PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arthus Batiatus (ranked 4372 p4p, 4300 weight class) and Simba Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arthus Batiatus has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Batiatus
vs
Smith

172 cm
23
134
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
23
140
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arthus Batiatus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Simba Smith!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batiatus shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Batiatus gets slowly back to his feet.

Smith looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith not doing much here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith seems to be working for a kimura but Batiatus defends the submission attempt.
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Batiatus is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith winds up and cracks Batiatus with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Batiatus is not content to let Smith control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith is taking a breather. Batiatus says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Batiatus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Smith thows a huge punch but Batiatus dodges it nicely.
Smith controlling the action here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Batiatus, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Batiatus against the cage but Batiatus circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Batiatus pushes Smith off but Smith dives into side control.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Smith prevents Batiatus from escaping the position.
Smith controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Smith has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Horrible takedown attempt by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Batiatus, which made it look bad.

Batiatus gets caught napping as Smith dives in and scores a takedown. Batiatus manages to retain guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Batiatus can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Simba 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 in his attempt to clinch.
Batiatus attempts a counter takedown but Smith avoids it well and moves away.
Batiatus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith lands a nice hook to Batiatus's body. Batiatus takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Arthus Batiatus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Batiatus avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Batiatus tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Smith manages to circle out of the way.
Smith is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Batiatus gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Batiatus looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Smith is avoiding damage well.
Batiatus is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smith can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batiatus wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith is trying to improve his position.
Batiatus postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Smith wants to control but Batiatus postures up.
Batiatus is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Batiatus asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Smith is looking to control Batiatus's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Smith tries to get to full guard but Batiatus has control of the leg.
Batiatus will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Batiatus controlling the pace.
Batiatus thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Batiatus stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Batiatus enables Smith to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Batiatus manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Batiatus gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Batiatus working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Batiatus is stalling in the full guard.
Smith wants to sweep here but Batiatus controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith trying to control the position.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Batiatus's guard.

Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Batiatus is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Batiatus's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Batiatus is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.
Batiatus tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Simba Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Batiatus displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick

and Batiatus counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Batiatus wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Batiatus 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 pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Batiatus is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith stops Batiatus from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batiatus being controlled here, momentarily.
Smith trying to control but Batiatus is working from the bottom.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Smith trying to control but Batiatus is working from the bottom.
Simba Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Smith won't allow Batiatus to get back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Batiatus avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Smith closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is controlling the pace.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith throwing shots but Batiatus is blocking nicely.
Smith looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Smith wants to stand up but Batiatus has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Smith wants to take a breather but Batiatus is having none of it.
Smith controlling the action here.

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

Smith is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Batiatus's half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smith stands up from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simba Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Simba Smith!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight for Simba Smith!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Simba Smith!

Simba Smith wins by unanimous decision!