PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago comes to the cage accompanied by Drake - Forever. Smith has chosen YOUR GOING DOWN as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thiago
vs
Smith

190 cm
23
172 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
176 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Cage Wars: Rocha Nutrition

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paulo Thiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Scott Smith!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, David Schapiro and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.

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

Thiago looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thiago.

Thiago is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.
Thiago not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.

Smith manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Thiago shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Thiago's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith is looking to clinch but Thiago is avoiding it.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Scott Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Thiago.
Thiago really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A left hand lands to the body for Smith.

Smith breaks from the clinch.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Thiago.
Smith avoiding damage.
Smith continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

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

Smith clinches up with Thiago and pushes him back against the cage.
Thiago takes an elbow to the temple.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Smith lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Thiago tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Thiago shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Thiago keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Thiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith takes the fight into the clinch.
Thiago is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Thiago has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Smith finds it's way round the side to connect with Thiago's head.
Thiago fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck for Thiago with that takedown attempt.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thiago fails with an attempt to clinch.

Thiago tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Come on Smith - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Thiago tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smith keeps control of Thiago as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Thiago has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thiago.
Thiago is breathing heavily.
No luck for Thiago with that takedown attempt.
Thiago shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.

Smith closes the distance and pushes Thiago back into the cage.
Smith comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A lazy left from Smith finds it's target.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thiago has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Smith is looking to clinch but Thiago is avoiding it.
Thiago shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.

Smith gets a clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch.
A combination from Smith does no damage.

Thiago looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Smith!
Smith is in a horrible position here. Thiago smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Smith squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Thiago.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thiago clinches but Smith breaks the clinch
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thiago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thiago just misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smith fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Thiago on the side of the head.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.

Smith has Thiago up against the cage in a clinch.
Thiago tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Thiago tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Smith lands an uppercut.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Smith wants to clinch
and Thiago counters with a nice body shot.
Thiago swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Scott Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thiago is trying to break free.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Thiago tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Thiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith tries to clinch there but Thiago circles away.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Thiago can't break the clinch.

Thiago breaks from the clinch.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss

and Thiago counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thiago.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Thiago looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thiago lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smith!
Smith wants to try and get back to his feet.

Thiago wants to finish this one by submission but Smith is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Thiago.
Smith blocking the ground and pound.
Thiago throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Thiago raining down shots from the mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith taking shots to the head.
Thiago with a couple of short strikes.

Thiago working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Thiago is going olschool here, as he tries to force Smith to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Smith shrugs it off.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Thiago is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Smith can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Thiago has hold of Smith's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Smith manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thiago jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Smith is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Smith and Thiago has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Smith avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Thiago.
Thiago postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Thiago throwing strikes but Smith manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thiago is trying to get back to half guard.

Smith decides to stand up, so the ref orders Thiago to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Thiago dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thiago has his takedown stuffed

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch.

Smith manages to break the clinch.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Thiago is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith tries to bum rush Thiago with a series of wild strikes but Thiago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.

Smith pushes Thiago up against the cage in a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Smith.

Smith manages to break the clinch.

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

Thiago jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Smith manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Smith tries to escape but Thiago is in control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Thiago has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Thiago working the ground and pound.
Thiago in side control, throwing shots but Smith defends.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Check out the look on Thiago's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Thiago tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Smith taking punishment in the form of punches.
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Thiago has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thiago wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smith, who protects the arm well.
Thiago tries to move into full mount but can't pass Smith's legs.
Thiago misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Smith is pushing Thiago's head away, looking to escape. Thiago manages to hold on to the position though.
Thiago trying to control the position but Smith is working away.
Smith avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Thiago.
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Thiago has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago working the ground and pound.
Thiago wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Smith clinches up with Thiago and pushes him back against the cage.
Thiago changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smith throws a combination that misses

and Thiago counters by moving into the clinch.
Smith lands with a light punch inside.

Smith breaks from the clinch.

Thiago darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Paulo Thiago overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thiago.

Thiago wants to work for an arm triangle but Smith is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Smith makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Smith tries to clinch but Thiago is having none of it.
Thiago tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Thiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smith.

Thiago bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Thiago working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Thiago cracks Smith with a big elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Thiago showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thiago 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Thiago!