PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kai Rossiter (ranked 2177 p4p, 2474 weight class) and Joe Smo (ranked 308 p4p, 347 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rossiter
vs
Smo

176 cm
30
174
7 - 2 - 0

193 cm
31
185
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Kai Rossiter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Smo!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Franklyn Lucas and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smo darts in and clinches Rossiter up against the cage.
Smo tries to throw a body punch but Rossiter avoids it by throwing Smo back against the cage.
Smo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smo can't break the clinch.
Smo misses with the head strike.
Rossiter tries to work over Smo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A body shot lands from Smo.
Smo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rossiter can't find room to land a body shot as Smo controls the action.
Rossiter lands a nice uppercut.
Smo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smo misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Rossiter fails to land.

Smo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rossiter misses with a combination

and Smo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smo.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rossiter.

Smo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smo misses with a hook
and Rossiter counters with a one-two to the body.
Joe Smo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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!
Crunch! Smo slams his shin into Rossiter's torso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Smo.

Smo gets a clinch.

Smo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Smo has control of Rossiter's left arm, preventing Rossiter from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Let's hope that Smo has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Smo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rossiter manages to get himself to full guard.

Rossiter has his foot on Smo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smo works his way back into a safe position though.
Smo trying to control but Rossiter is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smo is stalling in the full guard.
Smo wants to stand but Rossiter is controlling his posture from full guard.

Rossiter working for a triangle but Smo defends it easily.

Rossiter throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rossiter keeping full guard, as Smo tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rossiter has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smo has managed to get both his arms back between Rossiter's legs - danger averted.
Smo controlling from the top position.
Smo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smo trying to control but Rossiter is working from the bottom.

Smo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rossiter has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smo has managed to get both his arms back between Rossiter's legs - danger averted.
Smo told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Smo throws a big right hand that misses.

Rossiter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smo defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smo trying to control but Rossiter is working from the bottom.
Smo passes into half guard.

Smo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Rossiter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rossiter is staying active underneath Smo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smo seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Smo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Smo dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rossiter throws a low kick but Smo avoids it.
Kai Rossiter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smo wants to clinch up but Rossiter keeps it at a distance.
Rossiter is looking to counter punch.
Rossiter avoids the head kick by Smo.
Rossiter swats away the attempt to clinch by Smo.
Smo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rossiter counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Smo tries to clinch but Rossiter is having none of it.
Rossiter went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rossiter defends it nicely.
Rossiter appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Smo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rossiter moves out of range of the strikes.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Smo. Rossiter shrugs it off though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Rossiter as Smo shoots in.
A combination from Rossiter does no damage.
Smo tries for a takedown but Rossiter circles away easily
and Rossiter counters with a nice uppercut.
Kai Rossiter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Smo.
Rossiter scoring well with a low kick there.
Smo misses with a takedown attempt
letting Rossiter counter with a right hand.
Rossiter shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Smo moves into the clinch.
Smo stalls.
Smo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rossiter lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Smo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Rossiter - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Smo.
Smo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smo tries to pull guard but Rossiter forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rossiter tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smo's elbow.
Rossiter scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rossiter misses with some punches.
Smo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rossiter smiles and moves away.
Smo wants to clinch up but Rossiter keeps it at a distance.
Smo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rossiter sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smo closes the distance and clinches up with Rossiter, looking for a takedown. Smo pushes Rossiter against the cage but Rossiter circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rossiter thinks about countering with a body kick.
Smo scores with a punch to the head.
Rossiter avoids the head kick by Smo.
Smo wants to clinch but Rossiter slips to the side
enabling Rossiter to counter with a crisp jab.
Smo fails with a takedown attempt.
Smo is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smo looks up at the clock. Bad move! Rossiter lands a right hand from hell, dropping Smo. Rossiter pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:07 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kai Rossiter!
Kai Rossiter thanked the fans post fight for their support.