Smo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smo working aggressively here.

Smo breaks the clinch.

Smo drives through and clinches with Kuzma against the cage.
Smo tries a knee to the head but Kuzma blocks it.
Kuzma blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smo.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kuzma.
A head punch on the inside from Smo fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smo.
Smo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smo throws a head punch that misses.
Smo throws a punch but it's blocked by Kuzma.
Smo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kuzma gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Smo pulls Kuzma into guard.
Smo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Smo keeping moving, preventing Kuzma from controlling successfully.
Kuzma seems to have got his legs back now.
Kuzma is looking to stand up but Smo won't let him.
Kuzma is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Kuzma decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kuzma moves into the clinch.

Kuzma escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
That kick from Kuzma tenderised Smo's leg. Smo is trying to keep his angry face on.

Kuzma fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smo, pushing him back against the cage.
Kuzma lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smo backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smo.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Smo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kuzma.
Kuzma avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kyle Kuzma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smo tries to clinch but Kuzma is having none of it.
Kuzma stuffs the takedown.
Kyle Kuzma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Smo.
Kuzma misses with a series of wild punches.
Kuzma throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smo tries to clinch but Kuzma moves out of range.
Smo tries to clinch but Kuzma is having none of it.
Smo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kuzma moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kuzma misses with a few strikes there.

Kuzma moves into range and clinches up with Smo.

Kuzma breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smo misses with a head kick.

Smo closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smo manages to break the clinch.
Smo lands with a good body shot.
Kuzma moves in looking to clinch but Smo pushes him off.
Smo moves in looking to clinch but Kuzma pushes him off.
Kuzma avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smo misses with a wild body shot.
Kuzma misses the jab.
Smo dives in for a single leg takedown but Kuzma sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kuzma throws a big counter combination but Smo scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Smo tries a head kick but it misses.
Kuzma lands a jab.

Smo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kuzma looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Kuzma struggles to land a body shot inside as Smo controls his hands.
Smo is working for takedown but Kuzma is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kuzma is looking to control Smo's arms but Smo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kuzma has his back to the cage.
Kuzma misses with a punch on the inside.
Kuzma lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kuzma doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzma missing with knees to the body.

Kuzma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kuzma manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kuzma swinging wildly here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuzma throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smo wants to clinch.
Kuzma tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kuzma misses with a wild body shot.
Kuzma looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Smo dives in for a single leg takedown but Kuzma sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kuzma throws a big counter combination but Smo scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kuzma swivels and escapes.
Smo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Smo fails with an attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Kuzma misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kyle Kuzma will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kyle Kuzma's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smo rushes Kuzma and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kuzma's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kuzma throws a series of punches but Smo avoids them all with ease.
Smo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kuzma keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kuzma misses with a double jab
and Smo counters with a stiff right hand.

Kuzma moves into the clinch successfully.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smo.
Smo scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Smo pulls guard effortlessly.
Kuzma stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kuzma is working hard here to advance position.
Kuzma tries to stand but Smo is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzma trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Smo wants to stand but Kuzma is controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kuzma fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kuzma cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Kuzma rushes Smo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smo tries to clinch but Kuzma moves out of range.
Kuzma throws a low kick but it's checked well by Smo.
Kuzma bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Smo's head backwards.
Smo wants to clinch up but Kuzma keeps it at a distance.
Smo is looking to clinch but Kuzma is avoiding it.

Smo has Kuzma up against the cage in a clinch.
Smo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kyle Kuzma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Smo.

Kuzma escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kyle Kuzma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kuzma does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Smo darts in and clinches Kuzma up against the cage.
Kuzma lands a right hand.
Smo just leaning against Kuzma, taking a breather.
Smo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuzma working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Kuzma's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuzma swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Smo instigates a clinch.

Kuzma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kuzma has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kuzma tries to score with a low kick but Smo moves his leg out of the way.
Kuzma misses with a double jab.
Kuzma keeps the fight on the outside.
Kuzma seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Smo wants to clinch.
Smo has his takedown stuffed
and Kuzma connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kuzma tries to close the distance and clinch but Smo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kuzma tries to bum rush Smo with a series of wild strikes but Smo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Smo forces Kuzma back against the cage and clinches.

Kuzma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kuzma closes the distance and pushes Smo back into the cage.
Smo lands with a left to the head.
Smo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kuzma blocks an uppercut.
Smo throws a knee to the head but misses.

Kuzma's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kuzma showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smo.
Kuzma looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Kuzma throws a solid leg kick but Smo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kuzma.
Smo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuzma swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Smo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smo misses with a knee to the head.
A short right from Smo.
Smo misses with a hook from the clinch.

Smo manages to break the clinch.

Kuzma moves into range and clinches up with Smo.
Kuzma stops a takedown attempt from Smo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Smo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kyle Kuzma's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Smo shoots in looking for a takedown. Kuzma tries to sprawl out of it but Smo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kuzma manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kuzma wants to clinch.
Smo throws a counter combo.
Kuzma blocks the body kick.
It looked like Kuzma was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Kuzma throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smo.
Kuzma is looking to chop away at Smo's legs.
Kuzma will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Smo tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuzma swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kuzma throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smo has closed the distance and engaged Kuzma in a clinch.

Kuzma breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kuzma shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Smo eats them both and turns towards Kuzma to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Smo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kuzma scores with a three punch combo!

Smo is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A clash of legs there as Smo blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smo blocks a low kick nicely.

Smo has closed the distance and engaged Kuzma in a clinch.
Kuzma wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kuzma throws a punch but it's blocked by Smo.

Kuzma breaks from the clinch.

Kuzma closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Kuzma breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kuzma defends it nicely.
Smo looks to clinch
and Kuzma counters with a two punch combo.
Smo closes the distance but Kuzma moves to the side
and Kuzma connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Smo is still on wobbly legs! Can Kuzma finish him?
Kuzma throws a left jab followed by a right to the body, Oh Smo colapses and takes a barrage of punches from Kuzma as he moves to mount! the ref stops the fight and Smo is left battered and dazed whilst Kuzma and his camp cheer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kyle Kuzma!
A very excited looking Kyle Kuzma rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.