PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Smo (ranked 2430 p4p, 2377 weight class) and Toran Roth (ranked 347 p4p, 338 weight class). Roth comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Dogodine u Prizrenu kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smo
vs
Roth

193 cm
34
196
15 - 15 - 0

176 cm
34
196
9 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
KO power

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 15 - 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 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Toran Roth!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smo tries a head kick but it misses.
Roth is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Smo tries to clinch up.
Smo doesn't manage to clinch there - Roth circles away.
Smo tries to clinch there but Roth circles away.
Roth works over Smo's head and body with a nice combination.
Smo tries to clinch there but Roth circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smo misses with a knee strike.
Roth wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smo lands with a right to the head.
Smo jumps guard but Roth stands there with Smo around his waist. Smo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Roth manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smo clinches with his opponent.
Smo tries to pull guard but Roth holds him up against the cage and eventually Smo drops back down to his feet.
I was talking to Smo's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Smo manages to break the clinch.
Roth looks to land a combination but Smo avoids it well.
Joe Smo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smo is looking to clinch.
Nice body kick there by Smo.
Roth jabs Smo right on the nose. Smo blinks but takes it well.
Roth swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Roth paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roth avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smo tries to clinch up.
Roth lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Smo moves into the clinch successfully.

Smo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Roth swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Roth unleashes a big counter combination but Smo bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Smo wants to clinch but Roth slips to the side
and Roth counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Roth will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
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!
The fight stays on the outside here - Smo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Smo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smo has a couple of punches blocked by Roth.
Smo tries to land a knee to the head but Roth blocks with his arms.

Roth pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Roth tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smo was well out of range. Poor timing from Roth.
Smo wants to clinch but Roth slips to the side
and Roth counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smo moves in looking to clinch but Roth pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth throws a combination that misses
and Smo counters with a series of strikes. Roth will be more careful next time no doubt.
Smo tries to clinch but Roth moves away
letting Roth counter with a right hand.
Roth keeps the fight on the outside.
Smo is looking to clinch but Roth is avoiding it.
Smo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Smo is rocked!
Smo throws a sloppy head kick
and Roth counters with a stiff jab, followed by a cross and an uppercut! That's too much punishment for Smo to take - he tumbles to the canvas, blood pouring from his nose, barely conscious. That's the end of the fight! Great knockout by Roth!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Toran Roth!
A determined Toran Roth didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!