PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Russel Crow (ranked 4350 p4p, 5305 weight class) and Guillaume De Smet (ranked 427 p4p, 0 weight class). De Smet has chosen Gangster's Paradise as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Crow
vs
De Smet

195 cm
25
250
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
17
230
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 Las Vegas, Russel Crow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Guillaume De Smet!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crow throws a head kick that misses.
De Smet looks to land a left hand but Crow moved out of range nicely.
Crow throws a counter high kick but De Smet was just alert enough to avoid it.
Crow throws a head kick that De Smet semi-blocks.
De Smet misses with a takedown
and Crow counters with a head kick.

It looks like Guillaume De Smet has been cut.

De Smet gets a double leg takedown into Crow's guard.
De Smet stays in close to Crow's body and controls the position.
Crow is trying to keep De Smet in close.
De Smet trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

Crow thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crow throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Crow tries to move into full mount but can't pass De Smet's legs.
Crow in side control, throwing shots but De Smet defends.
De Smet manages to work his way to half guard, despite Crow's best efforts.
De Smet wants to get back to full guard.
Crow lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Crow prevents De Smet from improving his position.
Crow is thwarting De Smet's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crow not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Crow thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed De Smet's head.
Crow tries to stand but his hand is stuck under De Smet.
De Smet has a hand on Crow's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Crow takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Crow prevents De Smet from getting the reversal.
Crow avoids the attempt from De Smet to control.
De Smet keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Crow tries to control but De Smet wriggling away.
De Smet manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crow working the head and body with strikes.

That has opened up Guillaume De Smet's cut even more.
It looks like Crow is going to stand back up.
Crow not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
De Smet preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
De Smet is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Crow's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Crow's back!
De Smet is trying to control but Crow is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
De Smet controlling from the full mount.
De Smet avoids the attempt from Crow to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crow tries to reverse the position but De Smet maintains control.
De Smet takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
De Smet looking to control but Crow is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

De Smet jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Crow is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Crow and De Smet has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De Smet wants to control but Crow is keeping him busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Russel Crow dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Guillaume De Smet's cut.
That's time! Crow's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

De Smet takes a swing at Crow's ribcage but misses.
De Smet swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Crow is looking to clinch but De Smet is avoiding it.
De Smet throws a big shot that misses.
De Smet looks to land a right hand but Crow moved out of range.
Crow tries to close the distance and clinch but De Smet swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Crow wants to clinch up but De Smet keeps it at a distance.
Crow keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice defenses there by Crow.
Crow throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

De Smet scores with a takedown into Crow's guard.

Crow has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. De Smet is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Crow changes levels and goes for a takedown here. De Smet fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crow defending well as De Smet loads up on a big left hand.
De Smet defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Crow.
De Smet throws a body punch but Crow moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Crow.
And De Smet tries to counter it with a takedown but Crow pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Crow doesn't manage to clinch there - De Smet circles away.
De Smet misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from De Smet. Crow does a little dance to reset his feet.
De Smet throws the left hand but Crow avoids the punch easily.
It looked like Crow was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Crow tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
De Smet throws a low kick, looking for Crow's leg but Crow calmly moves out of range.
Crow shoots in looking for a takedown. De Smet tries to sprawl out of it but Crow keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. De Smet manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A nice side step and De Smet releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russel Crow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crow misses with a kick to the body.
Crow slips a straight right by De Smet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crow uses good head movement to avoid the hook from De Smet.
De Smet takes a head kick and keeps coming.

The cut above Guillaume De Smet's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
De Smet throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Crow sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Crow misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crow displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as De Smet throws out the jab.
De Smet throws a nice looking combination but Crow bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice defenses there by Crow.
De Smet circles away from the clinch attempt.
De Smet throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Crow avoids the body shot from De Smet.
De Smet throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Smet swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Crow moves out of range as De Smet strikes.
De Smet scores with a jab. Crow acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Crow feints and then cracks De Smet's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow De Smet down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Smet throws a leg kick but Crow sees it coming and moves out of range.
De Smet shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Crow keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from De Smet.
De Smet throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Crow counters with a three punch combo that has De Smet backing up. De Smet nods at Crow to acknowledge the strikes.
Crow uses good head movement to avoid the hook from De Smet.
Crow throws a head kick that misses.
Crow darts in trying to clinch
and De Smet counters with a left to the body.
A big right from De Smet misses.
Guillaume De Smet seems to be getting the better of the standup.
De Smet looks to score with a jab to the body but Crow is just out of range.
Crow ducks under a wild hook from De Smet.
Crow is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
De Smet swings for the body but Crow moves out of range.
A slow jab from De Smet misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crow tries to clinch up.
Crow looks to throw a body kick

and De Smet counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by De Smet.
Russel Crow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Smet trying to control the position from guard on top but Crow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

De Smet has gone for a leg lock! Crow slips out almost immediately though and dives into De Smet's guard.

De Smet is trying to control the position but Crow postures up.
Crow throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Crow is looking to work some ground and pound but De Smet has wrist control.
De Smet 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.
Crow wants to stand but De Smet is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Guillaume De Smet showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Guillaume De Smet's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Crow connects with a leg kick.
Crow keeps De Smet at a distance using the push kick.

De Smet gets tackled into the cage by Crow. Crow maintains the clinch.
Crow tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Still in the clinch, Crow scores with a nice short uppercut.

De Smet gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
De Smet controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crow trying to keep a closed guard but De Smet is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Smet wants to control from the top but Crow keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Smet pushing down on Crow's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
De Smet seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Crow does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
De Smet winds up and cracks Crow with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
De Smet looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

De Smet is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Crow defends it well.
Crow tries to kick De Smet off but De Smet keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

De Smet is trying to work for a kimura but Crow is defending well.
De Smet looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Crow manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
De Smet wants to control from the top but Crow keeps moving.
Crow keeping full guard, as De Smet tries to pass.
De Smet trying to control but Crow is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Crow takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crow throws a quick head kick that skims the top of De Smet's head.

Crow drives through and clinches with De Smet against the cage.
Crow is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but De Smet is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
De Smet throws a punch but it's blocked by Crow.
De Smet misses with a short punch on the inside.
De Smet leaning against his opponent.

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

De Smet manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Crow on his heels. He'll look to pass Crow's guard now, I'm sure.
De Smet tries to free his leg and advance position but Crow is retaining full guard.
De Smet advances to half guard.
Crow pushes De Smet off looking to stand but De Smet dives back in and keeps control.
Crow is looking to control De Smet's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Crow avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

De Smet is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Crow wants to get back to full guard.
Crow is trying to stand up here but De Smet is controlling him well.
De Smet working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Crow's thigh. Crow counters though and makes it back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De Smet is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Guillaume De Smet.
I think De Smet has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guillaume De Smet!
A very excited looking Guillaume De Smet made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.