PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Smo (ranked 2925 p4p, 4172 weight class) and Joseph Telushikin (ranked 394 p4p, 534 weight class). Joseph Telushikin told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Smo
vs
Telushikin

193 cm
31
186
11 - 9 - 0

178 cm
36
179
9 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Fast

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 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Smo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joseph Telushikin!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Patrick Alders and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smo is looking to clinch but Telushikin is avoiding it.
Telushikin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smo goes for a double leg but Telushikin avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Telushikin continues to drive forward.
Smo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Telushikin misses with a punch on the inside.
Smo pushes Telushikin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Smo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Smo misses with a knee strike.
Telushikin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Smo taking a breather.

Smo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A lazy left from Telushikin finds it's target.
Telushikin swats away the attempt to clinch by Smo.
Telushikin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Smo has closed the distance and engaged Telushikin in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smo has a couple of punches blocked by Telushikin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Telushikin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Smo lands a nice uppercut.

Smo decides to pull guard.
Telushikin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smo wants to sweep here but Telushikin controlling him for the moment.
Smo is working hard here to advance position.
Telushikin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Smo wants to get back to his feet but Telushikin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Telushikin wants to pass the guard but Smo is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A big left from Telushikin misses.
We've been hearing reports that Smo has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Smo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Telushikin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Smo misses with a head kick.
Smo connects with a nice looking jab.
Smo tries to clinch but Telushikin is having none of it.
Telushikin fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Smo tries to clinch but Telushikin is having none of it.

Telushikin gets a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Telushikin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smo is just riding it out for now. Telushikin eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Telushikin is pressing down on Smo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smo is holding on for now.
Telushikin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Smo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Telushikin is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Telushikin is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Smo to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Smo has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Telushikin has passed into side control.

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

Telushikin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Telushikin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joseph Telushikin will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Telushikin misses with a wild combination.

Telushikin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Smo has control of Telushikin's left arm, preventing Telushikin from doing any damage.

Telushikin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smo keeping moving, preventing Telushikin from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Telushikin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Telushikin working his ground and pound in the gym.
Telushikin tries to free his leg and advance position but Smo is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Telushikin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Telushikin trying to control but Smo is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Telushikin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Telushikin trying to control but Smo is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Telushikin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Telushikin misses with a straight left.
Smo is looking to counter the offense by Telushikin and move into the clinch.
Smo throws a head kick that misses.

Telushikin closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Smo's guard.
Telushikin trying to control the position from guard on top but Smo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smo wants to get back to his feet but Telushikin passes into half guard.

Telushikin is trying to work for a kimura but Smo is defending well.
Joseph Telushikin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smo wants to improve his position but Telushikin is controlling well.
Smo wants to get back to his feet.

Telushikin is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smo is defending against the submission attempts here by Telushikin.
Telushikin wants to control but Smo is keeping him busy.
Smo tries to get to full guard but Telushikin has control of the leg.

Telushikin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Telushikin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Telushikin is trying to work for a kimura but Smo is defending well.
Smo pushes Telushikin off looking to stand but Telushikin dives back in and keeps control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Telushikin tries to pass to full mount but Smo defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Telushikin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Smo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A cross from Telushikin lands.
Telushikin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Telushikin throws a one two combo.
Telushikin throws a hook to the side of Smo's head but Smo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Telushikin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Telushikin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smo.

Telushikin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smo napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Telushikin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Smo wants to control but Telushikin postures up.
Smo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Telushikin sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Smo is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Telushikin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Smo is not content to let Telushikin control the position.
Telushikin laying and praying for a moment but Smo takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Telushikin prevents Smo from improving his position.
Smo is trying to maintain the position but Telushikin is very close to passing his half guard.

Smo is defending against the submission attempts here by Telushikin.
Telushikin sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Telushikin is looking for a kimura but Smo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Telushikin to get the leverage.
Telushikin not doing much here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Telushikin throwing shots but Smo is blocking nicely.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Telushikin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Telushikin lands in his opponent's guard.
Smo keeping moving, preventing Telushikin from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Telushikin pushing down on Smo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Joe Smo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Telushikin trying to advance position but Smo counters by regaining guard.
Telushikin trying to control the position from guard on top but Smo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Telushikin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Telushikin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Telushikin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Telushikin!