PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cardano Smith (ranked 2648 p4p, 4329 weight class) and Mark Gillespie (ranked 353 p4p, 499 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Gillespie

185 cm
19
235
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
220
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cardano Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Gillespie!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gillespie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Gillespie misses with a body shot
letting Smith counter with a right hand.

It looks like Mark Gillespie has been cut.
Gillespie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Gillespie. Gillespie gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Smith connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gillespie momentarily.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gillespie takes one on the button.
Smith gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gillespie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Cardano Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Gillespie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillespie tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Gillespie looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gillespie tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith counters with a crisp one two that drops Gillespie! Smith thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Gillespie to his feet! Gillespie is in big trouble!

Gillespie is rocked!
Smith cracks Gillespie with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Gillespie tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Smith pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Gillespie is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cardano Smith!
Cardano Smith spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.